Proof of identity: what we need from you

Keeping your information secure is important to us. That’s why we ask you to prove your identity with some requests and transactions on your policy.

The identification you need to provide will depend on your situation. If you’re an individual or sole trader, you can provide a photo ID such as your driver’s licence or passport. Other times, it might involve filling out a form.

If you need to certify a document other than an identification document, please see the How to certify copies of your documents section below.

What you need to do

  1. Check the tables below to work out what identification you need to provide.
  2. Complete a form, if you need to.
  3. Send us certified copies and any relevant forms (the address to return your documents is on the form).

Once we’ve verified your identity, we’ll process your request or transaction as quickly as possible.

You need to send us certified copies

Please don’t send your original identification document to us – send us a certified copy instead. Instructions on how to get copies of your identification documents certified is explained in the section How to certify copies of your documents below.

Proof of identity guide for individuals and/or sole traders

If you’re an individual or sole trader, you’ll find your identification requirements below. If you’re representing another entity (such as a company, partnership or association) you’ll find the right proof of identity forms here.

Identification requirements

  • Part 1 - Acceptable primary photographic ID documents

    Provide ONE document from this section. The document must be current and must not be expired.

    • A valid Australian state/territory driver’s licence containing a photograph of the person.
    • Australian passport (a passport that has expired within the preceding two years is acceptable).
    • A valid Australian state/territory issued Proof of Age Card containing a photograph of the person.
    • Foreign passport or similar travel document containing a photograph and the signature of the person.

    If you don’t have any of these documents, provide documents from Part 2 or 3.

  • Part 2 - Acceptable secondary ID documents

    If you don’t own a document from Part 1, provide ONE document from this section:

    • Australian birth certificate.
    • Australian citizenship certificate.
    • Australian pension card that is current and issued by the Department of Human Services.
    • Australian Health Care card that is current and issued by the Department of Human Services.

    AND

    Provide ONE document from this section:

    • A document issued by the Australian Commonwealth, or a state or territory, which is less than 12 months old and records the financial benefits provided to you, and your name and residential address (a Centrelink Benefits notice).
    • A document issued by the Australian Taxation Office, less than 12 months old, that records a debt payable by the individual to the Commonwealth (or by the Commonwealth to you), and which contains your name and residential address (an ATO notice of assessment).
    • A document issued by an Australian local government body or utilities provider, which was issued within the past three months, which records your name and residential address (such as utilities or council rate notices).
    • If you are under the age of 18, a letter or notice issued by a school principal, that is less than three months old, and contains your name and residential address, and records the period of time that you attended that school.
  • Part 3 - Acceptable foreign photographic ID documents

    If you don’t own a document from Part 1 or 2, please provide BOTH documents from this section.

    • Foreign driver’s licence that contains your photograph and date of birth*, and
    • National identification card issued by a foreign government containing your photograph and signature*.

    *If the identification document is written in a language other than English, you must provide an English translation by a translator who is accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

How to certify copies of your documents

A certified copy is a document that an authorised person confirms in writing is a true copy of the original document.

Each copy of the document must be certified by an authorised person. They are listed under the heading Authorised persons that can certify your documents below.

The authorised person must write on each photocopy:

  • their full name
  • the date of certification (the date must be within the last 12 months)
  • their occupation (this shows the capacity in which they are signing – their occupation must be in the list of authorised certifiers)
  • their signature
  • a statement that says the document is a true copy of the original.

Authorised persons who can certify your documents

People who are currently licensed or registered to practise in Australia in any of these occupations under Commonwealth, state or territory law. Visit the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department for more information.

