Can a UK police officer transfer to WA Police?
Yes: it's a defined, sponsored pathway, and applications were open when we checked.
WA Police calls UK and Irish recruits International Transitional Officers. You don't go through the 28-week recruit academy: you're sponsored for a permanent visa, do a 13-week paid transition course, serve 6 months' probation and start on a pay point that reflects your years in the job. WA's pages said "Applications are now open" on 9 October 2026.
Course
13 weeks
vs 28 weeks for new recruits
Probation
6 months
vs 18 months for new recruits
Service counted
Up to 9 yrs
pay; rank capped at Constable 5th year on entry
Top entry pay
$109,553
First Class Constable increment, after exams
This page goes deeper than our overview for UK officers moving to Australia, which compares WA with SAPOL and Queensland. Here we cover WA only: the exact service table WA publishes, what you'll pay out of your own pocket, what the course covers and where you're likely to be posted.
We read WA's pages ourselves
Every rule below comes from WA's Let's Join Forces pages read on 9 October 2026, and pay comes from the WA Police Force Industrial Agreement 2024. WA updates its pages without notice. One example: WA's recognition table now starts at 3 years' service = Constable 4th year, where older summaries said 3 to 5 years mapped to Constable 2nd to 5th year.
Who's eligible for WA's international pathway?
Four hard rules, plus a list of services WA won't accept.
WA's eligibility checker asks three questions, and the FAQ adds the age and nomination rules. All of them must be true by the time WA nominates you for the visa, which is the end of the selection process.
WA international transition: the hard rules
- ✓ You're a serving police officer, or left no more than 18 months ago (career breaks count towards that limit)
- ✓ You've completed probation and have at least 2 years 8 months' service when you apply
- ✓ You'll have 3 years' policing experience by visa nomination
- ✓ Your service is with a UK policing jurisdiction (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) or the Republic of Ireland
- ✓ You're under 55 at visa nomination (a labour agreement condition)
- ✓ You hold a current full driving licence
- ✓ Your tattoos meet WA's standard (assessed from photos in a short-sleeved shirt)
- ✓ You can pass the psych, fitness, medical and vision standards (below)
The 2 years 8 months rule exists because selection takes a few months. WA says it encourages you to apply at 2 years 8 months, but you won't be nominated for the visa until you reach 3 years.
Services WA won't accept
WA lists British Transport Police, Military and Defence Force Police, Special Constables and volunteers as incompatible jurisdictions. Its FAQ says this is to keep training and experience consistent. If you're BTP, see our guide to moving to SAPOL, which names BTP as eligible.
Medical, vision and fitness
You sit WA's Physical Performance Evaluation: an agility test, sit-ups, push-ups, grip strength, a bag lift and carry, and the beep test. Our WA police fitness test guide lists the standards. Vision must be at least 6/9 in your better eye and 6/18 in the other unaided, or correctable with soft contact lenses to 6/6 together or 6/9 each eye, with 70 degrees of peripheral vision each side.
What your UK service counts as in WA
WA's published table, with pay from the current agreement.
WA recognises completed years with a compatible force. On entry, rank is capped at Constable 5th year, but pay can go higher once you complete the requirements for First Class Constable and Senior Constable, which WA describes as online examinations taken after you start.
