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Auckland - Criminal Record Certificate ​

New Zealand criminal record certificates (Criminal Conviction History / Police Clearance) are processed centrally by the Ministry of Justice. Auckland residents can apply online and do not need to attend in person.

TIP

The process below is based on the New Zealand Ministry of Justice website (justice.govt.nz). It is for reference only. Follow the latest instructions on the official website.

Channel ​

New Zealand Ministry of Justice website · https://www.justice.govt.nz/

  • Online applications are supported nationwide. Auckland residents also apply through this channel.

Ministry of Justice homepage - Criminal record check entry

What to Prepare ​

Before starting the application, prepare the following materials:

MaterialDescription
Valid IDPassport, driver's licence, or another photo ID with a signature
Authority to Release Information formMust be signed and dated by you. Download the PDF from the official website

Form requirements

  • Your ID must contain your signature
  • The signature on the form must match the signature on your ID
  • The signing date must be correct

File format requirements: .JPG, .JPEG, .PNG, and .PDF are supported. Each file must be no larger than 6MB. If saving as PDF, Adobe Acrobat is recommended for compatibility.

Steps ​

1. Open the application entry ​

Option 1: open justice.govt.nz and click Criminal record check in the top navigation or Quick links.

Option 2: enter criminal record check in the official website search box and select Get your own criminal record from the results.

Search results page - Get your own criminal record

2. Prepare materials and download the form ​

On the Get your own criminal record page, confirm the required materials:

  • Valid ID
  • Signed and dated Authority to Release Information Form

Click Apply online to enter the online application system.

Get your own criminal record application page

3. Select application type ​

After entering the Criminal Record Check online service, you will see two options:

  • Registered Third Party: apply on behalf of someone else, requiring a registered organization account
  • Individual Request: apply for your own criminal record

When applying for your own record, click Individual Request.

Application type selection page

4. Confirm materials and create a request ​

On the Criminal Record Check page, confirm that you have prepared:

  • Valid ID
  • Signed and dated Authority to Release Form

Tick "I have the documents needed, and ready to begin my request", complete the reCAPTCHA verification, and click Create Request.

Confirm materials and create request

5. Authorisation ​

Read the Individual authorisation page. It explains that Information Management Group will collect and submit the information to the Ministry of Justice, and personal data will be removed from the system after 3 months. Click Continue after agreeing.

Authorisation page

6. Fill in applicant information ​

On the Request Details page, fill in:

  • Name (First name, Surname, Middle name)
  • Whether you have used any other names
  • Date of birth, gender, place of birth
  • Email and contact phone number
  • New Zealand driver's licence number, if using a driver's licence as ID

After completing the form, click Next.

Fill in applicant information

7. Fill in address ​

On the Applicant address page, fill in:

  • Current address, including street number, street name, suburb, city, postcode, country, and other details
  • Whether you have had other addresses in New Zealand in the past 10 years; add each one if applicable

After completing the form, click Next.

Fill in address

8. Select report type ​

On the Report page, choose whether you need your full criminal record:

  • Yes: obtain the full conviction record in the Ministry of Justice system (choose Yes for visa purposes, such as immigration or overseas visas)
  • No: do not obtain the full record (used when providing it to employers, recruitment agencies, insurance companies, and other third parties)

Visa purposes

If it is for immigration or an overseas visa, choose Yes. If it is for an employer, agent, or another third party, choose No.

Select report type

9. Upload materials ​

On the Upload page, upload:

  • Applicant identification: ID document. For a New Zealand driver's licence, upload Page 1 and Page 2. For a passport, upload the personal information page.
  • Authority to Release form: signed and dated Authority to Release Information form PDF

.JPG, .JPEG, .PNG, and .PDF are supported. Each file must be no larger than 6MB. After uploading, click Next.

Upload materials

Authority to Release form

When filling in the form, make sure your ID has your signature, the form signature matches your ID signature, and the signing date is correct. See the official PDF for details.

Authority to Release form instructions

10. Declare and submit ​

Read the Declaration, confirm that the information is true, complete the declaration, and submit the application.

11. Submission successful ​

After submission, the page will show REQUEST SUBMITTED. You can optionally enter an email address to receive a confirmation email, or click Return to Home.

Submission success confirmation page

12. Check the confirmation email ​

After the application is accepted, you will receive an Acknowledgement email confirming that your request has been received. You can click the link in the email to view progress and estimated processing time.

Confirmation email example

Notes ​

  • Applying for your own record is an Individual Request. Applying for someone else's record requires Registered Third Party.
  • The certificate validity period varies by purpose. For visas, it is generally valid for 3-6 months, so it is recommended to apply close to the visa submission date.
  • If you have questions, email CCHonline@justice.govt.nz or refer to the Contact us page on the official website.

Last edited: 2026-03-15 · Author: Bald-M