Is there an age limit to join the police in Australia?
Only a minimum. The ages that really shape your career are at the other end.
You need to be 18 to start recruit training anywhere in Australia, and no force sets a maximum age for new recruits. That makes policing one of the more open careers for people changing direction in their 30s, 40s or later. What does differ, a lot, is the age at which you must retire, and in four forces we couldn't confirm that age at all.
Youngest start
18
all forces
Oldest start
No limit
health and fitness apply
Retirement set at
60 / 65 / 67
QLD / Tas / NT
No compulsory age
AFP
may retire from 55
This page sets out the minimum ages, explains what "no upper limit" means in practice, and gives each force's compulsory retirement age with its source. Where a force's retirement age isn't confirmed in legislation we've read, we say so rather than repeat an old figure.
What is the minimum age to become a police officer?
Every force requires you to be 18 before recruit training starts. Several let you start the process earlier, so the months of selection can happen while you're 17.
- Minimum age
- 18
- How the force words it
- Aged 18 or over (no maximum age stated).
- Minimum age
- 18
- How the force words it
- Aged 18 or over, no upper age limit.
- Minimum age
- 17.5 to apply, 18 to start
- How the force words it
- Age: at least 17.5 to apply and 18 to start recruit training. No upper age limit found (compulsory retirement is at 60).
- Minimum age
- 17 years 6 months to apply, 18 on appointment
- How the force words it
- Aged 17 years 6 months to apply (18 on appointment).
- Minimum age
- 17 at application (unconfirmed)
- How the force words it
- Aged 17 or over at application (from the job ad and public summaries; not verified on the SAPOL eligibility page).
- Minimum age
- 17.5 to apply, 18 to start
- How the force words it
- Apply from 17.5 years; must be 18 before starting the recruit course; no upper age limit (compulsory retirement at 65).
- Minimum age
- 18 at the start of training
- How the force words it
- At least 18 at commencement of training; no upper age limit.
- Minimum age
- 18
- How the force words it
- Age 18 or over, with no upper age limit (must pass health checks).
| Force | Minimum age | How the force words it |
|---|---|---|
| NSW Police | 18 | Aged 18 or over (no maximum age stated). |
| Victoria Police | 18 | Aged 18 or over, no upper age limit. |
| QPS | 17.5 to apply, 18 to start | Age: at least 17.5 to apply and 18 to start recruit training. No upper age limit found (compulsory retirement is at 60). |
| WA Police | 17 years 6 months to apply, 18 on appointment | Aged 17 years 6 months to apply (18 on appointment). |
| SAPOL | 17 at application (unconfirmed) | Aged 17 or over at application (from the job ad and public summaries; not verified on the SAPOL eligibility page). |
| Tasmania Police | 17.5 to apply, 18 to start | Apply from 17.5 years; must be 18 before starting the recruit course; no upper age limit (compulsory retirement at 65). |
| NT Police | 18 at the start of training | At least 18 at commencement of training; no upper age limit. |
| AFP | 18 | Age 18 or over, with no upper age limit (must pass health checks). |
SA's minimum comes from its job advert and search summaries and isn't confirmed on its eligibility page.
Applying at 17 and a half in Queensland, WA or Tasmania is a real advantage if you're finishing Year 12, because processes can take months. Tasmania says its process typically takes 8 to 12 weeks and WA 3 to 4 months, so a mid-year application can line up with a start soon after your 18th birthday. The NT measures your age at the start of training rather than at application.
Cadet and school programs
Some forces run programs for younger people. NSW lists a Cadet Traineeship among its pathways, and Tasmania runs a free 5-day live-in Career Development Program for Year 12 students in the school holidays, which can fast-track you to interview. Neither changes the minimum age for sworn training.
Is there a maximum age to join the police?
No. Victoria, Tasmania, the NT and the AFP all state that there is no upper age limit. NSW states no maximum, and we found none in Queensland, WA or SA's requirements. The AFP adds that you must pass its health checks, which is true everywhere.
