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M5 Countries Pause Their Criminal Record Plan: A Simple Guide for Visa Applicants

News · 2026-09-28 · 4 min read

Five big migration countries, sometimes called the Five Eyes of migration, have stopped work on a plan to share criminal convictions of their own citizens. But checks have not become easier. Here is what stopped, what continues, and what you should do.

The main news in a few lines

The Migration 5 (M5) group is Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. In April 2026, their leaders agreed to put on hold a plan to swap conviction data about their own citizens. It is good to know about the pause, but border checks have not become weaker.

Data that is still shared today

A paused plan does not mean zero sharing. The M5 partners still use automatic systems to share identity and biometric data. New Zealand has had these agreements with most partners since the early 2010s. The only exception is the UK.

In May 2025, the partners agreed on a framework for quality control. The first yearly reviews started in early 2026. New Zealand looked at the 2025 calendar year. It found no privacy breaches and no security problems with system access. It also found no improper or accidental disclosures to partners.

How much the system is used

Figures released under New Zealand's Official Information Act show a very busy system:

• Requests from Australia to New Zealand: over one million traveller data requests in the year to April 2026. These gave 676 fingerprint matches.
• New Zealand to Canada, Australia and the UK: about 4,000 requests to each country. The positive matches were 383 for Canada, 340 for Australia and 283 for the UK.
• Requests from Canada and the US: these figures were redacted. New Zealand also withheld its figures for requests to the US, giving international relations as the reason.

Many requests give only a few matches. So the system is a wide screening tool that flags a small group of cases, most likely people already known to the immigration authorities of another member country.

The idea that did not go ahead

According to RNZ's reporting, the current M5 setup was made for identity data in migration. It was never about criminal history. It does not send conviction records to New Zealand Police. Member countries also do not use it to share details about their own nationals.

Newer talks looked at a smaller idea. Anonymised fingerprint data would be used to search police or criminal record systems. New Zealand decided that its current law gives foreign agencies no basis to see its police or court conviction data for immigration purposes. Immigration New Zealand's identity manager, Matt Gibbs, confirmed that no conviction records or biometric data were exchanged while the idea was being explored. The working group has not had a formal meeting since a virtual session in March 2025.

The law was the real barrier

Legal limits stopped the plan, not a lack of interest. Every country has its own rules on privacy and criminal records. These rules do not let a partner's border agency look into another country's justice system automatically. Lawmakers would need to change things first before the idea could come back.

Smart habits for your visa application

1. Tell the truth about any criminal history when the form asks. Even without a direct exchange of conviction data, visa applications usually ask for police certificates and character declarations. False statements can lead to a refusal or a ban.
2. Check that your details match everywhere. Identity data already moves between countries, so a different name spelling, date of birth or travel history can show up in other systems.
3. Keep good records. Your past visa applications, any refusals and your travel documents are more important now that identity data crosses borders.
4. Get expert help if your past is complex. Do you have a past conviction or refusal? Talk to an immigration lawyer or a registered migration agent before you apply.
5. Do not expect the pause to last forever. Governments can bring the idea back if legal frameworks change.

Tip for Indonesian applicants: if a police certificate is requested, get your SKCK from the Indonesian National Police, and make sure the name and date of birth on it match your passport. Translate it into English if the visa rules require it.

Key message to remember

The M5 has stepped back from sharing citizens' criminal convictions. But the identity and biometric exchange is still active and used a lot. Whether you plan to work in Australia from Indonesia or apply from anywhere else, being honest and consistent in every application is still the safest choice.

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