無犯罪證明：哪些國家、哪個機關、有效多久

Police certificates are a routine part of many Australian visa processes, but the rule is wider than many people expect. Home Affairs can ask for police certificates from every country where a person has spent 12 months or more in total during the last 10 years, and the 12 months can be cumulative rather than one continuous stay. Another common problem is using the wrong Australian check, because Home Affairs generally wants an Australian Federal Police, AFP, National Police Check rather than a state or territory police certificate.

通常何時需要警方證明#

警方證明用於評估品格。實際上，這表示 Home Affairs 可能會要求提供在 Australia 以及某人曾居住過的海外國家的犯罪紀錄證明，或無犯罪紀錄證明。

The key rule that catches people out is the time test. Home Affairs commonly asks for a police certificate from each country where a person has spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16. The 12 months does not always have to be one single period. Separate stays can add up.

For example, three student semesters in one country, a work posting in another, and repeated long visits to a former home country can all matter if the total time reaches 12 months. Time spent in Australia can matter too, but the Australian document is usually obtained from the AFP rather than a state police service.

The exact timing of when a certificate is needed can vary by visa stream and by what Home Affairs asks for in the application process. Some applications front-load these documents at lodgement, while others involve a later request. This guide explains the general process only. If you want a registered professional to review a timeline of countries lived in and quote for help, a case can be posted at 我們的案件表格.

哪些國家計入 10 年內住滿 12 個月規則#

廣泛的測試標準是：在過去 10 年內，凡是合計居住滿 12 個月或以上的每個國家。"Lived in" 指的是實際居留，而不只是正式居留紀錄。即使沒有該國永久居留權，一個人在該國的時間也可能需要計算。

The 10-year period is usually counted backward from the relevant point in the visa process, commonly the date of application or the date the certificate is requested. Because case timing can differ, many applicants prepare a simple travel and residence history first, listing each country and the months spent there.

檢查這項規則的一個實際方法，是根據護照、簽證、租約、就學紀錄和工作紀錄建立時間線。如果在某個國家的停留時間接近 12 months，小錯誤也可能有影響。多次短期旅行累積起來，可能比預期更快。

有些國家只發出一種全國性證明。另一些國家則會因地區、曾用名或現居地不同而發出不同證明。這就是為甚麼正確的簽發機關與國家清單本身同樣重要。

哪個機關簽發正確的證明#

Home Affairs 不接受所有種類的無犯罪紀錄查核。它通常要求由其為該國指定的機關簽發的證明。對海外國家而言，這通常載於 Home Affairs' 逐國無犯罪證明指引中。

That means a local station letter, a private background screening report or a certificate from the wrong ministry may not be enough. In some countries the right document comes from a national police headquarters, in others from a justice ministry, foreign affairs ministry or local court system. The issuing path can also differ depending on whether the applicant is currently in that country or applying from overseas.

對澳洲而言，通常要求的是 AFP National Police Check。來自 NSW Police、Victoria Police、Queensland Police 或其他州或領地警察機關的證明，通常不是 Home Affairs 在聯邦移民案件中要求的文件。

這一點很重要，因為有些人會為了第一個在網上找到的澳洲無犯罪證明付費。如果申請指示要求 AFP check，卻改為遞交州級證明，之後可能需要新的證明。這會增加費用和延誤。

訂購任何無犯罪證明時，資料通常都必須與身分文件高度一致。曾用名、別名和出生日期格式都可能影響搜尋結果。如果證明簽發時有錯誤，更換可能需要時間。

澳洲無犯罪證明：AFP，不是州警察#

對於澳洲移民事務，通常的文件是 Australian Federal Police National Police Check。AFP 負責全國系統，該系統用於許多 Commonwealth 用途，包括簽證處理。

州和領地的警方證明是不同的產品。它們在該州可能可用於就業或牌照用途，但在 Home Affairs 申請中，並不會自動替代 AFP 證明。

申請人透過 AFP 程序申請時，通常也需要選擇正確的用途類型。AFP 使用的確切措辭和類別可能隨時間改變，因此在付款前查閱 Home Affairs 目前的指示是明智的。

Identity documents are usually required when applying for the AFP certificate. Processing times can vary depending on volume, identity verification issues and whether the result is clear or requires manual handling. A certificate obtained too early can also expire for visa purposes before the application is decided.

