On this page, you’ll find answers to questions people ask most often about the service for criminal record checks (also known as criminal conviction history checks).
You can contact the criminal records team at CCHonline@justice.govt.nz
For more contact details, refer to Contact us.
If you are applying for Australian citizenship, you will need to provide your full criminal conviction record. This means that convictions that could be concealed within New Zealand under the Clean Slate Scheme will be included in any criminal conviction record provided.
The Clean Slate Scheme does not apply outside of New Zealand.
Find out more about the Clean Slate Scheme.
You can apply online for a criminal record check. This service will remain free of charge for individuals.
Find out how to get your own criminal record
If you’re unable to apply online, you can still fill out a paper form.
You’ll find a copy of the paper form on our website or you can get one from your local District Court.
Find out how to get your own criminal record
If you apply online, you’ll receive your results by email. Email results are treated as a formal document in the same way as if you received them in the post.
If you apply using a paper form, we will send your report to the email address you provide on the form. If you do not provide an email address, we will send it by post.
Once you receive your criminal record check results, you can share them with anyone you want. If you chose to receive your results by email, they’re treated as a formal document in the same way as if you received them in the post.
You do not have to provide your full record to a third party or employer unless Clean Slate exception applies.
Find out more about the Clean Slate Scheme.(external link)
There’s no set timeframe. Different organisations and employers have different requirements about how current they want your criminal record check to be. There’s no expiry date on the results you receive – only the date it was requested.
No. We’ll send the results directly to you, and you can then pass them on to anyone else you choose to.
You do not have to provide your full record to a third party or employer unless Clean Slate exception applies.
Find out more about the Clean Slate Scheme.(external link)
We endeavour to respond to all requests within 20 working days.
Around 90% of requests are responded to in less than one week. However, some requests will need to be assessed by a staff member to ensure the privacy of the individual is protected. We may also need to contact you for more information in order to process your request. In these cases, it may take longer to receive your results.
You must provide an acceptable type of ID, such as NZ or Overseas Passport, NZ or Australian driver license or NZ firearms license. Australian driver license numbers can be entered in the same field as a NZ driver license number when submitting your request.
The information provided in the request must match the ID provided.
The ID cannot be cancelled, defaced or expired for more than two years.
Yes, you can, provided your electronic signature matches the signature on the identification document you provided with your application. We’re unable to accept typed signatures.
If you are having trouble completing a PDF form online, here are some tips you can try:
Yes, you can apply using a paper form. Just tick the option on the form that you’d like to receive the results by post.
You’ll need to have a valid postal address to receive the results of your check.
You can help someone to complete the form. However, they’ll need to sign the form to acknowledge that they consent to the request being made.
You can only receive a hard copy of the results if you apply using a paper form. The results you receive by email are the same as the results you’ll receive in the post.
If you think the results of your check are incorrect, call us on 0800 268 787 and we will look into it.
No, we are unable to amend the information on the request once it has been submitted. If you made an error, you will need to submit a new request.
Yes, if your request was rejected due to invalid authority to release information form you will need to submit a new request.
When completing the authority to release information form please ensure:
No, we don’t have a tracking service for individual requests or for paper form applications.
Yes, if you're unable to apply online you can hand in a completed paper copy of the application form at your local District Court. They’ll send the form on to the Criminal Records team.
Alternatively, you can post your application directly to the Criminal Record team at:
Criminal Record Applications
EX 11064
Auckland
Write the address as written above and send it the same way as any other mail. You can use a NZ Post mail box.
If you use a DX mailbox, your mail will get to us faster.(external link)
No, but you’ll need to provide your residential address.
No, you can submit as many requests as you need.
If you’d like to register for the new online service, please get in touch with us at CCHonline@justice.govt.nz
We will send you all the information you need to register.
Registering for the service requires you to:
Credit card is the preferred payment method. Payment by credit card is a ‘pay as you go system’. This means you’ll pay for the number of requests you submit at the time of submission.
If you’d like to discuss monthly invoicing as a payment option, please get in touch with us at CCHonline@justice.govt.nz
Once we’ve received your signed contract, we’ll set up your administrator/s and provide them with user guides. They can then set up and train your organisation’s other users.
The online system is easy to use; however, support will be available should you need help.
Yes, you can register at any time.
No, registering for the service is free. You’ll only be charged for each of the criminal record check requests you submit.
You’ll remain registered until one of the parties (you or the Ministry) terminates the contract.
No. You only need to register once for multiple sites of your business.
No, it doesn’t matter where the admin is physically located. Each site must have an admin assigned it, but the admin does not need to be located at that site.
