Form 80 and Police Checks (NPC): What's the Difference?

Form 80 versus a National Police Check: what each is

Understanding why the Department uses both documents — when it does — requires understanding what each one actually is:

Form 80	National Police Check (NPC)
A self-declaration form — you fill it in yourself and sign a declaration that the contents are true	An official document issued by a police authority, showing what is on record about you in criminal databases
Covers 20 sections of personal history: addresses, employment, travel, education, family, character	Covers criminal history only — charges, convictions, and in some cases, pending matters
Asks you to disclose criminal history in any country, regardless of whether it appears in Australian police records	Shows what Australian police databases hold — does not capture overseas records
Asks you to disclose spent convictions, charges that did not result in conviction, and arrests, depending on jurisdiction	Generally shows only unspent convictions (spent convictions may not appear, depending on the type of check)
Submitted by you to ImmiAccount as part of your visa application	Issued by the AFP, a state police service, or an ACIC-accredited provider; submitted to ImmiAccount separately

The two documents complement each other. The NPC tells the Department what official records say. Form 80 tells the Department what you say. The Department uses both to verify consistency and assess your character honestly.

When the Department requests both, and when just one

There is no fixed rule that applies to every applicant — what the Department requests depends on the visa subclass and your individual circumstances. General patterns:

• Form 80 only: Common for temporary visa applications where character assessment is triggered by individual circumstances (prior refusals, criminal history disclosed in other sections) rather than required as a standard document.
• Police clearance only: Some visa types list a police clearance as a standard supporting document without requiring Form 80. Check your specific visa requirements in ImmiAccount or the Department's document checklist.
• Both Form 80 and one or more police clearances: Common for permanent residency applications (including skilled and partner visa streams), and often required for applicants who have lived in multiple countries. The Department may request an Australian NPC plus overseas clearances from each country where you lived for 12 months or more over the past 10 years.

How to get an Australian National Police Check

An Australian NPC can be obtained through several channels. All channels access the same ACIC (Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission) national database of police records:

• Australian Federal Police (AFP): The AFP issues NPCs directly at afp.gov.au. This is the most widely recognised source for immigration purposes. Applications can be submitted online; processing typically takes a few business days but can take longer for complex histories. Cost is around $42–$50 at time of publication.
• ACIC-accredited agencies: Many private background check services are accredited by the ACIC to issue NPCs. These services often provide faster turnaround and a more streamlined online experience. Results are equivalent to an AFP check — both draw from the same ACIC database. Check the ACIC website for the current list of accredited agencies.
• State and territory police: Some state police services issue their own police certificates, but these cover only records held by that state. For immigration purposes, an NPC from the AFP or an ACIC-accredited agency — which covers records across all jurisdictions — is what the Department typically requires.

For immigration applications, the Department generally requires an NPC that covers the full national database, not a state-only certificate. Check your ImmiAccount request carefully for any specific requirements about which type of check is acceptable.

How to get overseas police clearances

The Department may require police clearances from each country where you lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years — in addition to an Australian NPC. The process varies significantly by country:

• Some countries issue clearances online or by post — you apply through the relevant national police authority's website or a designated government agency. Processing times range from a few days to several weeks.
• Some countries require in-person applications — either at a local police station in the country concerned, or through that country's embassy or consulate in Australia. If you are no longer in the country, the consulate route is usually the only practical option.
• Some countries do not issue police clearances for foreign nationals or former residents. In these cases, the Department has established country-specific guidance. The Department of Home Affairs publishes information about which countries cannot provide clearances and what to do in each case — consult their website or your migration agent for the current guidance.

Allow significantly more time for overseas clearances than for an Australian NPC. Some countries' clearances can take four to twelve weeks. Start the process as early as possible — ideally before you lodge your visa application if you know a clearance will be required.

For each overseas clearance, follow the Department's guidance on whether the document needs to be translated into English and whether it needs to be authenticated (apostilled or otherwise certified). Requirements differ by country and by the bilateral arrangements Australia has with that country.

How NPC results affect your Form 80 answers

The relationship between your NPC result and your Form 80 answers matters for three distinct situations:

1. Your NPC is clear and you have no criminal history to disclose. Answer the character questions in Part K (Q36 onwards) honestly. If the answer is genuinely "no" to all character questions, mark them as such. Your clear NPC will corroborate your Form 80 answers. No special action is required.

2. Your NPC is clear but you have history that is not on the NPC. This is the most common source of confusion. An Australian NPC will not show:

• Criminal history from other countries
• Convictions that have become spent under state or territory spent convictions legislation
• Arrests or charges that did not result in a conviction
• Matters from when you were a juvenile (in most cases)

A clear NPC does not mean you can leave Part K blank if any of the above apply to you. Form 80 requires disclosure regardless of what appears on Australian police records. Use Part T to clarify that a matter does not appear on your NPC because it is spent, overseas, or otherwise not recorded in Australian databases.

3. Your NPC shows a conviction you did not disclose in Form 80. This creates an immediate, visible inconsistency between two documents in the same application file. Act immediately: correct your Form 80 by uploading a new version that discloses the matter accurately in Part K, accompanied by a cover note explaining the correction. Seek migration agent advice before uploading if the matter is significant.

See the Form 80 criminal history guide for detailed guidance on what Part K requires and how to present each type of matter.

Related guides

• Form 80 criminal history: what must be disclosed in Part K
• Form 80 character assessment: how the Department evaluates your answers

Frequently asked questions

Do I need both Form 80 and a police check for my visa?

It depends on your visa type and individual circumstances. Some visas require both as standard; others may request only Form 80, only a police clearance, or neither. The definitive answer for your application is in your ImmiAccount document checklist — the Department lists the specific documents it has requested. Do not assume: check ImmiAccount first.

Where do I get a National Police Check for an Australian visa application?

For immigration purposes, obtain your NPC through the Australian Federal Police (AFP) or an ACIC-accredited agency. Both draw from the same national criminal database and are accepted by the Department of Home Affairs. State police certificates are generally not accepted for immigration purposes as they cover only that state's records. The AFP online application typically takes a few business days; some ACIC-accredited agencies offer faster processing.

My NPC is clear — do I still need to disclose something in Form 80 Part K?

Possibly. A clear Australian NPC does not mean Part K is automatically blank. Form 80 requires disclosure of criminal history in any country, including convictions that are spent, charges that did not result in a conviction, and matters from overseas that will not appear in Australian police databases. Read each character question in Part K carefully and answer it honestly based on your actual history — not based on what your NPC shows.

My NPC shows a conviction I didn't list in Form 80. What should I do?

Act immediately. This creates a visible inconsistency between two documents in the same application file. Generate a corrected Form 80 that accurately discloses the matter in Part K, sign and date the new version, and upload it to ImmiAccount with a cover note explaining the correction. If the conviction is significant — particularly for permanent residency applications — seek migration agent advice before uploading. See the Form 80 correction guide for the step-by-step process.

How long is a police clearance valid for immigration purposes?

The Department of Home Affairs typically requires police clearances to be no more than 12 months old at the time a decision is made on your application — not at the time you lodge. For applications with lengthy processing queues, you may need to obtain a fresh clearance during processing. Check your ImmiAccount document request for any specific validity period stated. For overseas clearances, allow extra time as some countries take four to twelve weeks to issue.