- Maximum joining age
- None stated
- Maximum joining age
- No upper limit
- Maximum joining age
- None found
- Maximum joining age
- None listed (overseas officers: under 55 at visa nomination)
- Maximum joining age
- None listed (overseas officers: under 45 at visa application)
- Maximum joining age
- No upper limit
- Maximum joining age
- No upper limit
- Maximum joining age
- No upper limit (must pass health checks)
| Force | Maximum joining age |
|---|---|
| NSW Police | None stated |
| Victoria Police | No upper limit |
| QPS | None found |
| WA Police | None listed (overseas officers: under 55 at visa nomination) |
| SAPOL | None listed (overseas officers: under 45 at visa application) |
| Tasmania Police | No upper limit |
| NT Police | No upper limit |
| AFP | No upper limit (must pass health checks) |
"No upper limit" doesn't mean age is irrelevant. You'll sit the same fitness test as every other applicant: the published standards in our data have no age bands. Some have different standards by sex (WA's beep test and agility run, Tasmania's grip strength and waist, the AFP's push-ups), but none adjusts for age. The medical and psychological standards are also the same.
Age isn't a barrier to applying. The beep test, the medical and a 6-to-8-month academy are the same for a 45-year-old as for an 18-year-old.
Older applicants are a normal part of recruit classes. Forces actively recruit career changers and experienced people from other sectors: Victoria exempts paramedics, firefighters and ADF members from its entrance exam, and SA exempts people with 6 months or more in emergency services, the ADF or the SA public sector. See our guide to a career change into policing.
Compulsory retirement ages for police, by force
This is where the forces really differ, and where a lot of published information online is out of date. Here's what each force's current law or official source says, with a clear flag where we couldn't confirm it.
- Compulsory retirement age
- No compulsory age found in the Police Act 1990; historically 60
- Status
- Not confirmed
- Compulsory retirement age
- Not confirmed from a primary source
- Status
- Not confirmed
- Compulsory retirement age
- 60 (QSuper's summary of Queensland law)
- Status
- Confirmed
- Compulsory retirement age
- Not verified
- Status
- Not confirmed
- Compulsory retirement age
- Not verified
- Status
- Not confirmed
- Compulsory retirement age
- 65 (Police Service Act 2003 s 28); voluntary from 55
- Status
- Confirmed
- Compulsory retirement age
- 67 (Police Administration Act s 22(2), since 7 Dec 2023); voluntary from 55
- Status
- Confirmed
- Compulsory retirement age
- None in the AFP Act 1979; may retire from 55
- Status
- Confirmed: no compulsory age
| Force | Compulsory retirement age | Status |
|---|---|---|
| NSW Police | No compulsory age found in the Police Act 1990; historically 60 | Not confirmed |
| Victoria Police | Not confirmed from a primary source | Not confirmed |
| QPS | 60 (QSuper's summary of Queensland law) | Confirmed |
| WA Police | Not verified | Not confirmed |
| SAPOL | Not verified | Not confirmed |
| Tasmania Police | 65 (Police Service Act 2003 s 28); voluntary from 55 | Confirmed |
| NT Police | 67 (Police Administration Act s 22(2), since 7 Dec 2023); voluntary from 55 | Confirmed |
| AFP | None in the AFP Act 1979; may retire from 55 | Confirmed: no compulsory age |
Sources: NT Police Administration Act s 22(2); Tasmania Police Service Act 2003 s 28; AFP Act 1979 s 31; QSuper's summary of Queensland legislation; NSW Police Act 1990.
The confirmed ages
Northern Territory: 67. The Police Administration Act was amended by Act No. 31 of 2023, which commenced on 7 December 2023, raising the age from 65. The NT recruiting FAQ still says 65, which is out of date. Retired members can be reappointed at a rank no higher than their last, but not once they're 67.
Tasmania: 65. Under the Police Service Act 2003, an officer must retire on reaching 65, and may retire voluntarily from 55. Queensland: 60, per QSuper's summary of current legislation; the police disability pension formula is also calculated on service to age 60.
AFP: none. The current Australian Federal Police Act 1979 has no compulsory retirement age, and employees may retire any time after the minimum retiring age of 55. Older sources say AFP officers retire at 60; that's an old rule and isn't in the current Act.
The ages we couldn't confirm
NSW: we found no age-based compulsory retirement provision in the current Police Act 1990, which only covers resignation and retirement by notice. Historically, NSW police retired at 60. When NSW abolished compulsory retirement ages for most public sector workers from 1 January 1991, a government circular said police officers were exempt "at this stage". Whether a police retirement age still applies today is not confirmed.