無犯罪證明通常有效多久#

無犯罪紀錄證明不會為所有移民用途印有單一通用的到期日。實務上，Home Affairs 通常會在有限期間內將其視為有效，而常見的工作規則是自簽發起 12 個月，但有重要例外。

如果某人在證明簽發後又回到該國居住，證明可能會更早失去可接受性。例如，如果某證明是為 Country A 簽發，而該人之後又在那裡居住了一段時間，Home Affairs 可能會要求更新的證明。

Australian certificates can also be re-requested if processing goes on for a long time. A visa application can stay on foot much longer than the life of a police certificate. That is why many applicants try to time their certificates so they are recent enough for lodgement but not so early that they expire during assessment.

Some countries issue certificates very slowly, while others issue them quickly but only for a short practical window. If a country has long lead times, people often gather that document early and then monitor whether an update may later be needed. There is no single timing strategy that fits every country.

如果警方證明很難取得怎麼辦#

有些國家的制度有限、排隊很長，或規則使得從海外申請變得困難。在這些情況下，Home Affairs 仍可能要求證明，顯示已真誠嘗試向正確機關取得該文件。

That can include proof of application, payment receipts, courier records, email correspondence or official web pages showing current barriers. The important point is process evidence, not assumptions that a document is impossible to get. A statement without supporting records may carry less weight than documented attempts.

If a professional is engaged to help, the Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2021 requires clear consumer steps. A registered migration agent must give the consumer guide first, under s38, and fees and services should be set out in a written agreement under s42 and explained under s46. Money cannot be taken before the agreement is in place, under s51.

It also helps to check that the person offering help is properly registered or is an Australian legal practitioner. Giving immigration assistance in Australia while unregistered is an offence under s280 of the Migration Act 1958, and charging for it is dealt with under s281. A MARN can be checked at 我們的營運者檢查工具, 而一般消費者資訊在 consumer guide.

要避免的常見錯誤#

一個常見錯誤是忘記這 12 個月可以在 10 年內累計計算。人們常只計算單一次連續停留，而忽略了多次旅行、讀書間隔或工作輪調，這些加起來可能超過門檻。

另一個問題是申請了錯誤的澳洲查核文件。對於移民事務，通常要求的是 AFP National Police Check，而不是州或領地警方證明。買錯文件可能意味著要付兩次錢並等更久。

第三個錯誤是使用錯誤的海外機構。正確的簽發機關可能因國家而異，有時也取決於該人是從該國境內還是境外申請。Home Affairs 不會僅因證明上有 "police" 這個字就接受它。

最後一個大錯誤是等到最後一刻。有些國家的處理時間很長、身分規則嚴格，或有郵寄延誤。如果需要協助比較文件蒐集和申請準備的專業費用，一般費用起點在 費用估算工具.

常見問題#

我去過的每個國家都需要無犯罪紀錄證明嗎？#

Not usually for every visit. The common rule used by Home Affairs is each country where a person has spent 12 months or more in total during the last 10 years, usually since turning 16. Short trips that never add up to 12 months in that country often do not trigger a certificate, but repeated stays can add up.

澳洲簽證可以用州警察證明嗎？#

通常不是。對於澳洲移民事務，Home Affairs 通常要求的是 AFP National Police Check，而不是州或領地警察機關出具的證明。州級查核可能是為不同目的而設的不同產品。

無犯罪證明對 Home Affairs 的有效期有多久？#

There is no one simple expiry rule that covers every case, but a common working approach is to treat a police certificate as current for about 12 months from issue. A newer certificate may be needed sooner if the person returns to live in that country again or if Home Affairs specifically asks for an updated document.

如果我原來的國家不會核發無犯罪紀錄證明怎麼辦？#

The process usually starts with trying to obtain it from the correct authority and keeping proof of those attempts. Evidence such as application receipts, emails, screenshots of official requirements and courier records can help show what was done. If professional help is used, it is sensible to check the provider's registration status first.

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關於本指南。 這是關於某項程序在澳洲如何運作的一般資訊。這不是 immigration assistance，也不是針對你情況的建議。根據 section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 只有註冊移民代理或澳洲法律執業者可以提供這項服務。政府收費會按指數調整，而且大多數會在 1 July 變更，所以請自行查核任何金額於 immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, 並在以下位置查核任何代理 OMARA（移民代理註冊管理局）名冊.