Less than 3 years
- Recognised service
- Not enough for the international pathway: you need 3 years by visa nomination
3 years, less than 4
- Recognised service
- 3 years
- Salary (from 1 July 2026)
- Constable 4th year: $99,900
4 years, less than 5
- Recognised service
- 4 years
- Salary (from 1 July 2026)
- Constable 5th year: $102,263
5 or 6 years
- Recognised service
- 5 or 6 years
- Salary (from 1 July 2026)
- Constable 5th year ($102,263) until you complete the First Class Constable requirements, then First Class Constable base: $107,977
7 or 8 years
- Recognised service
- 7 or 8 years
- Salary (from 1 July 2026)
- Constable 5th year until you complete the First Class Constable requirements, then First Class Constable increment: $109,553
9 years or more
- Recognised service
- 9 years (the cap)
- Salary (from 1 July 2026)
- As above ($109,553) until you complete the Senior Constable requirements; Senior Constable base is $115,722
| Completed UK/Irish service | Recognised service | Salary (from 1 July 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 3 years | Not enough for the international pathway: you need 3 years by visa nomination | – |
| 3 years, less than 4 | 3 years | Constable 4th year: $99,900 |
| 4 years, less than 5 | 4 years | Constable 5th year: $102,263 |
| 5 or 6 years | 5 or 6 years | Constable 5th year ($102,263) until you complete the First Class Constable requirements, then First Class Constable base: $107,977 |
| 7 or 8 years | 7 or 8 years | Constable 5th year until you complete the First Class Constable requirements, then First Class Constable increment: $109,553 |
| 9 years or more | 9 years (the cap) | As above ($109,553) until you complete the Senior Constable requirements; Senior Constable base is $115,722 |
Source: WA international recruitment page and Transitional Officers Hub table, read 9 October 2026. Salaries are base pay from the WA Police Force Industrial Agreement 2024 (no further rise is scheduled under it). WA's two pages differ on timing: one says 'on commencement', the other 'on completion of training'. Clause 10.8 of the agreement gives the Commissioner discretion, so your offer letter is what counts.
Three years' UK service puts you on $99,900; four years on $102,263.
What this means for a typical UK officer
A UK constable with 6 years in starts on Constable 5th year ($102,263). Once they pass the First Class Constable exams, they move to the First Class Constable base rate ($107,977). Someone with 9 or more years goes to the First Class Constable increment ($109,553) and can then sit the Senior Constable requirements, where the base rate is $115,722.
UK sergeants and inspectors aren't appointed at rank. WA's FAQ says officers at First Class Constable and above can apply for promotion to Sergeant (base $127,619). For how promotion works once you're in, see our WA police promotion guide, and for a force-by-force view of rank, our UK rank and service recognition guide.
What you'd earn, after tax
Base pay, WA's flat shift allowances and super, with an honest UK comparison.
WA pays flat dollar shift allowances per 8-hour shift rather than percentage penalties. From 1 July 2026 they're $126.56 for a night shift, $101.13 for an evening shift and $74.11 for a weekend day shift (agreement cl 16.1). They're pro-rated for 10- and 12-hour shifts.
Constable 4th year (3 years' UK service), base only
- Gross a year
- $99,900
- Take-home a fortnight
- $2,977
Constable 5th year (4+ years), base only
- Gross a year
- $102,263
- Take-home a fortnight
- $3,039
Constable 5th year + 2 nights and 2 weekend days a fortnight
- Gross a year
- $112,698
- Take-home a fortnight
- $3,312
| Example | Gross a year | Take-home a fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| Constable 4th year (3 years' UK service), base only | $99,900 | $2,977 |
| Constable 5th year (4+ years), base only | $102,263 | $3,039 |
| Constable 5th year + 2 nights and 2 weekend days a fortnight | $112,698 | $3,312 |
Calculated by us with 2026-27 resident tax rates and the 2% Medicare levy, no HELP debt and no deductions. The shift example assumes 8-hour shifts all year; your roster will differ. You're a tax resident from when you move to live here; ask the ATO if your first year is split.
Employer super is on top of salary. WA contributes 12% (the Superannuation Guarantee), which is about $12,272 a year at Constable 5th year, and WA Treasury says shift loadings attract super. GESB is the default fund unless you choose another.
How that compares with UK pay
The England and Wales constable scale ran to £50,256 at the top from 1 September 2025 (PRRB 2026 report). Our sister site Police Pay UK calculates the 2026/27 top point at £52,015 after the 3.5% award; the Home Office hadn't published the official table when it checked.
