Official documents

New Zealand criminal record check: request your own record

Request your own New Zealand criminal record through the Ministry of Justice with acceptable ID and its signed, dated authority form. Upload clear, undefaced documents in an accepted format, with each document no larger than 6 MB.

Dokus teamReviewed on · 2 min read · 2 sources

Use the Ministry of Justice’s own-record service. The preparation task has two parts: identify the applicant and authorise release of that applicant’s information. Do not confuse the signed authority with the result you will receive.

Prepare the request

  1. Download the authority form from the official page. Complete, sign and date it.
  2. Choose an accepted ID. Check the source’s validity rules for your document and whether both sides are required.
  3. Match the form’s name and details exactly to the ID. The ID must carry a signature that matches the authority.
  4. Save each required document as JPG, JPEG, PNG or PDF, at no more than 6 MB per document.
  5. Open the official online request and follow its upload instructions.

For a New Zealand or Australian driving licence, include front and back. Passport copies must meet the applicable signature and validity requirements. If you lack the listed ID, follow the Ministry’s identity-confirmation alternatives.

Preserve an undefaced ID copy

The Ministry explicitly requires clear, readable and undefaced identification. Keep every required edge and detail visible. Do not apply a watermark, hide the number or add a branding footer and assume the altered file remains acceptable.

The Ministry recommends Adobe Acrobat when saving a PDF. Follow that instruction for this submission rather than treating an ordinary browser export as an endorsed replacement. If the file is too large, remake a clean readable scan or use the Ministry’s help route; do not solve the size problem by making required text illegible.

Keep the signed authority, ID attachment and application record in separate clearly named files. After submission, retain the issued record unchanged. For other New Zealand records, see birth certificates and finding an IRD number.

Questions about requesting your own record

Can I apply without signing the authority?

The Ministry requires the signed and dated authority form. A saved ID image alone does not authorise the request.

Is the 6 MB limit for the whole application?

The Ministry states a limit of 6 MB for each document. Check each file before uploading.

Can I watermark the ID for this request?

The official instructions require undefaced ID. Use the clean acceptable copy and follow the Ministry’s requirements.

Sources

  1. New Zealand Ministry of Justice: Get your own criminal record
  2. Ministry of Justice: Authority to release information form

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