Apostille for an Australian Police Certificate Check

We can have a digital or physical AFP National Police Certificate stamped with an Apostille by DFAT ASAP.

DFAT accepts both digital and physical versions of the AFP National Police Certificate for Apostille. DFAT will accept a digital AFP National Police Certificate for Apostille if you have the AFP Source Email and the digital certificate is available to access and download in the AFP Portal. Please refer to our booking platform for the AFP Source Emails accepted by DFAT.

Digital certificates are the fastest to have Apostilled because digital certificates:

• are sent directly to your email address by the AFP as soon as the application is finalised by the AFP; and
• can be uploaded in the Swift Notary booking platform and printed by Swift Notary for Apostille. There is no need to deliver any hard-copy document to Swift Notary.

How long does it take to have an AFP National Police Certificate Apostilled?

The DFAT processing time for an Apostille is up to 3 business days from lodgement of the document with DFAT.

We will have the police check Apostilled and sent by express post within 3 business days from receipt of your booking (if you would like the digital AFP National Police Certificate Apostilled) or the original hard-copy document (if you would like the physical AFP National Police Certificate to be Apostilled). We will send the Apostilled document as soon as it is completed by DFAT.

We provide complimentary express postage of the Apostilled document anywhere in Australia, or we can send the document overseas via DHL Express Worldwide for an additional cost. If international delivery is selected in the booking platform, the price for DHL to the selected country will be displayed. You can also choose to receive a PDF copy of the Apostilled document by email prior to postage.

How do I book the Apostille?

To have a digital or hard-copy AFP National Police Certificate Apostilled by DFAT, select "Police Certificate" as the document type in the booking platform and upload a copy of the AFP National Police Certificate. Select whether you would prefer to have the digital or physical version of the AFP National Police Certificate Apostilled by DFAT. If you select digital, we will print the digital AFP National Police Certificate for Apostille. If you select physical, we will provide a prepaid express post label for delivery of the physical AFP National Police Certificate to Swift Notary from anywhere in Australia, or provide instructions for delivery of the document to Swift Notary if you are sending it from overseas or directly from the issuer.

The booking platform will guide you through the process and provide a summary of the services and pricing based on your selections.

What is the difference between the digital and physical AFP National Police Certificate?

Both digital and hard copy certificates are originals and are accepted overseas.

Digital Certificate

Digital certificates are issued as a PDF and include a unique QR code that can be scanned to validate the certificate directly with the AFP online.

Refer to a sample of the digital police certificate below.

Physical Police Certificate

Physical police certificates are printed on paper that includes:

• a watermark of multiple images of a padlock with 2 keys visible when held up to the light
• fluorescent tricolour threads on both sides of the document that glow blue, yellow and red when held under ultraviolet light
• a border on the right-hand front of the document, printed in microtype, that can be read when viewed under magnification
• images printed in heat-sensitive ink that fade or disappear under moderate heat or friction
• hidden images printed in fluorescent ink that glow yellow when viewed under ultraviolet light
• a screened background printed in solvent-reactive ink.

Refer to a sample of the hard-copy police certificate below.

If I choose to have the digital AFP National Police Certificate Apostilled, will I receive a hard-copy Apostilled document?

Yes, we will print the digital AFP National Police Certificate and lodge the printed AFP National Police Certificate with DFAT for Apostille. All Apostilles issued by DFAT are stamped on physical documents. DFAT does not issue electronic Apostilles (e-Apostilles).

What if I do not have the AFP Source Email or I would prefer to have the physical certificate Apostilled?

If you do not have the AFP Source Email or the certificate is not available to access and download in the AFP Portal, we will send a complimentary express post label for delivery of the hard-copy police certificate to Swift Notary from anywhere in Australia, or provide instructions for delivery of the document to Swift Notary if you are sending the document from overseas or directly from the AFP.  

What does an Apostille look like?

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What is a National Police Certificate?

A National Police Check is a summary of any offending of the person in Australia. The Police Certificate lists 'disclosable court outcomes' including:

• local and interstate criminal and traffic court outcomes
• outstanding warrants
• pending charges, where a person has been charged with an offence but has not yet been to court.

How to apply for an AFP National Police Certificate

You can apply for a National Police Certificate from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) website: Apply for a National Police Certificate. You will need to provide your details, such as name and date of birth, the purpose of the police check and identification documents. We recommend ordering a hard copy certificate so that the certificate can be Apostilled by DFAT.

If you are requesting a Police Certificate from the AFP solely for the purpose of sending it to another country, you can ask the AFP to send the Police Certificate directly to us to speed up the Notarising and Apostille/Authentication process.

How Swift Notary can help?

We can obtain an Apostille Certificate Stamp from DFAT for your AFP National Police Certificate check. We manage the application and appointment process with DFAT from start to finish and attend DFAT daily for clients. To book online instantly, follow this link. Select "Police Certificate" as the document type.

Have any questions?

We're here to help - email us at support@swiftnotary.com.au