1

 Architect
2 Chiropractor
3 Dentist
4 Financial adviser or financial planner
5 Legal practitioner
6 Medical practitioner
7 Midwife
8 Migration agent, registered under Division 3 of Part 3 of the Migration Act 1958
9 Nurse
10 Occupational therapist
11 Optometrist
12 Patent attorney
13 Pharmacist
14 Physiotherapist
15 Psychologist
16 Trademarks attorney
17 Veterinary surgeon

Other people who can certify documents

1

Accountant who is:

  • a fellow of the National Tax Accountants’ Association, or
  • a member of any of the following:
    • Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
    • the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants
    • CPA Australia
    • the Institute of Public Accountants
2 Agent of the Australian Postal Corporation, who is in charge of an office supplying postal services to the public
3 Australian Public Service (APS) employee engaged on an ongoing basis with five or more years of continuous service
4 Australian Consular Officer or Australian Diplomatic Officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955)
5 Bailiff
6 Bank officer with five or more continuous years of service
7 Building society officer with five or more years of continuous service
8 Chief executive officer of a Commonwealth court
9 Clerk of a court
10 Commissioner for Affidavits
11 Commissioner for Declarations
12 Credit union officer with five or more years of continuous service
13 Employee of a Commonwealth authority engaged on a permanent basis with five or more years of continuous service
14

Employee of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission who is:

  • in a country or place outside Australia, and
  • authorised under paragraph 3(d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955, and
  • exercising the employee’s function at that place
15

Employee of the Commonwealth who is:

  • at a place outside Australia, and
  • authorised under paragraph 3(c) of the Consular Fees Act 1955, and
  • exercising the employee’s function at that place
16

Engineer who is:

  • a member of Engineers Australia (except a student member) or
  • a Registered Professional Engineer of Professionals Australia, or
  • registered as an engineer under a law of the Commonwealth, a state or territory, or
  • registered on the National Engineering Register by Engineers Australia
17 Finance company officer with five or more years of continuous service
18 Holder of a statutory office
19 Judge
20 Justice of the Peace 
21 Magistrate
22 Marriage celebrant registered under Subdivision C of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
23 Master of a court
24

Member of the Australian Defence Force who is:

  • an officer, or
  • a non commissioned officer within the meaning of the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 with five or more years of continuous service, or
  • a warrant officer within the meaning of that Act
25 Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
26 Member of the Governance Institute of Australia Ltd
27

Member of:

  • the parliament of the Commonwealth, or
  • the parliament of a state, or
  • a territory legislature, or
  • a local government authority
28 Minister of religion registered under Subdivision A of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
29

Notary public, including a notary public (however described) exercising functions at a place outside:

  • the Commonwealth, and
  • the external Territories of the Commonwealth
30 Permanent employee of the Australian Postal Corporation with five or more years of continuous service who is employed in an office providing postal services to the public
31

Permanent employee of:

  • a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority, or
  • a local government authority,
  • with five or more years of continuous service, other than such an employee who is specified in other item of this table.
32 Person who a statutory declaration may be made before, according to the law of the state or territory in which the declaration is made
33 Police officer
34 Registrar, or Deputy Registrar, of a court
35 Senior executive employee of a Commonwealth authority
36 Senior executive employee of a state or territory
37 SES employee of the Commonwealth
38 Sheriff
39 Sheriff's officer
40 Teacher employed on a permanent full time or part time basis at a school or tertiary education institution

Certifying foreign identification

  • Authorised parties who can certify foreign identification documents

    Officers holding the following positions overseas:

    • Australian Consular Officer or Australian Diplomatic Officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955).
    • Employee of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission who is:
    • in a country or place outside of Australia, and
    • authorised under paragraph 3(d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955, and
    • exercising his or her function at that place,
    • Employee of the Commonwealth who is:
    • at a place outside Australia, and
    • authorised under paragraph 3(c) of the Consular Fees Act 1955, and
    • exercising the employee’s function at that place
  • Acceptable authorised translation services for foreign identification documents
    Please refer to an approved translator listed in the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). Go to naati.com.au for more information.

Proof of identity forms

If you are… Identification requirements
Individual and/or sole trader PDF Download
Australian company PDF Download
Australian trust and trustees PDF Download
Association PDF Download
Foreign company PDF Download
Government body PDF Download
Partnerships or partner PDF Download
Registered co-operative PDF Download