National Police Certificates
Q: What is a National Police Certificate?
A National Police Certificate is a list of your disclosable Court outcomes and pending charges sourced from the databases of all Australian Police Jurisdictions. Certain convictions may not be disclosed on a NPC in accordance with the legislation and policies of various police jurisdictions (eg Spent Convictions and most traffic and juvenile convictions). National Police Certificates are commonly used for employment or licensing purposes. You should check with your employer or licensing body to confirm that a National Police Certificate is appropriate as some employers and licensing bodies use alternative screening processes.
Q: When do I need a National Police Certificate?
National Police Certificates are commonly used for employment or licensing purposes. You should check with your employer or licensing body to confirm that a National Police Certificate is appropriate as some employers and licensing bodies use alternative screening processes.
Q: Can I apply for a National Police Certificate for child-related employment purposes?
No. The Working With Children Check is different to National Police certificates.
Anyone applying for child-related employment, or volunteering must apply for a Working With Children Check at an authorised Australia Post outlet. More information is at the Working With Children Check website or call (08) 6217 8100.
Q: How much does a National Police Certificate cost?
NPC costs $55.50. There are no discounts or concessions available.
Note: Cheques will not be accepted
Q: How do I apply for a National Police Certificate?
Individuals requiring a National Police Certificate in Western Australia must attend in person at a participating Bank@Post Australia Post outlet.
You must bring sufficient proof or identity (100-point check), complete an application form (only available at participating Bank@Post Australia Post outlet) and pay the application fee (note cheques are not accepted)
Q: Can I apply at a WA Police station?
No. Applicants can only apply for a National Police Certificate at a participating Bank@Post Australia Post outlet.
Q: Why is Australia Post accepting National Police Certificate applications and not police stations?
Australia Post offers more convenience for most people with over 335 participating Australia Post outlets and the opportunity to benefit from their existing infrastructure. This also provides efficiencies at police stations to facilitate a greater focus on local policing activities.
If you are in a remote area and unable to travel to a post office please contact 1300 651 963 to discuss your situation.
Q: Can I apply online or via mail?
No. All applications must be presented in person at a participating Bank@Post Australia Post outlet.
Q: Do I have to apply in person?
Yes. Applications will not be accepted unless presented in person at an Australia Post outlet.
Q: Where can I obtain an application form?
National Police Certificate application forms are only available at participating Bank@Post Australia Post outlets.
Q: Can I apply for a National Police Certificate via WA Police whilst overseas?
No. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has responsibility for processing requests for National Criminal History Record Checks (NCHRC) from Australian residents living or traveling outside Australia. Information on applying for a NCHRC via the AFP is available from www.afp.gov.au
Q: Can I apply for a National Police Certificate via WA Police whilst interstate?
No. National Police Certificates are issued in accordance with Western Australian laws and as such are only suitable for people in Western Australia. You will need to apply for a National Police Certificate through the police within the state or territory that you are staying. Contact your local police for more information.
Q: What are acceptable types of identification?
Applicants must provide suitable proof of identity, this is based on a 100-point identity check. You must provide original proof of identity, copies will not be accepted. See Proof of Identity for information.
Q: Will staff at Australia Post outlets see my Criminal Record?
No. Australia Post outlets process your National Police Certificate application, but are not involved in the screening process, this is conducted by the federal CrimTrac agency and WA Police. Your personal information is always treated with strict confidentiality.
Q: In what form will results be provided?
National Police Certificate will be posted to your nominated address. This lists your discloseable Court outcomes, and will not include restricted Court outcomes, such as Spent convictions or Certain Juvenile convictions. National Police Certificates will be posted to your nominated address.
Q: What security features are included in a National Police Certificate?
The National Police Certificate contains a number of inbuilt security features:
- a watermark consisting of multiple images of a padlock with two keys which is visible when held up to the light;
- fluorescent tricolour threads on both sides of the document glow blue, yellow and red when held under ultra violet light;
- a border to the right of the police logos on the front of the document is printed in MICROTYPE which can be read when viewed under magnification;
- images on the front are printed in heat sensitive ink and, when moderate heat or friction is applied, they will fade or disappear momentarily; and
- images printed in fluorescent ink and will glow yellow when viewed under ultra violet light.
Q: Who will receive the National Police Certificate?
The National Police Certificate will be posted to you at the address that you nominate on the application form.
Q: What is included in a National Police Certificate?
