What is a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check?

A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) is a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check that searches relevant Australian police information and returns disclosable court outcomes where they can be released for the stated purpose. It is commonly called a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check in everyday use.

An NCCHC may be required for employment, volunteering, licensing, probity, student placements, compliance and general background screening. Individuals can apply for their own check, and organisations can request checks from applicants with consent.

AuthNTick helps applicants and organisations apply online through a secure, mobile-friendly process with identity verification, status visibility and Australian support.

Important: An NCCHC is commonly used for employment, volunteering, licensing and general background screening. AFP Police Checks may be required for immigration, citizenship, overseas visa, Commonwealth employment or ACT-specific purposes.

How an NCCHC works

The check is assessed against the purpose provided in the application. This matters because police agencies use the stated purpose, spent conviction laws and information release policies to decide what information may be disclosed.

1. Apply online

Enter your personal details, select the correct purpose, provide consent and upload the required identity documents.

2. Verify identity

Your identity information and documents are checked before the application is submitted for Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check processing.

3. Police matching

The application is checked against police information. Some checks are completed quickly, while others may need manual review.

4. Receive the result

The result is released as a point-in-time check for the purpose selected in the application.

When you may need a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check

A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check may be requested before starting work, licensing, accreditation, regulated activities or roles involving trust and responsibility. For eligible unpaid roles and placements, use the Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Volunteer Check.

  • Pre-employment and HR screening
  • Volunteer and student placement checks
  • Licensing, probity and compliance requirements
  • Roles involving vulnerable people or sensitive information
  • General background screening requested by an organisation

New Zealand and foreign passport holder document requirements

If you are applying for a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check with a New Zealand passport or another foreign passport, you may need to provide passport details and supporting visa or entitlement evidence as part of the identity verification process.

Applicants should make sure their passport, personal details and any VEVO or visa entitlement information match the details entered in the Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check application. Clear and current document uploads can help reduce avoidable delays before submission.

Read the full guide to document requirements for New Zealand and foreign passport holders before starting your NCCHC application.

Why apply through AuthNTick?

ACIC-accredited provider

AuthNTick is a private ACIC-accredited provider for Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks.

Secure online application

Applicants can complete the process online with secure document handling and privacy-conscious workflows.

Australian support

Our team can help if you are unsure about purpose selection, identity documents or application status.

Mobile-friendly process

The application flow is designed to work clearly on desktop and mobile devices.

Helpful NCCHC Guides

Use these related guides to understand the right Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check pathway for your situation, whether you are applying for employment, volunteering, identity support, processing time, probity or special background screening.

Ready to start or continue your Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check?

AuthNTick is a private ACIC-accredited provider and is not a government agency. Our secure online application is mobile-friendly, supported by an Australian team, and designed to help you provide the right details before submission.

Start a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check Resume your application Talk to support