As an illustration only, at A$1 = £0.5270 (RBA, 9 October 2026), £50,256 is about A$95,362 and £52,015 about A$98,700. Exchange rates move daily and a straight conversion ignores tax, pension contributions and living costs, so read our UK vs Australia police pay and cost of living guides before you decide.
Compare WA with SA and Queensland
Line up WA's Constable 4th and 5th year pay against SAPOL and the QPS, with employer super, before you choose a force.
WA's selection process for UK officers
Three stages, all online, then a selection pool.
WA says it considers your prior service and rank but still runs mandatory checks. Its hub page says applications typically take 6 to 8 weeks to process, and you shouldn't need to travel to WA during the process (depending on your location and Police Recruiting's decision).
- 1
Online application
Week 1Personal details, education, employment and police service history. Upload photo ID, photos of visible tattoos and piercings, your driving licence and history, and a certified copy of your birth certificate. No first aid certificate is needed.
- 2
Service records
Weeks 1–6WA asks for performance and service records. If you can't get them from your force, WA requests them on your behalf, which it says can take several weeks.
- 3
Stage 1: initial assessments
Stage 1Integrity checks, a tattoo review, a psychological evaluation (answer honestly: it's designed to catch impression management) and the Physical Performance Evaluation.
- 4
Stage 2: online panel interview
Stage 2Assessed against five selection criteria (personal drive and integrity, supports strategic direction, achieves results, builds productive working relationships, communicates with influence) and four values (duty, teamwork, integrity, care). A review panel then looks at everything holistically.
- 5
Stage 3: final checks
Stage 3Health and medical assessment, vision report, full background and integrity check, bankruptcy check. Fingerprints and DNA are taken in person once you're in WA.
- 6
Selection pool and nomination
End of selectionPassing puts you in the selection pool, which doesn't guarantee an offer; squads are built for a mix of gender, age and background, not first in, first out. WA then nominates you for the 186 visa.
If you aren't progressed, WA gives you an individual reapplication date. The interview is where most effort pays off: prepare examples from your UK service that show each criterion, using the STAR structure, and see our WA police interview guide.
Practise WA's online panel interview
Answer police interview questions by typing or speaking and get an instant STAR score and model answer, tuned to Australian forces' competencies.
The subclass 186 visa WA sponsors
Permanent from day one, with your family on the same application.
Successful UK and Irish applicants are nominated for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa under WA's labour agreement. Home Affairs says the 186 lets you live, work and study in Australia indefinitely and apply for citizenship if eligible. Its usual age rule is under 45, "unless the labour agreement provides otherwise", which is why WA can take officers up to 54.
Type
- What WA and Home Affairs say
- Permanent (subclass 186, Labour Agreement stream)
Who nominates
- What WA and Home Affairs say
- WA Police, at the end of selection
Age
- What WA and Home Affairs say
- Under 55 at nomination (WA FAQ); 'age limit of 55 at time of visa application' (WA recruitment page)
Family
- What WA and Home Affairs say
- Partner, dependent children or stepchildren, and your partner's dependent children or stepchildren
Processing
- What WA and Home Affairs say
- Generally 2 to 6 months (WA)
Commitment
- What WA and Home Affairs say
- WA says you're expected to work for the nominating employer for at least 2 years
Main applicant charge
- What WA and Home Affairs say
- From A$6,140 (Home Affairs, page updated 24 September 2026)
| Visa point | What WA and Home Affairs say |
|---|---|
| Type | Permanent (subclass 186, Labour Agreement stream) |
| Who nominates | WA Police, at the end of selection |
| Age | Under 55 at nomination (WA FAQ); 'age limit of 55 at time of visa application' (WA recruitment page) |
| Family | Partner, dependent children or stepchildren, and your partner's dependent children or stepchildren |
| Processing | Generally 2 to 6 months (WA) |
| Commitment | WA says you're expected to work for the nominating employer for at least 2 years |
| Main applicant charge | From A$6,140 (Home Affairs, page updated 24 September 2026) |
Sources: WA Transitional Officers Hub and FAQ; Home Affairs subclass 186 Labour Agreement stream page, read 9 October 2026. General information, not migration advice.
