Australia's Character Requirement Explained: Convictions, Checks & Waivers
What actually fails Australia's character test, and what has to be disclosed on a visa application. Covers police clearance timing, the penalty for leaving something out, and when the Minister can still grant a waiver. Figures as at September 2026.
Read the full guide, with official sources →
Watch
Chapters
- 0:00 One sentence of 12 months
- 0:12 12 months in one sentence —
- 0:23 Clearances required from every country
- 0:33 AFP: 15 to 20 business days.
- 0:53 Leaving it out risks a
- 1:13 At 12 months or more,
- 1:23 When in doubt,
- 1:35 Where to read more
Transcript
Failing Australia's character test isn't only about serious crime — a single sentence of 12 months or more can be enough on its own.
A substantial criminal record means one sentence of 12 months or more, or 2 or more separate terms of imprisonment — even shorter sentences that add up to 12 months combined can count.
Police clearances are required from every country you've lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years — your current citizenship and residence country too.
An AFP clearance typically takes 15 to 20 business days. Some overseas authorities can take 2 to 12 months.
Every charge, conviction and finding of guilt must be disclosed — even a spent conviction, a pardon, a good behaviour bond, or something that happened decades ago.
Leaving something out isn't a safer option: misrepresentation can bring a 3 year or 10 year bar on future Australian visa applications.
Even where the character test is failed, a Minister's delegate can still grant a waiver — weighing family ties, rehabilitation, and how old and serious the offence was.
Waivers aren't available for mandatory cancellation — that applies once a sentence reaches 12 months or more, and it goes to the Minister for a much higher bar.
A single drink-driving conviction without a 12-month sentence won't automatically fail the test — but it still has to be disclosed. When in doubt, ask before you assume.
The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description. And if you'd like to talk it through, you can compare registered migration agents there, and see their fees before you book anything.
Short versions
- One conviction can fail the character test (0:31)
- Character waivers: what actually gets weighed (0:33)
- Don't skip disclosing an old conviction (0:33)
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