Selecting the wrong code on your Australian Federal Police (AFP) check is one of the leading causes of “Invalid” visa applications. While both Code 33 and Code 37 are used for official purposes, they serve very different legal functions within the Australian immigration system.
Using the wrong one can result in the Department of Home Affairs rejecting your police check, potentially leading to a visa refusal and the loss of your application fees.
1. Code 33: The “Immigration Standard”
Purpose: Immigration/Citizenship – for supply to the Department of Home Affairs.
- Who needs it? Almost everyone applying for an Australian visa, including the 485 (Temporary Graduate), 189/190/491 (Skilled), and Student (500) visas.
- What it covers: A complete check of Australian criminal records to satisfy the “Character Requirement” under Section 501 of the Migration Act.
- Why it’s mandatory: This code ensures the results are formatted and shared in a way that the Department of Home Affairs’ automated systems can verify.
2. Code 37: The “Care of Children” Specialist
Purpose: Care, Instruction, or Supervision of Children / Working with Children.
- Who needs it? Individuals applying for visas that involve specific work with minors, such as Working Holiday (417/462) applicants planning to work as au pairs, or teachers applying for specialized work visas.
- What it covers: In addition to standard criminal history, this code triggers a more intensive search related to offenses against children.
- The Limitation: While “higher” than a standard check, Home Affairs may still reject a Code 37 check for a general 485 or PR application because it does not trigger the specific “Immigration” data-matching protocol.
3. 2026 Comparison Table
| Feature | Code 33 (Immigration) | Code 37 (Care of Children) |
| Primary Use | All standard Visa & Citizenship apps. | Jobs/Visas involving childcare/teaching. |
| DHA Acceptance | Universal for character requirements. | Only for specific work-related visas. |
| Cost (2026) | $56.00 | $56.00 |
| Risk of Refusal | Low (if name is correct). | High if used for a 485 or 190 visa. |
4. Which One Should You Choose?
- If you are applying for a 485 Graduate Visa: You MUST choose Code 33. Selecting Code 37 (even if you plan to be a teacher) can lead to your application being deemed “invalid” because you failed to provide the correct “Time of Lodgement” document.
- If you are applying for Australian Citizenship: You MUST choose Code 33.
- If you are applying for a job in a school AND a visa: You may actually need two checks—a Working with Children Check (WWCC) for the job and an AFP Code 33 for the visa.