Because the 186 is permanent, you and your family can enrol in Medicare once it's granted, and your partner can work from arrival. Our visa guide for police officers covers health and character checks, police certificates and the path to citizenship.
Why citizenship matters later
WA's FAQ says some sensitive investigative and intelligence roles need a national security clearance, which only Australian citizens can get. You can do detective training as a permanent resident, but some roles may be closed to you until you're a citizen.
What it costs you, and what WA pays back
A family of four pays more than A$12,000 in visa charges alone.
WA's reimbursement covers the main applicant only. For a couple with two children under 18, the visa charges WA lists add up to A$12,280 (A$6,140 + A$3,070 + 2 × A$1,535). WA pays back A$6,140 and A$300, so the family's share is A$5,840 before flights, shipping and a rental bond.
Main applicant's 186 visa
- Amount
- A$6,140 (WA FAQ; Home Affairs lists 'from A$6,140')
- Who pays
- Reimbursed once you start, if WA nominated you
Partner or other applicant aged 18+
- Amount
- A$3,070 each (WA FAQ)
- Who pays
- Not reimbursed
Child under 18
- Amount
- A$1,535 each (WA FAQ)
- Who pays
- Not reimbursed
Application costs
- Amount
- Varies
- Who pays
- A$300 paid on commencement as a partial reimbursement
Relocation (flights, shipping, storage)
- Amount
- Your own
- Who pays
- Not reimbursed in cash; WA offers salary packaging of relocation costs (terms apply), so keep invoices and receipts
Accommodation during the 13-week course
- Amount
- Your own
- Who pays
- Not provided: WA says international officers source their own
Medicals, police certificates for the visa
- Amount
- Your own
- Who pays
- WA's pages don't list these as reimbursed for international officers
| Cost | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Main applicant's 186 visa | A$6,140 (WA FAQ; Home Affairs lists 'from A$6,140') | Reimbursed once you start, if WA nominated you |
| Partner or other applicant aged 18+ | A$3,070 each (WA FAQ) | Not reimbursed |
| Child under 18 | A$1,535 each (WA FAQ) | Not reimbursed |
| Application costs | Varies | A$300 paid on commencement as a partial reimbursement |
| Relocation (flights, shipping, storage) | Your own | Not reimbursed in cash; WA offers salary packaging of relocation costs (terms apply), so keep invoices and receipts |
| Accommodation during the 13-week course | Your own | Not provided: WA says international officers source their own |
| Medicals, police certificates for the visa | Your own | WA's pages don't list these as reimbursed for international officers |
Sources: WA international recruitment page and FAQ, read 9 October 2026. WA marks the visa amount 'subject to change' and the salary packaging 'subject to terms and conditions'.
Salary packaging relocation costs means paying some eligible moving costs from pre-tax salary, which WA says "can provide significant income tax savings". Ask Police Recruiting which costs qualify before you book anything. Our practical first steps guide covers shipping, bonds and setting up in your first weeks.
Budget for the course months
You're paid from day one of the 13-week course, but WA doesn't provide accommodation for international officers, so you'll pay rent near Joondalup while you train, and possibly again at your posting. Keep a buffer for overlapping rents.
The 13-week transition course at Joondalup
Full time, paid, and built around WA law rather than basic policing.
The WA Police Academy is in Joondalup, 30 km north of Perth's CBD, a 15-minute walk or short bus ride from Joondalup train station. You'll join a squad of around 30 officers from different backgrounds and forces. WA expects you to start as soon as possible after your visa is approved, and says you can't take leave during the course unless approved.