Victoria, WA and SA: we couldn't confirm a compulsory retirement age from a primary source. If this matters to your plans, ask the force's HR area or your police association, and don't rely on a figure you've seen quoted without a source.
How long a police career can you have if you join later?
In the three forces with a confirmed fixed retirement age, the arithmetic is simple. This table shows the years between your joining age and the compulsory retirement age. It's our calculation, and your first year or so is spent in training and probation.
QPS
- Retire at
- 60
- Join at 25
- 35 years
- Join at 35
- 25 years
- Join at 45
- 15 years
- Join at 55
- 5 years
Tasmania Police
- Retire at
- 65
- Join at 25
- 40 years
- Join at 35
- 30 years
- Join at 45
- 20 years
- Join at 55
- 10 years
NT Police
- Retire at
- 67
- Join at 25
- 42 years
- Join at 35
- 32 years
- Join at 45
- 22 years
- Join at 55
- 12 years
| Force | Retire at | Join at 25 | Join at 35 | Join at 45 | Join at 55 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QPS | 60 | 35 years | 25 years | 15 years | 5 years |
| Tasmania Police | 65 | 40 years | 30 years | 20 years | 10 years |
| NT Police | 67 | 42 years | 32 years | 22 years | 12 years |
The AFP has no compulsory age. NSW, Victoria, WA and SA ages aren't confirmed, so they're not shown.
A 45-year-old joining Queensland has 15 years before compulsory retirement; the same person joining the NT has 22. That gap matters for promotion (many forces require years of service at each rank) and for super, where years of contributions drive your balance. It also matters for defined benefit schemes that some forces still run for long-serving members, though most new recruits now join accumulation funds.
See what a shorter career means for your super
Project your police super balance from your joining age to retirement, using your force's employer contribution rate.
Joining in your 30s, 40s or 50s: what actually changes
The rules are the same, but your situation usually isn't. These are the trade-offs older applicants weigh most, based on the published pay and training rules.
What tends to work in your favour
- ✓Life and work experience gives you strong examples for the panel interview.
- ✓Some qualifications exempt you from entrance tests (degrees in Victoria and SA; emergency service or ADF experience).
- ✓No maximum age in any force, and no age bands in the fitness standards.
- ✓Forces actively recruit career changers and people with other public service experience.
What to plan for
- ✕A pay drop during training: recruit rates run from $59,728 to $74,619 a year, and NSW's first 16 weeks are unpaid.
- ✕The same fitness test as 18-year-olds, so you may need a longer training run-in.
- ✕Shift work, regional postings and live-in academy weeks are harder with a family.
- ✕Fewer years to build super and climb ranks, especially in Queensland (retire at 60).
Fitness is the stage to start on first. Measure yourself against your force's standard now, so you know how many weeks of training you need before you apply. Recovery takes longer as you age, so build gradually and include strength and mobility work, not just running.
Check your fitness against every force
Enter your beep test level, push-ups and plank time to see which forces' standards you already meet and where you're short.
Before you apply as a career changer
- ✓ Work out how long you can live on recruit pay (or no pay, for NSW's first session).
- ✓ Talk to your family about shift work, academy live-in options and a possible regional posting.
- ✓ Check which of your qualifications or experience exempt you from an entrance test.
- ✓ Run your force's fitness test honestly and give yourself 8 to 12 weeks of training if you're short.
- ✓ Find out the retirement age that applies in your force and what it means for super.
Age limits for overseas and experienced officers
The only hard upper age limits we found apply to serving police from overseas who join through visa-sponsored programs. They come from the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa used in each labour agreement.
