Guide to the AFP Check: The Clearance Process

If you have been asked for one, you are probably on a deadline: a visa application, a Commonwealth job offer, or a move to the ACT. The good news is that the process is mostly online and usually fast. The catch is that small mistakes on the form, or choosing the wrong type of check, can cost you weeks.

This guide covers who actually needs one, how the application works, realistic processing times, how to track your status, and what shows up on the certificate.

What Is an AFP Check?

An AFP check, officially called a National Police Certificate (NPC), is a summary of your disclosable court outcomes across every Australian state and territory, issued by the Australian Federal Police. It is sometimes called an Australian Federal Police check or AFP national police check, and they all mean the same document.

It is different from the standard Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) that most employers ask for. Both search national police records, but the AFP issues its own certificate, and it is the only version accepted for certain purposes. Our guide to the difference between an NPC and an AFP check covers this in more detail.

Is an AFP check the same as a security clearance?

No, and this is one of the most common mix-ups. It is a police history certificate. A security clearance (Baseline, NV1, NV2 and so on) is a much deeper vetting process run by the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) for roles that access classified information. A security clearance assessment may look at your police history, but a police certificate on its own is not a security clearance.

Who Needs an AFP Check?

The AFP can only issue a National Police Certificate for specific purposes. The main ones are:

• Visa and immigration, including skilled, partner, and graduate visas such as the 485 visa
• Australian citizenship applications
• Commonwealth Government employment, or roles needing a check under Commonwealth law
• ACT residents, plus Jervis Bay Territory and external Commonwealth territories
• Applicants living overseas who need an Australian police certificate

For most private-sector jobs, volunteering, or occupational licensing, a standard National Police Check is what you need instead. If you are unsure, our article on when you need an AFP clearance police check walks through each scenario.

AFP check for visa and immigration

The Department of Home Affairs only accepts an AFP-issued certificate for migration purposes, which includes employer-sponsored migration. If you are applying for a visa, you will usually need to select purpose code 33 on the application. Our guide to AFP police check Code 33 explains exactly how to complete that section.

AFP police check in NSW and other states

Your state does not change which check you need. An AFP police check NSW residents apply for is identical to one issued to someone in Perth or Hobart. What matters is the purpose: a visa or Commonwealth role needs the AFP version, while most state-based employment needs a standard National Police Check.

How to Apply for an AFP Check

You can apply for an AFP check directly online or through a provider such as Rapid Screening, which lodges and tracks it for you. Either way, the process follows the same steps:

1. Choose the correct purpose code. Select the code that matches why you need the check, for example, Code 33 for immigration or citizenship.
2. Complete the online application form. Enter your full legal name, all previous names, and your address history exactly as they appear on your documents.
3. Upload 100 points of identification. This must include at least one primary document, such as a passport or full birth certificate.
4. Pay the application fee. The AFP charges $57 for a name-only check, or $114 if fingerprints are required.
5. Track your application using the AFP Status Portal and keep your reference number handy.

The most common reason an application is delayed is a mismatch between the form and the ID documents, such as a missing middle name or a previous surname that was not listed. Our guide to what documents are needed for a police check shows which combinations reach 100 points.

AFP Check Processing Time

How long does an AFP check take? According to the Australian Federal Police, most National Police Certificates are completed within 48 hours of receiving the application. That can stretch when the AFP needs records from several states and territories.

These are the AFP’s own published timeframes, not guarantees. If you have a common name, have lived in several states, or have any court history, budget extra time. Our guide on how to avoid delays in a police check covers the practical steps that keep an application moving.

How to Check Your AFP Check Status

The AFP runs a Status Portal where you can track your National Police Certificate using your application details. You will also receive emails when your application is received and when it is finalised.

If you applied through Rapid Screening, contact our team with your order details, and we will follow up on your behalf. Rapid Screening allows 10 to 25 business days in case manual checks are needed, and most are finalised within 5 business days.

AFP Check Cost

The AFP check cost depends on where you apply and whether fingerprints are needed. <!– Insert afp-cost-comparison-table-navy.html here (Rapid Screening row is the featured row) –>

Applying directly with the AFP is cheaper. Going through Rapid Screening costs a little more, but our team reviews your form and purpose code before it is lodged. For a visa application with a fixed deadline, getting it right the first time is usually worth more than the price difference. You can apply for an AFP check through Rapid Screening online.

What Does an AFP Check Show?

The certificate lists your disclosable court outcomes and any pending charges from every Australian police jurisdiction. Your result will be one of two outcomes:

• No Disclosable Court Outcomes: there is no police history information that can be released.
• Disclosable Court Outcomes: the certificate lists the information that can be released, such as convictions, findings of guilt and pending charges.

Not everything from your past will appear. Spent convictions laws mean that many older, minor offences are not disclosed once a set crime-free period has passed.

Does an AFP Check Expire?

The certificate itself has no formal expiry date. It reflects your record on the day it was issued. In practice, the organisation asking for it decides how recent it must be. Home Affairs generally expects a police certificate issued within the last 12 months for visa purposes, and many employers apply a similar window.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an AFP check take?

The AFP completes most name-only checks within 48 hours of receiving the application. Checks that need records from several jurisdictions take longer, and name and fingerprint checks take 15 to 30 business days.

How much does an AFP check cost?

Applying directly with the AFP costs $57 for a name-only check or $114 with fingerprints. Both fees are GST exempt. Applying through Rapid Screening costs $72.90, including postage.

How do I check my AFP police check status?

Use the AFP Status Portal with your application details. The AFP also emails you when your application is received and when it is finalised. If you applied through Rapid Screening, contact our team and we will follow it up for you.

Is an AFP check a security clearance?

No. It is a police history certificate. A security clearance is a separate, more detailed vetting process run by the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency.

Do I need an AFP check for a 485 visa?

Yes. The Department of Home Affairs only accepts an AFP National Police Certificate for migration purposes, including the 485 Temporary Graduate visa. Select the immigration purpose code (Code 33) when you apply.

Can I apply for an AFP police check online?

Yes. Name-only applications can be lodged online directly with the AFP or through a provider such as Rapid Screening. Only checks that require fingerprints involve an in-person step.

Does an AFP check expire?

The certificate has no formal expiry date. The organisation requesting it decides how recent it must be, and 12 months is a common requirement for visa applications.

What is the purpose of an AFP check?

It confirms whether you have any disclosable court outcomes or pending charges across Australia. It is required for immigration, citizenship, Commonwealth employment, and ACT purposes.

Conclusion

An AFP check is straightforward once you know which purpose you are applying for. Most name-only applications are finalised within 48 hours, while fingerprint checks take three to six weeks. The biggest causes of delay are avoidable: the wrong purpose code, a missing previous name, or ID that does not reach 100 points. If you need one for a visa or Commonwealth role, start early and double-check every detail before you submit.