Australian Embassy
Portugal
Cabo Verde, Sao Tome and Principe, Guinea Bissau

Police Clearance

Police and Character Clearances

Australians abroad often need police or character certificates for such purposes as court requirements, residence permission or securing employment. 

The type, cost and application forms required for clearance certificates vary from state to state. Any state or Territory in Australia will be able to provide at least one of the following certificates:


(a) certificate issued on the basis of fingerprints;
(b) certificate issued on the basis of a name check; and
(c) National Police Clearance Certificate.

If you are seeking to obtain any form of clearance certificate the Australian Federal Police in Canberra may issue a National Police Clearance Certificate that covers criminal records in all states and territories, except Queensland. You should confirm with the requesting local authority whether this certificate is acceptable. 

Please be aware that you may need an Apostille of the Hague on all your Australian documents, in order that they may be recognised by the Portuguese local authorities.  

Contact details for obtaining Police and Character Clearances are as follows:

ACT
Australian Federal Police Criminal Records Branch Locked Bag 1 Weston ACT 2611 Tel: 61 2 6256 7777 Fax: 61 2 6287 0603
New South Wales
Visa Clerk Criminal Records Section PO Box 7777 Parramatta NSW 2124 Tel: 61 2 9689 7834 Fax: 61 2 9689 3724

Victoria
Public Enquiries Service Criminal Records Branch Victorian Police PO Box 418 Melbourne VIC 8005 Tel: 61 3 9247 5907 Fax: 61 3 9247 6611, 9247 5968, 9247 5969

NT
Officer in Charge Information Bureau Peter McAulay Centre PO Box 39764 Winnellie NT 0821 Tel: 61 8 8922 3257 Fax: 61 8 8922 3258

South Australia
Manager Records Release Unit Information Services Branch South Australia Police Department GPO Box 1539 Adelaide SA 5001 Tel: 61 8 8204 2455 Fax: 61 8 8204 2307

Queensland
Officer in Charge External Assistance Unit Queensland Police Service GPO Box 1440 Brisbane QLD 4001 Tel: 61 7 3364 6464 Fax: 61 7 3364 4728

Tasmania
Officer in Charge Criminal Records Section Tasmanian Police Department PO Box 308C Hobart Tas 7001 Tel: 61 3 6230 2111 Fax: 61 3 6230 2200

Western Australia
Officer in Charge Offender Information Bureau Western Australia Police Headquarters 2 Adelaide Terrace East Perth WA 6004 Tel: 61 9 9222 1413 Fax: 61 9 9222 1637 

If you require a certificate based on fingerprints, you will need to make your own arrangements with the local police force to have your fingerprints taken. Certificates will only be issued on the basis of original fingerprint records being provided to the supplying police force in Australia, photocopies and faxes of fingerprint records are not acceptable.