What the course covers (WA's list)
- ✓ Officer safety and tactics, empty hand and physical training
- ✓ Driver training and firearms
- ✓ WA legislation and powers, including search and arrest
- ✓ Custody, duty of care, bail, drugs, firearms and coronial enquiries
- ✓ Family violence procedures
- ✓ Prosecution and court file preparation; giving evidence
- ✓ Investigations, suspect and witness interviewing, statements
- ✓ IT applications and station procedures
- ✓ Forensics and fingerprinting
- ✓ Ethics, diversity, Aboriginal and cultural awareness; first aid
WA says no prior study is expected: everyone starts at the same level. It suggests holding off on outside study until you finish. Secondary employment needs approval. For the wider Academy, including what new recruits do, see our WA Police Academy guide.
Where you'll be posted, and regional WA
Metro or a larger regional centre first, with tenure of 2 to 4 years.
WA's FAQ says international transitional officers are deployed to frontline stations across the metropolitan area or larger regional centres after training. You must be prepared to serve anywhere in the state: WA calls itself the largest police jurisdiction in the world, at more than 2.5 million square kilometres. Tenure is usually 2 to 4 years per posting.
Free housing
- What the agreement or WA says
- Fully subsidised housing in 56 'Schedule G' towns, including Port Hedland, Derby, Halls Creek and Wyndham (cl 17.14)
District allowance
- What the agreement or WA says
- Paid fortnightly in allowance districts under the public-sector scheme (cl 19.1); police dollar amounts aren't published
Regional attraction payment
- What the agreement or WA says
- One-off taxed payment on arrival for some locations; amount not published
Other
- What the agreement or WA says
- Locality allowance, extra annual leave, travel concessions, relocation and storage costs; not every location gets every incentive
| Regional benefit | What the agreement or WA says |
|---|---|
| Free housing | Fully subsidised housing in 56 'Schedule G' towns, including Port Hedland, Derby, Halls Creek and Wyndham (cl 17.14) |
| District allowance | Paid fortnightly in allowance districts under the public-sector scheme (cl 19.1); police dollar amounts aren't published |
| Regional attraction payment | One-off taxed payment on arrival for some locations; amount not published |
| Other | Locality allowance, extra annual leave, travel concessions, relocation and storage costs; not every location gets every incentive |
Sources: WA Police Force Industrial Agreement 2024 and Let's Join Forces regional opportunities page. Amounts for district allowance and attraction payments weren't published when we checked.
WA's own recruitment material features a former UK officer who valued always being paired on patrol. For the full list of regional allowances and how they're paid, see the WA police salary guide.
How long it takes, start to finish
Roughly a year from application to the end of probation, if nothing stalls.
Application processing
- Typical time (WA's figures)
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Notes
- Longer if WA has to request your service records
Stages 1 to 3 and selection pool
- Typical time (WA's figures)
- WA says 0 to 4 months for the application phase
- Notes
- All online
Visa nomination and grant
- Typical time (WA's figures)
- 2 to 6 months
- Notes
- You must have 3 years' service by nomination
Notice, packing and flights
- Typical time (WA's figures)
- Your notice period
- Notes
- Resign only after the visa grant and a written offer
Transition course
- Typical time (WA's figures)
- 13 weeks
- Notes
- Paid; own accommodation
Probation
- Typical time (WA's figures)
- 6 months
- Notes
- At your posting
| Stage | Typical time (WA's figures) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application processing | 6 to 8 weeks | Longer if WA has to request your service records |
| Stages 1 to 3 and selection pool | WA says 0 to 4 months for the application phase | All online |
| Visa nomination and grant | 2 to 6 months | You must have 3 years' service by nomination |
| Notice, packing and flights | Your notice period | Resign only after the visa grant and a written offer |
| Transition course | 13 weeks | Paid; own accommodation |
| Probation | 6 months | At your posting |
Sources: WA international pages. Total is our estimate: about 14 to 21 months from first enquiry to the end of probation, including 1 to 2 months to give notice and move. See /join/uk-police-to-australia-timeline/ for the working.
Our month-by-month UK to Australia timeline adds the UK side: notice, pension paperwork, selling or letting a house and school terms.
Moving your family to WA
Healthcare, schools, your partner's job and your UK pension.
