Certify Australian National Police Certificates for use abroad
Isarey provides specialist Apostille and attestation services in Australia. We arrange Apostille certification and embassy certification for Australian Police Certificates required for use in Europe and abroad.
Criminal record certificates issued in Australia can be authenticated for official use in countries which are signatories to the Apostille Convention by obtaining an Apostille stamp. Apostille Stamps on National and State background checks are issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and are also available from Australian embassies and consulates abroad.
Certificates required for non-apostille countries must also be legalized by the destination country's embassy in Canberra. Non-Apostille countries include: 
United Arab Emirates - Qatar - Thailand - Taiwan - Vietnam
- Apostilles on Australian criminal record certificates are normally obtained from Australia or from Australian embassies abroad in 2 - 10 business days depending on the availability of appointments.
Isarey will take care of the entire process for you. We offer individual assistance certifying your documents and a dedicated project manager to ensure that each process is carried out efficiently and securely.
Because we work in various states in Australia and also abroad, we can find the best option for obtaining an apostille on your Australian police check based on courier costs - DFAT in Australia or an Australian Embassy. For urgent apostille requests, we'll check the availability of appointments at different embassies to ensure the fastest processing time.
While most authorities requiring criminal record certificates ask for a National Police Check from the Federal Police, apostilles can also be obtained for State Background Checks.
How to obtain an Australian Police Certificate
National Police Certificates (Federal Police)
Australian criminal record certificates required for use abroad (e.g. visa, residency and foreign citizenship applications) are issued by the Federal Police. The reason for needing the police check must be given in the application and will be stated on the issued certificate.
Applicants will automatically receive a digital copy of their National Police Check. A paper copy can also be requested. Apostilles can be obtained to authenticate both digital and paper certificates.
Applications may be submitted by post or online. You can only apply to receive your own police check. Most applications are name-based, but in some cases a fingerprint-based check may be required.
State Certificates
National Police Certificates are also available from State police forces. These are generally meant for national use. In most cases, where certificates are required for submission to overseas authorities, a National Police Certificate should be obtained from the Federal police (see above).
Most authorities requiring criminal record certificates ask for a recent certificate (usually issued within the last three months)
Certified translations of Australian Police Certificates
When presenting an Australian criminal record check in a country (or embassy) which does not have English as an official language, then a certified translation may be required. The certified translation must meet the requirements of the destination country, so that a translation done locally in Australia will normally need to notarized and certified by an apostille.
Alternatively, it is often cheaper to make a certified translation in the destination country. We offer sworn translations of Australian Criminal Record certificates certified in Italy (by court in Rome), Germany (court translator), Portugal (notarized translation), Spain (Traducción Jurada) and many other countries.
Isarey works with local notaries and sworn translators in a wide range of destination countries. We'll take care of the entire legalization and translation process, so that your certificates are correctly translated and ready to submit:
- GERMANY: translations into German must be certified by an officially authorized and appointed sworn translator.
- SPAIN: translator must be authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Spanish) ("Traducción Jurada")
- FRANCE: translations into French must be certified by a translator accredited by a French court of appeal (Cour d'appel)
- ITALY: translations must be authenticated by a Court Clerk or by a Notary Public in Italy
- PORTUGAL: translations into Portuguese can be certified in Portugal by a local notary