Hello folks, hope you can help. We're eligible to apply for citizenship at the end of March and was just looking to check what documents were required and noticed on the DIAC website that if we spent more than 90 days in any one country we would need to get police checks to cover this time. We validated our PR visas in March 2008 and returned to the UK 3 weeks later to sell house etc. We arrived back in Australia on 1st Sept 2008. I've done a few thread searches and it has been mentioned you need only do them if you have been out of Australia for over 1 year...has this changed? It just looks a bit of a drama to get police checks now sent from the UK not because I've been a naughty boy
Thanks for your thoughts

Read, absorb, etc. should all be clear once you have done that:
http://www.citizenship.gov.au/applyi...nts/character/

You don't need them unless you meet ALL those criteria - its not very well worded and lots of people on here have asked the same question If you've only taken that one trip you are fine and don't need to get them.

Yes as Pollyanna says

You lived or travelled overseas since the age of 18 years or over AND
you held a permanent Australian visa at that time AND
the total time spent overseas added up to 12 months or more AND
the time spent in any one country was more than 90 days AND
requested by the department.

Thanks guys, as pollyana says it's not very well worded and i appreciate your replies, thankyou

The one date you've not told us is when you were granted your permanent visa. If between then and now you have spent more than 12 months out of Australia you may be asked to get one. And the Department can ask for one anyway.

Hi JAJ, visa granted 9th October 2007 so all should be good.

Cheers