Facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Issuing body | Australian Federal Police (AFP) |
| Certificate | AFP National Police Certificate. The Thai posts do not name a specific Australian check on the pages we read. |
| How to order | Apply online for a name-based check and pick the purpose with care. A fingerprint check must go by post. |
| Fee | AUD 57. AUD 114 if fingerprints are needed. |
| Time | Most name checks take about 48 hours. Fingerprint checks take 15 to 30 business days. |
| Apostille | No Thai post page we read asks for an apostille. DFAT charges AUD 105 per apostille (search snippet). Do not order one unless your post asks. |
| Translation | The certificate is in English. No translation is needed. |
| Thai embassy limit | Most embassies accept 3 to 6 months; get it as close to your application as you can. |
The Thai posts in Australia do not name a specific Australian check on the pages we read. The AFP certificate is the national check.
Facts at a glance
| Item | What we know | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Document | AFP National Police Certificate | AFP |
| Fee | AUD 57; AUD 114 with fingerprints | AFP |
| Time | Most within 48 hours; fingerprint checks 15 to 30 business days | AFP |
| Format | Digital PDF with a QR code, or hard copy | AFP |
| Purpose | Printed on the certificate, as you state it | AFP |
| Validity | The AFP sets none. The receiving body decides | AFP |
| Thai posts | Canberra embassy, or the consulate-general in Sydney for New South Wales | Canberra |
| Age limit at Canberra or Sydney | Not stated on the pages we read | Ask the post |
| e-Visa processing at Canberra | At least 10 business days, up to 4 to 6 weeks | Canberra |
Which Thai post
| You live in | Apply to |
|---|---|
| ACT, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory | Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra |
| New South Wales | Royal Thai Consulate-General, Sydney |
| Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Nauru | Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra |
Non-Australian residents add a VEVO record.
The purpose field matters
The AFP prints the purpose you state on the certificate. Choose a purpose that matches a visa application for Thailand, so that the certificate fits the file you send.
How to order the AFP check, step by step
- Prepare your bank statements and residence proof first. The AFP check is fast, so order it last.
- Apply online for a name-based check.
- State the purpose as a visa application for Thailand.
- Pay AUD 57.
- If the AFP asks for fingerprints, the application goes by post. It costs AUD 114 and takes 15 to 30 business days.
- Receive the digital PDF or the hard copy and check the name, date and purpose.
- Submit the DTV on thaievisa.go.th. Allow at least 10 business days for Canberra to process it.
Timeline plan
Canberra and Sydney state no age limit on the pages we read. Treat 3 months from the issue date as your deadline, the shortest limit we found at the posts that state one. See the age limits by embassy.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| About 3 months before you submit | Start the bank statement period |
| 1 to 2 weeks before you submit | Order the AFP name-based check |
| Within 48 hours, in most cases | Receive the certificate |
| No later than 3 months after the issue date | Submit and pay on thaievisa.go.th |
| At least 10 business days before travel, better 4 to 6 weeks | Canberra processing time |
Costs to plan for
| Item | Amount | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFP name-based check | AUD 57 | AFP | Confirmed |
| AFP check with fingerprints | AUD 114 | AFP | Confirmed |
| DFAT apostille, if needed | Shown by DFAT | DFAT | Not confirmed (see below) |
| DTV fee at Canberra or Sydney | Not on the DTV page | Canberra | Check the e-Visa system |
Apostille and translation
No Thai post page we read asks for an apostille. Thailand joins the Apostille Convention on 28 February 2027, so an Australian apostille may not be enough for use in Thailand before that date. Do not order one unless the post asks. The certificate is in English, so no translation is needed. The general rules are on the police clearance hub.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the wrong purpose on the AFP form.
- Using a state police check without asking the post whether it accepts it.
- Paying for fingerprints when a name-based check is enough.
- A New South Wales resident applying to Canberra instead of Sydney.
- Forgetting the VEVO record as a non-Australian resident.
Before you apply
- You apply to the right post for your state or territory.
- Your AFP certificate states a visa purpose.
- It is less than 3 months old on the day you submit, unless your post states a different limit.
- Non-Australian residents have a VEVO record.
- You allowed at least 10 business days for processing.
Want a second look at the whole file? Use the DTV pre-check. The embassy makes the decision.
Not confirmed yet
No official page we read states these points. Ask your embassy before you pay or submit.
- The maximum certificate age at Canberra and Sydney.
- The DTV fee at Canberra and Sydney.
- The DFAT apostille fee. AUD 105 from 1 January 2026 is quoted, but not confirmed on the DFAT page.
- Whether the posts accept a state police check.
- Whether Canberra's VEVO instruction still applies after the 31 August 2026 change.
Frequently asked questions
Which police check do Australians need for the DTV?
The national document is the AFP National Police Certificate. Since 31 August 2026, every DTV application needs a criminal record certificate.
How much does the AFP check cost?
AUD 57 for a name-based check, or AUD 114 if fingerprints are needed.
How long does it take?
Most checks are done within 48 hours. Fingerprint checks take 15 to 30 business days.
Which Thai post do I use in Australia?
New South Wales residents apply to the consulate-general in Sydney. Residents of the other states and territories apply to the embassy in Canberra.
Is the digital AFP certificate accepted?
The AFP issues a digital PDF with a QR code or a hard copy. The Thai posts do not say which one they want. Ask the post if you are not sure.
How old can the AFP certificate be?
The posts state no limit on the pages we read. Use 3 months from the issue date as a safe limit.
Sources
- afp.gov.au/our-services/national-police-checks (read 22 Oct 2026)NPC AUD 57; AUD 114 with fingerprints; most completed within 48 hours; fingerprint checks 15-30 business days; fingerprint applications by post; digital PDF with QR code or hard copy; the certificate shows the stated purpose; the receiving organisation sets how long it accepts the certificate
- canberra.thaiembassy.org/en/content/visa (read 22 Oct 2026)Canberra jurisdiction (ACT, VIC, QLD, WA, TAS, SA, NT; Fiji, PNG, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Nauru); NSW to Sydney; e-Visa at least 10 business days, up to 4-6 weeks; VEVO for non-Australian residents; fees non-refundable
- canberra.thaiembassy.org/en/content/destination-thailand-visa-dtv (read 22 Oct 2026)Canberra DTV page (Oct 2024 post): categories only; no document list or fee in the text
- dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-services/apostilles-authentications-certificates-of-no-impediment-to-marriage/Pages/apostilles-authentications-and-certificates-of-no-impediment-to-marriage (read 22 Oct 2026)DFAT apostille service; AUD 105 per document from 1 Jan 2026 seen in search results only
- hcch.net/en/news-archive/details/ (read 22 Oct 2026)Apostille Convention in force for Thailand 28 Feb 2027
Reviewed by the Thai Visa Pre-Check team
We check documents; we are not a law firm and not the Thai government. We read each embassy page named in the sources on the date shown.
We sell a document check. We do not apply for you, and only the embassy decides your visa.
- Last checked
- First published
What changed
- first published. Added the purpose-field point, a step-by-step AFP plan, a timeline and a cost table. The apostille fee moved out of the summary into this list.
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