Your partner and children go on the same 186 application, so they arrive as permanent residents with work and study rights. Before Medicare enrolment, the UK reciprocal health care agreement covers medically necessary care, but only while your visa lasts and only if you lived in the UK before arriving.
Medicare
- What to know
- Enrol once you hold a permanent visa (or in some cases after applying for one)
Before Medicare
- What to know
- UK reciprocal health care agreement: medically necessary care only, ends when your visa expires
Partner's work
- What to know
- Included in the 186 visa with work rights
Children's schooling
- What to know
- Check enrolment rules and fees with the state education department
Postings
- What to know
- WA, SA and Queensland all post officers regionally
Citizenship later
- What to know
- Permanent residence is the usual first step towards citizenship; Home Affairs sets the residence rules
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Medicare | Enrol once you hold a permanent visa (or in some cases after applying for one) |
| Before Medicare | UK reciprocal health care agreement: medically necessary care only, ends when your visa expires |
| Partner's work | Included in the 186 visa with work rights |
| Children's schooling | Check enrolment rules and fees with the state education department |
| Postings | WA, SA and Queensland all post officers regionally |
| Citizenship later | Permanent residence is the usual first step towards citizenship; Home Affairs sets the residence rules |
Sources: Services Australia Medicare enrolment for permanent residents and reciprocal health care agreement (UK) pages, Home Affairs subclass 186 page, read 9 October 2026.
Public schooling and enrolment are set by WA's Department of Education, so check once you know your posting. Our moving with family guide goes further, and for the UK pension you leave behind, start with your UK police pension in Australia and Police Pay UK's pension hub. Most officers keep a deferred UK pension; get regulated advice before any transfer.
Is WA the right Australian force for you?
Where WA wins, and where SAPOL or Queensland might suit you better.
WA's strengths for UK officers
- ✓Highest age limit of the three sponsoring forces: under 55.
- ✓The shortest course: 13 weeks.
- ✓A published, year-by-year service-to-pay table.
- ✓Exams after you start can lift you to First Class or Senior Constable pay.
- ✓Free housing in 56 Schedule G towns if you go regional.
Where WA is weaker
- ✕Excludes British Transport Police.
- ✕Only the main applicant's visa is reimbursed.
- ✕You find your own accommodation during the course.
- ✕No cash relocation payment (salary packaging instead).
- ✕No scheduled pay rise after 1 July 2026 under the current agreement.
Are 45 to 54
- Consider
- WA or Queensland; SAPOL's limit is under 45 at visa application
Are British Transport Police
- Consider
- SAPOL (BTP accepted)
Want family visa costs covered
- Consider
- SAPOL (reimburses the family's visa, medical and clearance costs)
Want cash for the move
- Consider
- Queensland ($20,000 relocation incentive)
Want the shortest course
- Consider
- WA (13 weeks)
| If you… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Are 45 to 54 | WA or Queensland; SAPOL's limit is under 45 at visa application |
| Are British Transport Police | SAPOL (BTP accepted) |
| Want family visa costs covered | SAPOL (reimburses the family's visa, medical and clearance costs) |
| Want cash for the move | Queensland ($20,000 relocation incentive) |
| Want the shortest course | WA (13 weeks) |
From each force's published terms on 9 October 2026.
For the full comparison, start with our overseas officers hub, then read UK police to SAPOL and UK police to Queensland. If you'd rather keep things simple, Police Pay UK covers what you'd give up on the UK side.
Free email alerts
WA Police UK recruitment intakes and rule changes
One email when WA changes its international transition rules: the service-recognition table, age limit, visa reimbursement, course dates, and the pay rise that follows the 2024 agreement.
- ✓WA international rule changes the day we verify them
- ✓WA pay deal news for transitional officers
Frequently asked questions
Can UK police officers join WA Police?
Yes. WA Police accepts serving or recently serving police officers from UK policing jurisdictions (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) and the Republic of Ireland. You need completed probation, at least 3 years' service by visa nomination, a full driving licence and to be under 55. British Transport Police, military police, Special Constables and volunteers aren't eligible.