You’ll need to register under the new company.
We endeavour to respond to all requests as quickly as possible and within 20 working days.
Around 90% of requests are responded to in less than one week. However, some requests will need to be assessed by a staff member to ensure the privacy of the individual is protected. We may also need to contact you for more information in order to process your request. In these cases, it may take longer to receive the results.
No, there is one flat fee for all requests. We endeavour to respond to all requests as quickly as possible and within 20 working days.
The results you’ll receive from us will be in the form of an original PDF format document. There’s no requirement to get it validated.
All results are provided in the English language. If you need them translated into another language, you’ll need to arrange this.
There is no set timeframe. Different organisations and employers have different requirements about how current they want your criminal record check to be. There is no expiry date on the results you receive – only the date it was requested.
Yes, an individual can request their own check - and once they receive the results, they can forward it to a third party.
However, it is against the law in New Zealand for anyone to ask or make someone reveal with full record unless the individual has chosen to share their record.
Yes, they can ask to receive a copy by email when completing the form. They must provide an email address when entering their details on the form.
You just need to ensure that you meet the requirements of the new contract - including privacy, confidentiality, and security requirements.
You can view a copy of the new Contract for Online Delivery of Criminal Conviction Histories at the link below.
Contract for Online Delivery of Criminal Conviction Histories [PDF, 183 KB]
Unfortunately, if you can’t meet the new contract requirements, you won’t be eligible to become a registered third party.
You have to collect a copy of the applicant’s identification (ID) so you can verify that the applicant is who they say they are, but you don’t need to provide it to the Ministry when you submit a request.
However, you are required to keep your copy of the ID for a period of 90 days. After 90 days you must securely dispose of your copy of the ID, unless you have a lawful reason to retain the copy.
For more information on your obligations when completing an ID check, refer to the Criminal Conviction History Request - Third party User Guide [PDF, 854 KB].
The applicant must provide an acceptable type of ID, such as NZ or Overseas Passport, NZ driver license or NZ firearms license.
The information provided in the request must match the ID provided.
The ID cannot be cancelled, defaced or expired for more than two years. For more information on completing an ID check, refer to the Criminal Conviction History Request - Third party User Guide [PDF, 914 KB].
There is no statutory requirement, mandate or policy requiring the Ministry to provide this service to third parties. We do so in the public interest.
Third parties using the service are primarily doing so as part of an employment recruitment process. We consider it’s reasonable to expect them to contribute to the cost of providing the service. Fees have been set to recover the actual and reasonable costs related to the service.
Credit card is the preferred payment method. Payment is by credit card is a ‘pay as you go system’. This means you’ll pay for the number of requests you submit at the time of submission.
If you’d like to pay by monthly invoicing, please get in touch with us at CCHonline@justice.govt.nz
No, direct debit is not an option at this time.
If you pay by credit card, it will be a ‘pay as you go system’ – you’ll pay for the number of requests you submit at the time of submission.
If you choose to be invoiced, you’ll receive an invoice from us at the beginning of each month for requests we processed the previous month.
No, there will be only one invoice issued for each third party customer. However, if you have multiple sites the invoice will detail the volume of requests processed for each site.
If you do not pay your monthly invoice by the due date, your account may be suspended. You will need to pay your outstanding invoice before you can access your account.
We reserve the right to change your elected payment method due to outstanding invoices – we’ll let you know if this happens.
The third party customer user guides for the new online service can be found below:
Your login password must be between 10-64 characters, and have at least four of the following:
Complete the following steps to reset your login password:
No, but we would ask you to let us know in advance if you’re intending to consistently submit more than 300-400 requests per day.
No - if you have selected the ‘email applicant’ method, the applicant will automatically be sent an email request with a link to complete their details.
No - if you have selected the ‘email applicant’ method, the application must click on the link in the email sent to them. They will be redirected to complete their details in an online form.
You will be advised through your dashboard once they have completed the form.
No, the applicant doesn’t need to sign the online form. However, they must click and accept authorisation.
No, you are not required to upload documents into the online form.
However, you are required to keep your copy of the applicant’s ID for a period of 90 days. After 90 days you must securely dispose of your copy of the ID.
No, once they click ‘submit’ the request is added to your dashboard for you to complete the next steps of the request.
Yes, you can track requests that have not been completed by the applicant from your dashboard.
Yes, you can either complete with them or complete the request on their behalf. There are three request methods to choose from:
For more information, refer to the Criminal Conviction History Request – Third-party User Guide [PDF, 854 KB]
Yes.
Your dashboard will default to the last 30 days; however, you can change this (up to a maximum of the last 90 days).