WA
- Program
- International transitional course (UK and Ireland; NZ listed)
- Age limit
- Under 55 at visa nomination
SA
- Program
- Transition Program (UK, Ireland, Guernsey, Canada)
- Age limit
- Under 45 at visa application
Queensland
- Program
- PACE under the labour agreement
- Age limit
- Not published in our sources
Interstate and NZ transfers
- Program
- NSW PMP, Tasmania ATP, NT ARP, WA and SA transition
- Age limit
- No age limit published
| Force | Program | Age limit |
|---|---|---|
| WA | International transitional course (UK and Ireland; NZ listed) | Under 55 at visa nomination |
| SA | Transition Program (UK, Ireland, Guernsey, Canada) | Under 45 at visa application |
| Queensland | PACE under the labour agreement | Not published in our sources |
| Interstate and NZ transfers | NSW PMP, Tasmania ATP, NT ARP, WA and SA transition | No age limit published |
For experienced officers, the bigger age-related question is often pay recognition. WA recognises service up to Constable 5th year, with a maximum of 9 years counted. Tasmania's Accelerated Training Program recognises up to 12 years for pay. The NT sets your increment by completed years, capped at 10 or more. Read the guide for UK officers or the guide for NZ officers.
Applying at 17: what to do before you turn 18
If you're in Year 11 or 12, you can do a lot of the groundwork now, even if your force won't take an application until you're 17 and a half or older.
A plan for school leavers
- ✓ Get your driver licence and start building driving experience (NSW wants 6 months).
- ✓ Check your force's education rule: an ATAR of 50 in NSW; Year 12 or Cert III in Tasmania; none in Victoria or WA.
- ✓ Get first aid (HLTAID011) and any swimming certificate your force requires.
- ✓ Start fitness training for your force's beep test, push-ups and plank standard.
- ✓ Keep your record clean and your social media professional; it will be checked.
- ✓ Volunteer, play team sport or work part-time to build examples for the interview.
Tasmania's Career Development Program for Year 12 students is worth applying for if you're in Tasmania: it's a free 5-day live-in program with 20 places per program, and it can fast-track you to interview. Elsewhere, read the full guide to becoming a police officer and our eligibility requirements guide.
Retirement age and access to your super
A compulsory retirement age isn't the same as the age you can access your super. Several police schemes have their own rules, and these can shape when officers actually leave.
AFP
- Voluntary or minimum retirement
- May retire from the minimum retiring age of 55
- Super access note
- Scheme rules depend on whether you're in CSS, PSS or PSSap; most new recruits are in accumulation super
Tasmania
- Voluntary or minimum retirement
- Voluntary retirement from 55
- Super access note
- Must retire at 65
NT
- Voluntary or minimum retirement
- Voluntary retirement from 55
- Super access note
- Must retire at 67
SA
- Voluntary or minimum retirement
- Not confirmed
- Super access note
- Triple S lets police access their super on retirement from age 50
Queensland
- Voluntary or minimum retirement
- Not covered in our sources
- Super access note
- Police disability pensions are calculated on service to age 60
| Force | Voluntary or minimum retirement | Super access note |
|---|---|---|
| AFP | May retire from the minimum retiring age of 55 | Scheme rules depend on whether you're in CSS, PSS or PSSap; most new recruits are in accumulation super |
| Tasmania | Voluntary retirement from 55 | Must retire at 65 |
| NT | Voluntary retirement from 55 | Must retire at 67 |
| SA | Not confirmed | Triple S lets police access their super on retirement from age 50 |
| Queensland | Not covered in our sources | Police disability pensions are calculated on service to age 60 |
For most people joining now, super is an accumulation account, so the main lever is how many years you contribute and at what rate. Queensland pays 18% employer super and the AFP 15.4%, which partly offsets a shorter career. Compare forces in our pay comparison calculator.
What we couldn't confirm (and who can)
Retirement ages are the area where we found the most stale information online. These are the points we couldn't confirm from a primary source.
Whether NSW still has a compulsory police retirement age (historically 60)
- Who can confirm
- NSWPF Human Resources or the Police Association of NSW
Victoria's compulsory retirement age
- Who can confirm
- Victoria Police HR or the Police Association Victoria
WA's compulsory retirement age
- Who can confirm
- WA Police Force HR or the WA Police Union
SA's compulsory retirement age
- Who can confirm
- SAPOL HR or the Police Association of SA
The Queensland Act section for retirement at 60
- Who can confirm
- QPS or the Queensland Police Union
Whether the AFP Regulations set any maximum age
- Who can confirm
- AFP People or the AFP Association
SA's minimum application age of 17 (from a job advert)
- Who can confirm
- SAPOL Recruiting
| Open question | Who can confirm |
|---|---|
| Whether NSW still has a compulsory police retirement age (historically 60) | NSWPF Human Resources or the Police Association of NSW |
| Victoria's compulsory retirement age | Victoria Police HR or the Police Association Victoria |
| WA's compulsory retirement age | WA Police Force HR or the WA Police Union |
| SA's compulsory retirement age | SAPOL HR or the Police Association of SA |
| The Queensland Act section for retirement at 60 | QPS or the Queensland Police Union |
| Whether the AFP Regulations set any maximum age | AFP People or the AFP Association |
| SA's minimum application age of 17 (from a job advert) | SAPOL Recruiting |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum age to join the police in Australia?
