Digitisation requests during COVID-19
We are occasionally experiencing low staff numbers due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We appreciate your patience during these times, as our ability to meet our usual service standard may be impacted.
About digitisation orders
Each year, we process thousands of orders for digital copies of records. We make these available through RecordSearch.
We aim to provide quality digital copies within our service standards. You may experience delays during times of peak demand, such as Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. We appreciate your patience.
We require pre-payment for digitisation orders. We will email you when your order is complete. If you haven't received your order, please check:
- that your payment has been processed by your financial institution
- your email, including junk or spam folders
Orders for records held by the National Archives in Canberra are placed into one of two queues.
- We are currently processing orders for digital copies of records that are either 'open' or 'open with exception' (OWE) received on or before 27 November 2024.
- Records which are 'not-yet-examined' (NYE) when they are ordered require examination before being made available. We are currently processing requests for NYE records received on or before 1 December 2024.
Please check your order against these dates. If you submitted your order before the current processing date, you should hear from us soon.
If the records you need are held in a location other than Canberra, you can make a general inquiry about your order.
Find out more about our digitisation service and access to records under the Archives Act. If you need more help, you can ask us a question.