Character requirements: disclose first, then document accurately
Australian visa applicants must meet character requirements and answer character questions truthfully. A police certificate is evidence, not permission to omit a charge or conviction that does not appear on it. Disclose the facts asked for and provide the records requested.
Key points
- Declare pending charges and convictions in every country and answer all character questions truthfully.
- Current skilled visa guidance generally asks for police certificates after 12 months' total residence in a country during the past 10 years since age 16.
- For Australia, use the AFP complete-disclosure National Police Certificate specified by Home Affairs, not a state police check.
- Serious, complex or disputed history needs registered legal or migration advice before lodgement.
Disclosure duties
Home Affairs says applicants must:
- declare charges awaiting legal action in any country;
- declare convictions in any country;
- answer every application question truthfully; and
- provide all requested information.
Read the wording carefully. Do not assume a spent, withdrawn, juvenile, traffic or non-custodial matter is irrelevant without checking the question and obtaining advice where necessary.
Police certificate planning
- Create a complete address and travel history for the past 10 years.
- Identify each country where total residence reached 12 months since turning 16.
- Use Home Affairs country-specific instructions to request the correct certificate.
- For Australia, obtain the specified AFP complete-disclosure certificate.
- Arrange compliant translations and retain application receipts if issuance is delayed.
Residence can be cumulative; several shorter periods may total 12 months. Include family members aged 16 or over when the visa instructions require their character evidence.
Other records Home Affairs may request
- Form 80 personal particulars for character assessment.
- Form 1563 Statement of Character or other specified forms.
- Military service certificate and discharge records.
- Court outcomes, sentencing material and evidence about completed orders.
- Employer good-conduct letters or additional explanations.
Consistency across the application
Character answers should match prior visa applications, police certificates, address history, travel history and military records. If an earlier answer was wrong, do not repeat it for consistency; obtain advice about correcting the record.
When professional advice is important
Seek individual advice for imprisonment, repeated offences, domestic or family violence matters, sexual offences, organised crime concerns, adverse associations, deportation, visa cancellation, unresolved charges or uncertainty about disclosure. This article cannot assess section 501 or public-interest criteria for a person.
Official sources to check before acting
These pages control over any summary on this website. Recheck them when you submit an EOI, accept a nomination or lodge a visa application.
Important Notice: The content on this page is for general information only. Australian visa policies and requirements are subject to change at any time. Always refer to the official Department of Home Affairs website for the most current and accurate information.