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Telling someone about your criminal record

If you're applying for a visa to travel overseas, you may need to provide details of your criminal record. If you're applying for a job, the clean slate rules might apply.

Your criminal record

You'll always need to provide details of your criminal record when asked if you've:

  • had convictions within the last 7 years
  • been sentenced to prison, any kind of detention or borstal
  • been convicted of a sexual offence
  • not fully paid any fine, compensation, reparation or costs ordered by the court in a criminal case
  • had an indefinite disqualification and been banned from driving until further notice
  • been held in hospital in a criminal case instead of being sentenced, due to your mental condition.

Having a clean slate

If none of these situations apply to you, you have a clean slate, which means you might not have to tell anyone about your convictions or criminal record.

You still need to tell when you apply for some jobs — including:

  • joining the Police
  • working as a prison or probation officer
  • a national security position
  • being appointed as a judge or justice of the peace
  • wanting a job mainly involving the care and protection of children.

You may also need to provide details of your criminal record if you're involved in any criminal or civil action.

New convictions

If you’re convicted of another offence, you have to start declaring all your convictions again.

Criminal records

Travelling overseas

The clean slate rules don't apply if you're travelling overseas and applying for a visa to enter another country.

You may need to provide details of all your convictions and this may affect your ability to travel.

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  • Ministry of Justice

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Last Updated

Page last updated: 31 October 2016

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