If you are currently preparing your application for Australian Permanent Residency (PR), proving you meet the strict character requirement is a mandatory step. Because the Australian Federal Police (AFP) now issues results electronically, a very common question arises: Does the Department of Home Affairs accept digital police checks for PR?

The short answer is yes. The Department of Home Affairs fully accepts official digital police check certificates for PR applications, provided they meet specific criteria.

However, uploading the wrong type of digital document is one of the most frequent reasons visa decisions get delayed. This guide breaks down exactly what you need to submit to ensure a seamless approval process.

The Rule for Digital AFP Certificates

When you complete your National Police Check online through the official AFP portal, you will be issued a digital certificate as a secure PDF sent directly to your email.

Home Affairs does accept this original, secure digital PDF. You do not need to print it out, scan it, or request a physical hard copy via mail. You can upload the digital PDF file directly into your ImmiAccount.

Crucial Warning: Do not alter, crop, or screenshot the PDF certificate. Home Affairs requires the complete, original digital file exactly as it was issued by the AFP, ensuring its digital security features remain intact.

The “Code 33” Requirement: The Trap to Avoid

While Home Affairs readily accepts digital police checks, they will reject your certificate immediately if you select the wrong purpose code during the application process.

For visa and PR purposes, you must select Purpose Code 33 (Immigration/Citizenship) on your AFP application.

• Standard employment police checks will be rejected. Even if it is a valid digital check, Home Affairs will not accept a certificate marked for standard employment or volunteer work.
• State or territory checks will be rejected. You cannot use a digital check issued by State Police (such as NSW Police or Victoria Police). It must be a National Police Check issued by the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

What About Overseas Digital Police Checks?

If you have lived in another country for 12 months or more over the past 10 years, you will also need an international police clearance (often called a penal clearance certificate).

Whether Home Affairs accepts a digital version of an overseas check depends entirely on the country of origin:

• Countries that have moved strictly to digital systems (like the UK’s ACRO digital certificates or UAE digital clearances) are fully accepted by Home Affairs as original electronic documents.
• If a country only issues physical paper documents with wet-ink signatures or raised seals, you must upload a high-quality, color scan of that original physical document.