A: A National Police Certificate is a list of a your disclosable Court outcomes and pending charges sourced from the databases of all Australian police jurisdictions. Certain convictions may not be disclosed on a NPC in accordance with the legislation and policies of various police jurisdictions (eg Spent Convictions and most traffic and juvenile convictions).
Australian police criminal record information is generally limited to prosecutions initiated by police. Some offences are prosecuted by non-police organisations and details of convictions resulting from these prosecutions may not be included in the National Police Certificate.
Q: What is a Spent Conviction?
A "Spent Conviction" is a conviction that is restricted from release in under the Spent Conviction Act 1988 which relates to conviction in Western Australia. There is other legislation that may restrict the release of convictions, and convictions recorded in other States and Territories may be effected by the appropriate legislation within that jurisdiction. Generally "Spent Convictions" will not be disclosed on a National Police Certificate.
Q: How do I apply for a Spent Conviction?
A National Police Certificate application, incorporates a request for WA Police to spend any eligible WA Convictions. This means that any time you apply for a National Police Certificate we will review your convictions and their eligibility to become spent under the Spent Convictions Act 1988.
WA Police can only spend lesser convictions from WA Courts. A lesser conviction is one for which a period of imprisonment for 1 year or less or a fine of $15,000 or less was imposed. A lesser conviction can not be spent until a period of 10 years, plus any period of imprisonment relevant to the conviction has passed, without any further conviction being incurred (unless no punishment of a fine under $500 was imposed).
You may also apply for a Spent Conviction at the Court at the time that your conviction is recorded. You should obtain independent legal advice in this regard.
A Serious Conviction is one for which the fine exceeds $15,000 or the term of imprisonment exceeds 12 months. Serious convictions can only be spent by a District Court judge. For more information please contact the District Court on 9425 2222 or seek independent legal advice.
Q: What are the consequences of a conviction becoming spent?
If a conviction of a person is considered spent, the benefit provided to the person is that he/she is not required to disclose to any other person, for any purpose, information concerning the spent conviction. Secondly, any question concerning the person's criminal history is taken to refer only to any convictions of the person which are not spent. Finally, where an Act or statutory instrument applies to a person, any reference to a conviction is taken to be a reference only to any convictions of the person which are not spent, and any reference to a person's character or fitness does not provide for consideration of spent convictions in that assessment. Certain exception apply and are detailed in the Spent Convictions Act 1988.
Q: How long will it take to process my application?
You should allow a minimum 3 to 5 business days if you have never been charged with an offence. National Police Certificates will be posted to you at the address you nominate on the application form. If further clarification is required this could take 15 working days to resolve (ie confirmation of identity, obtain convictions from other States, etc)
Q: How can I check the progress of my National Police Certificate?
You should allow for five business days before contacting us about the progress of your application. After this period you may contact WA Police on 1300 651 963 or email for progress. We will be unable to confirm the progress of your application immediately as we need to check a number of databases, and in some cases may need to contact other police jurisdictions. We will provide you with further information within two working days, and in most instances this will be within one day.
Q: How long is a National Police Certificate valid?
A National Police Certificate lists the disclosable criminal history information that is available on the day it is issued. WA Police imposes no period of validity on NPCs; it is up to employers and organisations to determine the currency of a NPC they will accept.
Q: I need my Criminal record for Court, do I use a National Police Certificate?
No. A National Police Certificate is not suitable for Court purposes as it only lists "disclosable court outcomes". You should seek independent legal advice if you require your criminal record for Court. Production of your criminal record may be facilitated via summons, subpoena or disclosure rules depending on the type of Court proceeding.
Q: How do I dispute information contained on a National Police Certificate?
Applicants who dispute information recorded on the National Police Certificate should write to WA Police, Information Release Locked Bag 35, Perth Business Centre, WA, 6849, or email
Applicants must specify the offences or information in dispute and be prepared to provide comparison fingerprints. We will notify applicants in writing if comparison fingerprints are required. No fee will be charged and fingerprints will be destroyed upon resolution of the dispute.
Q: Can I have my criminal record destroyed/expunged?
No. There is no obligation on WA Police to destroy criminal record information at any time.
Q: How can I get more information about National Police Certificates?
Call 1300 651 963 or see National Police Certificates on this website.
Q: How do I obtain my Traffic Convictions?
You can obtain your Western Australian traffic convictions by applying at your local police station, completing the application form and paying the prescribed fee. See State Traffic Certificates on this website for more information and the application form, or call (08) 9260 7777.
Q: What do I do if I change my address before receiving my National Police Certificate?
You will need to lodge a "change of address notification" with Australia Post as duplicate National Police Certificates will not be issued.
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