What you need for your Australian police check
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has strict requirements for confirming your identity. Getting this right the first time means your check won't be delayed.
You'll need to upload five images:
- One selfie photo
- One commencement document (proves your right to be in Australia)
- One primary document (government-issued photo ID)
- Two secondary documents
Critical rules:
- All IDs must be current (unless stated otherwise)
- At least one ID must show both your photo and signature
- Photos must be clear and readable
- If any document is in a former name, you'll need a marriage or change of name certificate
Don't panic. Most people use: birth certificate, driver licence, Medicare card, and bank card.
Quick start: Most common documents
Commencement document (choose one)
- ✓ Australian birth certificate (full certificate, not extract)
- ✓ Australian passport (current or expired less than 3 years ago)
- ✓ Foreign passport + Australian visa (VEVO printout)
Primary document (choose one)
- ✓ Australian driver licence (plastic or digital)
- ✓ Australian passport
- ✓ Government proof-of-age card
Two secondary documents (choose two)
- ✓ Medicare card
- ✓ Bank card (cover the card numbers)
- ✓ Working with Children card
- ✓ Electoral enrolment confirmation
The selfie: Getting it right
What to write on the paper:
- Your full name (same as on your ID)
- Your signature (same style as on your ID)
- Today's date (DD/MM/YYYY format)
How to take the photo:
- Show your whole face (no hats, no sunglasses)
- Show at least one hand holding the paper
- Face the camera
- Good lighting
- Paper should be readable
- Don't block your face with the paper
Common selfie mistakes:
- Handwriting too small to read
- Paper hiding part of face
- Wearing sunglasses or hat
- Signature doesn't match ID
- Wrong date format
- Photo too blurry
How to photograph your documents
Good photos have:
- Entire document visible (all four corners)
- All text clearly readable
- Good lighting (no glare, no shadows)
- Document flat and straight on
Avoid these problems:
- ❌ Cutting off edges of document
- ❌ Flash creating glare
- ❌ Shadow covering text
- ❌ Blurry or out of focus
- ❌ Document at an angle
Pro tip:
Put the document on a flat surface in good natural light (near a window works well). Stand directly above it and take the photo. Check you can read all the text before uploading.
Complete document lists
These are all the documents accepted by ACIC for police checks.
Commencement documents
- Australian birth certificate (full certificate)
- Australian passport
- Australian citizenship certificate
- ImmiCard
- Foreign passport with valid Australian visa
- New Zealand passport with VEVO
Primary documents
- Australian driver licence
- Australian passport
- Foreign passport with visa
- ImmiCard
- Government proof of age card
- Student ID (if under 18)
Secondary documents
- Medicare card
- Bank card or credit card
- Electoral enrolment
- Working with Children card
- Security licence
- Firearms licence
- Centrelink or Veterans Affairs card
- Australian Defence Force ID
- Government employee ID
- Aviation or Maritime Security ID
- Tertiary student ID
- Tax file number document
- Foreign government documents (with NAATI translation)
Special situations
Changed your name?
If any documents are in a former name, you'll need:
- Marriage certificate, or
- Change of name certificate, or
- Divorce decree showing name change
Lost your birth certificate?
You can use your Australian passport instead, or order a new birth certificate from your state's Births, Deaths and Marriages office (usually takes 3-5 business days).
Recently arrived in Australia?
Use your foreign passport with your visa. Print your VEVO record from the Department of Home Affairs website. Foreign documents may need NAATI translation.
Don't have enough documents?
A trusted referee report might be accepted. Contact support to discuss your situation - we've handled thousands of applications and can usually find a solution.
Still stuck?
Send us an email with what documents you have, and we'll help you figure out what works.
Email: support@employmentscreeninggroup.com
Phone: +61 1300 681 541
Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST
We'd rather spend five minutes helping you get it right than have your application delayed.