Processing times for blue card applications
Most blue card applications with no criminal history or other concerning information are finalised within an average of 2 business days, with most being approved within 5 days. The physical blue card is then forwarded by post and can take up to 21 days to receive.
Applications submitted online are usually processed more quickly than paper applications.
If your application is approved, we will notify you by email. If you did not provide an email address, we will notify you by post.
You can start working once you have received notification that your card has been approved, while you wait for your card to arrive.
The National Reference System
An application may take longer to process if information is returned as part of the National Reference System (NRS) database check or the blue card check.
The NRS check involves a search of a centralised database to determine if another state or territory has already made an adverse working with children decision about you.
Blue card check
An application may take longer than 5 business days to process if information is returned as part of the blue card check. The blue card check includes a national criminal history check, which means we get information from all over Australia.
If your name matches someone else’s details, the agency conducting the check needs to clarify this information before returning it to us. This process can take additional time, even if the applicant has no criminal history.
If criminal history or other concerning information is returned to us, the application time frame may be extended. We will need to assess the information to determine whether you can hold a blue card and may contact you for more information to continue the assessment.
Watch the following video to find out more about the blue card check.
Did you know all blue card applications go through a screening process known as the ‘blue card check’.
The blue card check is more than just a police check.
We get information from all states within Australia, from when an applicant was 10 years old.
The information includes:
- charges and convictions, even if there was no conviction was recorded
- child protection disqualifying orders
- disciplinary information, and
- police investigative information.
Our website outlines the type of information we get as part of the blue card check.
When information is returned, it does not automatically mean you won’t get a blue card.
Before we decide whether to issue you a blue card, we invite you to tell your side of the story; we call this a ‘submissions’ process.
You can find out more about the submissions process on our website or watch our video called ‘the submissions process’.
If you get a call or letter from us and you’re not sure what to do, give our community information team a call or ask to speak to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocacy officer.
Risk Assessments
Most risk assessments for applications which return assessable information are finalised within 21 business days. If your assessable information is concerning, the risk assessment will take longer while we follow the process outlined above.
Combined applications
If you make a combined application, Disability Worker Screening will process your disability worker screening application and advise you of the outcome. If approved, we will then process your blue or exemption card application.
If you have not received an outcome from Disability Worker Screening, you will need to contact them for an update.