Know the Difference between AFP Check and Criminal History Check

Sometimes it happens that you need a Police check urgently and searching on the web about the information before proceeding the check. But there is too many information on the internet which may lead to more confusion!

You are seeing the information on Australian Federal Police Check (AFP) and Criminal History Check as both referred to as National Police checks in many places. Now, you can't decide which check is for you.

If you are facing the same situation, then this blog is for you. In this blog, we will highlight the difference between AFP Check and a Police History Check.

Though AFP Check and a National Police Check both referred as a Police check, they are obtained for different purposes.

An AFP Check is conducted by federal police and lists disclosable offences and pending charges of a candidate. It is obtained for below purposes;

• If a person needs a check under Commonwealth legislation

• Residents of ACT, Jervis Bay Territory and external Commonwealth territories

• An applicant wants to get employed with the commonwealth government

• For Immigration purposes

• Overseas employment and adoption

• When an applicant stays overseas

• visa applications for overseas travel.

Whereas a National Police check, popularly referred as Criminal History check, also lists disclosable offences and pending charges, however, it collects its data from all Australian Police jurisdictions, and the check is provided by Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). It is mainly obtained for standard employment or volunteering purposes.

To apply for an AFP check, an applicant needs to upload a 100 points of ID.

To apply for a Criminal History check, an applicant will need a self-captured photo and 4 identification documents.

The processing time for an AFP check is longer than a Criminal History check. AFP check result is delivered in 5-15 days, whereas in 70% of the cases, a Criminal History check result is delivered in 1-2 business days. It may take longer in case an applicant's detail matched with a potential offender in the database.

In an AFP check, certain convictions which fall under the rule of spent convictions, are not shown. In a National Police check certificate, spent or juvenile convictions may not be disclosed in accordance with the police jurisdictions of that state/territory.

An applicant can lodge their National Police check for employment and volunteer purpose with KONCHECK, an accredited portal of ACIC and it's 100% online. It promises to streamline the police checking process hassle-free by its user-friendly interface.

One can apply for the check from anywhere as soon as 5 minutes through this platform. The certificated provided by KONCHECK is valid all over Australia. Login to access your application anytime, anywhere. Start, Pause, Resume & Track the application! The employer can easily verify the authenticity of the certificates with the reference number.

KONCHECK also offers tailor-made business solutions for all types of businesses by enabling them to process bulk Police Check applications from one platform to another. Our approach involves such services as; partners' website and customised online portal—a smarter and affordable way to lodge the right police check.