A police check does not have an official expiry date and is considered a point-in-time check representing the individual's criminal record up to the date it was issued. Its relevance decreases over time because it does not include any criminal activity that occurs after the issue date. Different organizations may set their own validity periods, typically ranging from 3 months to up to a year, depending on the nature of the role and industry. Some professions, especially those involving vulnerable populations, may require more recent checks or periodic renewals (e.g., every 3 years or 5 years for working with children checks). The decision on how long to accept a police check is generally at the discretion of the employer or organization requesting the check.
Regarding processing time, most police checks take from a few days up to a few weeks to complete depending on the type of check and issuing jurisdiction. Basic checks may take up to 14 days, while standard or enhanced checks might take around 8 weeks.
