National Police Check: does it expire?

No formal expiry. It is a snapshot of the day it was issued, so the employer decides how recent it must be. Most care and construction employers want one from the last 12 months.

What does a national police check cost in New South Wales?

Fee, name and date of birth check: $58.60, GST free. Fee, fingerprint check: $221.70

What does a national police check cost in Victoria?

Fee, standard: $91.50, GST exempt. Fee, volunteer or student on placement: $31.10, GST exempt. When fees change: 1 July each year

What does a national police check cost in Queensland?

Fee, name-only check: $78.15. Fee, name plus fingerprints: $260.60. National checking service processing fee: $6.95

Credentials

National Police Check

A National Police Check is a criminal history check run through a national system, applied for through your own state police. It costs between $58.60 and $91.50 depending on the state, and has no formal expiry, though most care and construction employers want one issued within the last twelve months.

One national scheme. The rules are the same wherever you are, though you apply through your own state and the price differs.

Key facts

Fee, name and date of birth check: $58.60, GST free
Fee, fingerprint check: $221.70
Printed certificate by post: $5.60 extra
Processing: Most digital results are quick; around 30% go to manual review and take 1 to 15 business days
Checked against the issuing authority on 2026-10-25.

What it costs, state by state

The same requirement, priced differently depending on where you happen to live: $58.60 in New South Wales against $91.50 in Victoria.

Checked at each issuing authority, most recently 2026-10-25. Every figure links to its own state page, where the source is cited.
State	Paid	Volunteer	Turnaround
NSW	$58.60, GST freerelayed	not checked	Most digital results are quick; around 30% go to manual review and take 1 to 15 business daysrelayed
VIC	$91.50, GST exempt	$31.10, GST exempt	Minimum 10 business daysrelayed
QLD	$78.15relayed	not checked	not checked
WA	$66.00 incl GST	$17.60	Often within the hour; up to 10 business days if further investigation is needed

Figures change, usually on 1 July. Each state page carries the source and the date we read it, and a cell marked "not checked" means exactly that, not zero.

True everywhere in Australia

Does it expire: No formal expiry It is a snapshot of the day it was issued, so the employer decides how recent it must be. Most care and construction employers want one from the last 12 months. Source checked 2026-10-25

By state

We have checked these at the issuing authority.

National Police Check in New South Wales 5 checked
National Police Check in Victoria 5 checked
National Police Check in Queensland 4 checked
National Police Check in Western Australia 4 checked

Keeping track of it

This is one card. Most people carry four or five, each renewing on a different clock, and lose a shift when one quietly lapses. Work out which of yours runs out first, or register and we track every date and chase you before any of them turn red.

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