What is the age limit for WA Police international recruits?
WA's FAQ says you must be under 55 at visa nomination, which happens at the end of the selection process, and that this is a condition of WA's labour agreement. Another WA page words it as an age limit of 55 at visa application. Either way, apply well before your 55th birthday, because selection takes months.
How much will I earn with WA Police as an ex-UK officer?
It depends on your completed years. Three years' service starts you on Constable 4th year ($99,900 from 1 July 2026) and four years on Constable 5th year ($102,263). With five or more years, you move to First Class Constable pay ($107,977 or $109,553) once you pass the online exams. Shift allowances are paid on top.
Does WA Police accept British Transport Police officers?
No. WA lists British Transport Police and Military/Defence Force Police as incompatible jurisdictions, along with Special Constables and volunteers, and says applications from them won't be accepted. If you're a BTP officer, SAPOL explicitly accepts BTP service, and Queensland's labour agreement is broader, so look at those two forces instead.
How long is the WA Police transition course?
Thirteen weeks, full time and paid, at the WA Police Academy in Joondalup, about 30 km north of Perth. You train in a squad of around 30 and cover WA law and powers, firearms, driving, officer safety, custody, investigations and prosecution files. Probation after the course is 6 months, not the 18 months new recruits serve.
Will WA Police pay for my visa?
Partly. WA reimburses the main applicant's 186 visa, currently valued at A$6,140, once you start (if WA nominated you), and pays A$300 on commencement towards application costs. It doesn't cover visas for your partner or children: WA lists A$3,070 per extra applicant aged 18+ and A$1,535 per child.
Can I keep my rank if I move from a UK force to WA Police?
Not directly. WA recognises service up to Constable 5th year for pay and rank on entry, whatever your UK rank. If your service qualifies, you can then complete online exams to move to First Class Constable and Senior Constable, and from First Class Constable you can apply for promotion to Sergeant through WA's merit process.
Do I have to travel to Perth for the WA Police selection process?
No. WA's FAQ says all assessments for international applicants are conducted online, including the panel interview. Fingerprints and DNA are taken in person once you arrive in WA. Some steps can depend on your location and on decisions by WA's Police Recruiting Branch.
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.
- Let's Join Forces (WA): International Transitional Officer, eligibility and recruitment — service recognition table, visa reimbursement, age limit; read 9 October 2026
- Let's Join Forces (WA): Transitional Officers Hub — eligible countries, 6-8 week processing, recognition table, FAQs
- Let's Join Forces (WA): FAQs, Transition Officers - International — under 55 at nomination, 3 years by nomination, BTP exclusion, visa costs
- Let's Join Forces (WA): International Transitional Officer, training at the Academy — 13-week course, own accommodation
- Let's Join Forces (WA): International Transitional Officer, on the job
- Western Australia Police Force Industrial Agreement 2024 (WAIRC, WES338) — pay points from 1 July 2026, shift allowances (cl 16.1), Schedule G housing (cl 17.14)
- Let's Join Forces (WA Police Force): Regional opportunities
- Let's Join Forces (WA Police Force): Salary and allowances
- WA Government media statement: WA Government and Police Force launch international recruitment campaign (15 Oct 2022; public summaries) — campaign launch; search summary only
- Home Affairs: Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), Labour Agreement stream — from A$6,140; under 45 unless the labour agreement provides otherwise; page updated 24 September 2026
- Services Australia: Enrolling in Medicare if you're an Australian permanent resident
- Services Australia: Reciprocal health care agreements, visiting from the United Kingdom
- GOV.UK: Police Remuneration Review Body report 2026, England and Wales — constable scale from 1 September 2025
- Police Pay UK: Police pay scales 2026/27 — 2026/27 figures calculated by Police Pay UK
- Reserve Bank of Australia: exchange rates, table F11.1 — A$1 = £0.5270 on 9 October 2026; illustration only
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.