There isn't one. None of the eight forces lists a maximum joining age for new recruits in its published requirements; Victoria, Tasmania, the NT and the AFP say outright there is no upper limit. You must pass the same fitness, medical and psychological standards as younger applicants. The only age caps we found apply to visa-sponsored overseas officers.
Can you join the police at 40 in Australia?
Yes. No force has an upper age limit, and the fitness standards are the same at 40 as at 20. The practical questions are whether you can meet the fitness test, cope with shift work and an academy of 6 to 8 months, and manage the drop to recruit pay, which ranges from $59,728 to $74,619 a year.
Can you join the police at 50 or 55?
Yes, as far as eligibility goes. Bear in mind the retirement ages: Queensland's compulsory age is 60, so a 55-year-old joining there would have about 5 years. Tasmania's is 65 and the NT's 67. The AFP has no compulsory age. NSW, Victoria, WA and SA ages are not confirmed in our sources.
What is the minimum age to join the police?
18 at the start of recruit training in every force. Queensland and Tasmania let you apply at 17 and a half, and WA at 17 years 6 months, so you can be through selection by your 18th birthday. SA's job advert says 17 at application, but its eligibility page doesn't confirm it.
What is the police retirement age in Queensland?
60. QSuper's summary of Queensland legislation gives 60 as the compulsory retirement age for police officers, and Queensland's police disability pension formula is calculated on service to age 60. We haven't checked the exact section of the Police Service Administration Act, so confirm with QPS or the Queensland Police Union if it matters to you.
Do AFP officers have to retire at 60?
No. The current Australian Federal Police Act 1979 has no compulsory retirement age. AFP employees may retire any time after the minimum retiring age of 55. Older sources say AFP officers retire at 60, but that rule is not in the current Act. Whether the AFP Regulations set any limit has not been confirmed.
Is the NT police retirement age 65 or 67?
67. The Police Administration Act s 22(2) was amended by Act No. 31 of 2023, which commenced on 7 December 2023, raising the age from 65 to 67. The NT Police recruiting FAQ still says 65, which is out of date. Members can retire voluntarily from 55.
Is there an age limit for UK police officers moving to Australia?
Yes, for the visa-sponsored programs. WA requires overseas officers to be under 55 at visa nomination, and SA requires them to be under 45 at visa application. These limits come from the skilled visa rules attached to each program, not the forces' general eligibility rules.
Evidence
Sources and how we checked them
Every figure on this page comes from the sources below, read on 9 October 2026. Pay rates and rules change when new agreements are made, so check the source for the date you're reading this. Where we couldn't confirm something from an official source, the page says so instead of guessing. Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy.
- Police Administration Act 1978 (NT), as in force at 6 December 2025
- Police Service Act 2003 (Tas)
- Australian Federal Police Act 1979 (compilation 8 Nov 2025)
- QSuper Police Account Guide (issued 1 Jul 2026)
- Police Act 1990 (NSW), current version
- NSW Government: C1991-06 Abolition of compulsory retirement ages in the NSW public sector — 1991 circular exempting police officers
- NSW Police Force: recruiting site
- Victoria Police: recruiting site
- Queensland Police Service: recruiting site
- Western Australia Police Force: recruiting site
- South Australia Police: recruiting site
- Tasmania Police: recruiting site
- Northern Territory Police Force: recruiting site
- Australian Federal Police (incl. ACT Policing): recruiting site
Related guides
Joining the police
More in this series
General information, not advice. This guide explains published rules and rates. It doesn't consider your personal circumstances and isn't financial, legal, tax or credit advice. Confirm anything you rely on with your force, your police association, the ATO or a licensed professional.