Appendix A: Identification documents

You must provide one of the following for yourself and any representative:

·         Option 1: one primary photographic identification document

·         Option 2: two primary non-photographic identification documents along with a reference

·         Option 3: one primary non-photographic identification document and a secondary identification document, along with a reference.

If you are the client's representative, provide the above documents for yourself and your client.

For any of these documents, please provide an original or a reliable copy. This includes physical copies or electronic sources.

Primary Photographic Identification Documents

Primary photographic identification documents include an

• Australian passport,

• an Australian proof of age card,

• an Australian driver’s license,

• a foreign passport,

• and a foreign identity card.

Primary Non-Photographic Identification Documents

Primary non-photographic identification documents include;

• Australian birth certificate or birth extract,

• an Australian citizenship certificate,

• an Australian concession card (such as a pensioner concession card,

• health care card, or senior’s health card),

• a Medicare card,

• a veteran card,

• a change of name certificate,

• a marriage certificate,

• a foreign birth certificate,

• and a foreign citizenship certificate.

Secondary Identification Documents

Secondary identification documents include a utility notice issued in the last 3 months,

• a council rates notice issued in the last 3 months,

• an Australian bank statement issued in the last 3 months,

• notices issued by a Commonwealth, state, territory, or local government body issued in the last 3 months,

• an income tax assessment notice issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in the last 12 months,

• and a payslip or letter from an employer containing the individual's name issued in the last 3 months.

Authority for a representative to act

If you are acting on behalf of the client, evidence of authority to act may include: 

for any general appointment:

• a letter, agency agreement or other authorisation document from the client establishing that you have authority to act 

• ‍written confirmation from a reliable third party such as a legal practitioner, accountant or other professional, that you have authority to act 

• ‍written confirmation from your employer that you are authorised to act, if authority to act arises from your employment

• the document granting you power of attorney, if authority to act arises from a power of attorney

• an extract of the legislation giving you authority to act, if authority to act arises from legislation

Alternative identification

You can prove your identity in alternative ways if you:

• can't get standard identification information or evidence

• can’t access standard identification information or evidence due to circumstances beyond your control

• have inconsistent details across their identification documents.

This may be appropriate if you are:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

• affected by natural disasters

• affected by family and domestic violence

• experiencing homelessness

• in prison or recently released from prison

• refugees, asylum seekers and recent migrants to Australia

• from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

• intersex, transgender and gender diverse

• living in remote areas

• older Australians

• living in a hospital setting for lengthy periods

• not registered at birth

• raised in institutional or foster care

• experiencing digital exclusion or inaccessibility.

Other documents that can verify your identity could include, but isn’t limited to, any of the following:

• a reference from another individual (see requirements below)

• government correspondence, including documents from state or territory corrective services

• confirming your identity with reputable organisations or bodies known to you. For example, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations or community health organisations

• a community ID or organisation membership card for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

• recently expired identification

• a self-attestation of your identity.

If you use a reference, the referee must be someone who both:

• holds a position of trust in the community

• has an existing relationship with you. They don’t need to have a relationship with you because of their position of trust – for example, the referee may be a teacher, but they don’t need to have been your teacher.

Suitable referees may include a:

• school principal, teacher or counsellor

• current or former employer or manager

• medical practitioner (for example, doctor, nurse, midwife, dentist, community health professionals, psychologist)

• minister of religion

• police officer

• financial counsellor, adviser, planner or capability worker

• community leader, such as an Elder

• official from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation, or a board member of a Local Aboriginal Land Council

•   legal aid or community lawyer

• Services Australia (Centrelink) staff

• correctional services staff

• manager or warden of a refuge or shelter accommodation or homeless shelter

• manager of an aged care facility or hospital

• an individual who is able to witness a statutory declaration. 

The reference could contain the;

• date of the reference

• referee’s name, signature, position, contact details and relationship to you

• referee’s knowledge of your full name, residential address (if known) and date of birth (actual or approximate)

• approximate period the referee has known you

If known by the referee, it could also include:

• other addresses where you have recently lived

• other names you have been or are known by

• a recent photo of you

• your circumstances that have resulted in limited access to identification documents

• a brief explanation of the reasons why you have inconsistent details on your identification.