NCCHC turnaround times #

A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) — commonly referred to as a national police check — is processed through the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) via the National Police Checking Service (NPCS). Worker Checks is an ACIC-accredited provider with direct NSS API access, meaning applications are submitted to ACIC instantly with no intermediary delay.

Once submitted, there are two possible processing outcomes:

• Automatic result (no name match): ACIC finds no matching records and returns the result automatically. 80% of Worker Checks NCCHCs are returned within 1–3 minutes.
• Manual review (name match): ACIC identifies a potential name match in the national database and refers the check for manual review by an ACIC officer. This takes 1–15 business days and cannot be expedited by the applicant or the provider.

Turnaround times by check type #

What causes delays? #

Delays to your NCCHC result are almost always caused by one of the following:

• ACIC manual review: A name match in the national database triggers a manual review. This is the most common cause of delays and affects approximately 20% of checks.
• Incomplete or incorrect application: Submitting a name that doesn’t match your identity documents, or omitting required previous names, can cause your application to be held for correction.
• Identity verification not completed: Your check cannot be submitted to ACIC until your identity has been verified. Completing IDV promptly after payment avoids delays.
• Submission outside business hours: ACIC processes checks during standard Australian business hours. Applications submitted in the evening or on weekends are queued and processed the next business day.

How you’ll receive your result #

Once your result is ready, Worker Checks will notify you by email and make your certificate available in your secure portal. Your certificate is stored on Worker Checks’ private blockchain — permanently verifiable and tamper-proof.

From your portal you can print or download your certificate, or share it securely with employers and agencies via a verification link. Employers ordering through बिजनेसहब are also notified automatically when a worker’s result is returned.

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न #

My check has been pending for more than 10 minutes. What should I do?

If your check has been processing for more than 5–10 minutes during business hours, it has likely been referred for ACIC manual review. This affects approximately 20% of applications and is completely normal — it does not indicate a problem with your check.

You do not need to resubmit. Manual reviews typically resolve within 1–15 business days. If you have not received a result after 15 business days, contact our support team via the Help Hub chat.

Can I pay extra to get a faster result?

No. All ACIC-accredited providers connect to the same national database, so no provider can offer a guaranteed express service that bypasses the ACIC queue. Any provider advertising a “guaranteed fast result” is referring to the typical automatic result time, which only applies when no manual review is required.

Worker Checks charges a flat rate with no express fees — your check is submitted immediately upon identity verification, and results are returned as fast as ACIC processes them.

Does having a common name slow down my check?

It can. A common name increases the likelihood of a name match in the national database, which triggers an ACIC manual review. Providing accurate middle names and ensuring your submitted details exactly match your identity documents can help ACIC confirm your identity more quickly.

How long is my NCCHC result valid for?

An NCCHC result does not have an official expiry date — it is a point-in-time record of your criminal history at the time of issue. However, many employers and organisations require a check to have been issued within a specific timeframe, commonly 3–12 months. Check with the requesting organisation before reusing an existing certificate.

Will I receive email updates while my check is being processed?

Yes. Worker Checks sends email notifications at key stages of your application — including when your identity verification is complete, when your check has been submitted to ACIC, and when your result is ready. You can also log in to your portal at any time to check your application status.