One of the most common stumbling blocks for AGSVA security clearance applicants is accurately documenting their overseas travel history. Many people don't realise that the Australian Government maintains comprehensive records of every time you've entered or left the country since 1981. This guide will show you exactly how to obtain your International Movement Records from the Department of Home Affairs—a critical step in preparing your AGSVA application and avoiding delays or complications in the vetting process.
AGSVA requires detailed overseas travel information as part of the security clearance vetting process. Your travel history helps assess potential foreign influence risks, verify the accuracy of information you provide, and ensure you have a "checkable background" for the required period.
ℹ️ Critical Information
Attempting to rely on memory alone is one of the biggest mistakes clearance applicants make. Most people cannot accurately recall all their overseas trips, especially if they've travelled frequently or the trips occurred several years ago. Incomplete or inaccurate travel information can delay your application by months or, worse, raise concerns about your honesty and reliability.
Baseline - 10 Years Required
You must provide complete details of all overseas travel for the past 10 years, including:
NV1 / NV2 - 10 Years Required
You must provide complete details of all overseas travel for the past 10 years, including:
⚠️ Important Note
Your International Movement Records show only your arrivals and departures from Australia. They do not show which other countries you travelled to or from. If you transited through or visited multiple countries during a single trip, you'll need to provide those details separately based on your own records (passport stamps, booking confirmations, etc.).
Note: AusClear provides sponsorship for Baseline, NV1, and NV2 clearances only. We do not sponsor Positive Vetting (PV) clearances.
International Movement Records (also called Travel Movement Records or Passenger Movement Records) are official documents maintained by the Department of Home Affairs that show:
✓ Your departure dates from Australia ✓ Your arrival dates back into Australia ✓ The total period of time you were outside Australia ✓ The total number of movements (arrivals and departures)
These records are maintained in the Movements Reconstruction Database and contain data dating back to 1 January 1981. If you need records from before 1981, you must contact the National Archives of Australia instead.
✅ Official Documentation
International Movement Records are official government documents that AGSVA will cross-reference against the information you provide in your clearance application. Having these records before you start your application ensures accuracy and demonstrates thoroughness—both positive indicators for security vetting.
The Department of Home Affairs provides a free online service to request your International Movement Records. The process is straightforward and typically takes 3-4 weeks.
Visit the Department of Home Affairs website and navigate to the International Movement Records request form. This service replaced the old paper-based Form 1359 in June 2021, making the process much faster and more efficient.
Link: Overseas Travel History Records
Before starting your application, ensure you have the following ready to upload:
Fill in the online form with accurate personal information:
Important: You do NOT need to submit a separate request for every passport you've held. The Department will provide records across all your passports, including those from different countries.
Scan and upload clear, legible copies of your photo ID and any name change documents. Ensure documents are:
After submitting your request, you'll receive a confirmation email. The Department of Home Affairs will process your request and send your official Movement Records within 3-4 weeks.
Your records will arrive as an official document showing all your movements for the period requested.
Once you receive your records, carefully review them and use this information to accurately complete the overseas travel section of your AGSVA clearance application.
Keep a copy of your International Movement Records for your own files—you may need to reference them during security interviews or for future clearance renewals.
💡 Pro Tip
Request your travel records as soon as you know you'll be applying for a security clearance—ideally 4-6 weeks before you expect to begin your AGSVA application. This gives you plenty of time to receive the records, review them, and gather any additional information you might need about specific trips.
Many clearance applicants run into problems with their travel history. Here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them:
The Problem: Attempting to recall all overseas trips from memory, especially trips from 5-10 years ago, leads to incomplete or inaccurate information.
The Solution: Always obtain your official International Movement Records before starting your AGSVA application. Cross-reference these with passport stamps, booking confirmations, and personal records.
The Problem: Waiting until after your AGSVA application is initiated to request travel records. Processing takes 3-4 weeks, which can delay your entire clearance application.
The Solution: Request your records as soon as you know you'll be applying for clearance, ideally 4-6 weeks before you expect to start your application.
The Problem: International Movement Records only show when you left and returned to Australia—not which countries you visited in between. Failing to document transit stops or multiple destinations can appear as incomplete disclosure.
The Solution: Use your passport stamps, airline tickets, hotel bookings, and credit card statements to identify all countries visited during each trip abroad.
The Problem: If you travelled as a child on your parent's passport, those movements won't appear in your individual records unless specifically requested.
The Solution: When requesting records, include your parent's name, date of birth, and passport number (if known) in the application form. Consider also requesting your parent's travel records for the relevant period.
The Problem: Your movement records show you left Australia but there's confusion about where you went or why, especially for extended periods overseas.
The Solution: For each overseas trip, prepare brief explanations of the purpose (tourism, visiting family, work assignment, education) and gather supporting documentation where possible.
The Problem: Travel under a previous name (maiden name, changed name) may not be captured if you don't provide name change documentation.
The Solution: Always include marriage certificates, divorce decrees, or deed polls when requesting records if you've changed your name at any point.
The Problem: For higher-level clearances, you may need travel history going back further than 10 years, which could predate 1981 for some applicants.
The Solution: If you need records from before 1981, contact the National Archives of Australia separately. Processing can take up to 30 days.
Sometimes people discover trips in their International Movement Records that they'd forgotten about. This is actually a good thing—it shows why official records are essential!
✅ How to Handle Forgotten Trips
Include these trips in your AGSVA application with as much detail as you can provide. It's better to include a trip with limited details than to omit it entirely.
If you need travel records from before 1 January 1981, you must contact the National Archives of Australia instead of the Department of Home Affairs.
Contact Information:
If you need your records urgently for a clearance application, you can:
⚠️ Important Processing Note
The Department of Home Affairs sometimes experiences higher than usual volumes of requests. During busy periods, processing may take longer than 3-4 weeks. This is another reason to request your records well in advance of needing them.
In rare cases, some movements may not be captured in the database due to system issues or data migration problems from legacy systems. If you believe your records are incomplete:
Once you receive your International Movement Records, here's how to use them effectively in your AGSVA clearance application:
Use a spreadsheet to document each trip with:
Highlight any trips that might require additional explanation:
Gather evidence for your trips:
When filling out the overseas travel section of your clearance application:
✅ Honesty is Critical
If you're unsure about details of a particular trip, it's better to say "I'm uncertain which countries I transited through" than to guess or omit information. AGSVA values honesty and transparency above perfection. Demonstrating that you've made a thorough effort to document your travel history accurately is viewed positively.
No. Requesting your own International Movement Records is completely free of charge.
The Department of Home Affairs holds records from 1 January 1981 onwards. For earlier records, contact the National Archives of Australia.
No. Your International Movement Records only show when you departed and returned to Australia. You'll need to use other evidence (passport stamps, booking records) to identify which countries you visited during each trip.
Include your parent's details when requesting records, and consider requesting your parent's movement records for the relevant period. Children listed on a parent's passport may not have individual records.
Yes, but you need their signed written consent. For children under 18, you need proof of parental responsibility.
Include documentation of your name change (marriage certificate, divorce decree, deed poll) when requesting records to ensure all travel under previous names is captured.
Typically 3-4 weeks from the date of your online request. During busy periods, it may take longer.
Contact the Department of Home Affairs to report any discrepancies. Provide evidence of the correct information if available.
📌 Essential Points to Remember
Request Your Travel Records: Overseas Travel History