Police Clearance and Criminal History Checks
How to obtain a police and character clearance report from Australia
Under the Australian Privacy Act, the Australian Embassy cannot obtain confidential information on Australian citizens or residents of Australia from any Australian police force. Only the person him/herself may obtain this information directly from the relevant state, territory or federal police force.
Australians abroad often need police or character certificates for such purposes as court requirements, residence permission or securing employment. Australian Citizens requiring such certificates should contact the appropriate Australian Federal, State or Territory Police Force.
The type, cost and application forms required for clearance certificates vary from state to state. Any State or Territory in Australia will be able to provide at least one of the following certificates:
•Certificate issued on the basis of fingerprints;
•Certificate issued on the basis of a name check; and
•National Police Clearance Certificate.
Australian Citizens seeking to obtain any form of clearance certificate are advised that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in Canberra can issue a National Police Clearance Certificate that covers criminal records in all states and territories, except Queensland. The AFP has advised that this certificate is acceptable in all countries. You should confirm that the requesting local authority will accept this certificate.
Australian Federal Police
Criminal Records Branch
Locked Bag 1
Weston ACT 2611
AUSTRALIA
Tel: 00 61 2 6256 7777
Fax: 00 61 2 6287 0603
https://www.afp.gov.au/what-we-do/services/criminal-records/national-police-checks
Please note an application for a National Police Clearance Certificate contains various options. It would be in your interests to make direct contact with the police force, to which you will be applying for the certificate, to ensure that your application meets the necessary requirements and delays in processing may be minimised.
If you require a certificate based on fingerprints, you should make your own arrangements with the local police force to have your fingerprints taken. Please note that these certificates will only be issued on the basis of original fingerprint records being provided to the supplying police force in Australia. Photocopies and faxes of fingerprint records are not acceptable.
Obtaining a Police Clearance from Thailand
Australian citizens requiring a police clearance from Thailand should contact the Special Branch of the Royal Thai Police at the following address:
The Police Clearance Service Centre
Building 24, Royal Thai Police
Rama 1
Pathumwan Bangkok 10330
Phone: +66 (02) 205 2168-9, Fax+66 (02) 205 1295
Website: Police Clearance Service Center (sbpolice.go.th)
Email: [email protected], [email protected]