Verify your identity

Use a bank account that:

• you received a tax refund in, or
• has earned interest in the last 2 years.

You will need the:

• BSB number – do not use spaces or symbols
• account number – do not use spaces.

You can usually find this information:

• by logging in to your bank's mobile app or online banking
• on your bank statement.

If you haven’t given the ATO any bank account details, or you don’t have a bank account that has earned interest, you will need to select a different document.

Use a notice of assessment (NOA) if it was issued by the ATO in the last 5 years.

You will need both the:

• date of issue – enter the date in the format dd/mm/yyyy
• reference number – do not use spaces.

You can find these details in the top right-hand corner of your NOA.

If you have previously had a myGov account linked to the ATO, your NOA would have been sent to your ATO online services account, available via myGov.

If you don't have a copy, you will need to select a different document.

Use a superannuation account statement from the last 5 years.

You will need your:

• member account number (it may be up to 16 characters)
• super fund's Australian business number (ABN).

If you don't have access to your super account statement, you can find these details on:

• an email or letter from your fund
• a membership card.

If the super fund's ABN is not on one of these items, you can look them up at Super Fund Lookup.

The super fund type must be one that is regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). Self-managed super fund details are not accepted.

If no money has been contributed to your super account in the last 12 months, you will need to select a different document.

Use a dividend statement from the last 2 years.

You will need your investment reference number. Include all numbers but don’t use spaces.

If you don't have a dividend statement, you may be able to find these details on an email or letter from your investment body.

If you don’t have this information, you will need to select a different document.

Use a Centrelink payment summary issued in the last 2 years.

You will need your taxable income in whole dollars. Do not show cents, a $ symbol or spaces.

If your myGov account is linked to Services Australia, you can log in and access the details online.

If your taxable income is zero – or if you don’t have a copy or don't know your taxable income – you will need to select a different document.

Use a PAYG payment summary issued in the last 2 years.

You will need your gross income in whole dollars. Do not show cents, a $ symbol or spaces.

From 2018–19 onwards, your employer will have provided your tax and payment information as an income statement which is different from a PAYG payment summary. The income statement is sent to your ATO online services account accessed via myGov.

If you don't have a PAYG payment summary issued in the last 2 years, you will need to select a different document.

Primary documents

• Australian full birth certificate (extracts and commemorative certificates are not acceptable)
• Australian passport (including passports that have expired in the past 2 years)
• Australian citizenship certificate or extract from a Register of Citizenship by Descent
• ImmiCard
• Visa (if you are using a foreign passport but you are still in Australia)

Secondary documents

• Medicare card
• Australian driver’s licence or learner’s permit. This must show your photo and signature, and the address on the card must match your details on the form.

If your name on the Australian identity document doesn’t match your ATO record, you may be able to verify the document using a change of name certificate (from Tasmania, South Australia, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory only) or a marriage certificate.

Primary documents

• Australian full birth certificate (extracts and commemorative certificates are not acceptable)
• Australian passport (including passports that have expired in the past 2 years)
• Australian citizenship certificate or extract from a Register of Citizenship by Descent
• Foreign passport

Secondary documents

• Medicare card
• Australian driver's licence or Australian learner's permit. This must show your photo and signature, and the address on the card must match the details on your application.

If you have changed your name, you must provide another document showing the change, such as a:

• marriage certificate
• deed poll
• change of name certificate.

Copies of documents you provide to support your application must be certified as true and correct copies of the original document by an authorised certifier.

To certify your documents:

• photocopy them
• ensure the copy and any photograph is clear and identifiable
• take the copies and originals to an authorised certifier.

Authorised certifiers

The following people can certify copies of your original identity documents as true and correct:

• Barrister
• Solicitor
• Medical practitioner
• Judge
• Justice of the Peace (JP)
• Minister of religion (who is authorised to celebrate marriage)
• Police officer
• Bank, building society or credit union officer with at least 5 years of service
• Sheriff's officer
• Commissioner of Declarations (in Queensland only).

A certifier should never witness documents:

• for their family, business, clients, employer or any other person where it could create a real or perceived conflict of interest
• connected with matters in which they have an actual or perceived personal or financial interest.

We can't accept copies certified by a registered tax or ASIC agent as your ongoing commercial relationship could create a real or perceived conflict of interest for them.

How documents are certified

An authorised certifier must, in the presence of the applicant, certify that each copy is a true and correct copy of the original document. This involves:

• sighting the original document
• stamping, signing and annotating the copy of the identity document to state, 'I have sighted the original document and certify this to be a true and correct copy of the original document sighted'
• initialling each page
• listing their name, date of certification, phone number and position.

The stamp must show the certifier's qualification, contact details including phone number, and reference number (if applicable).

If the stamp does not include their name or contact details, they should print them underneath their signature.

Don't send us your original documents. Certified copies of documents you mail to us may not be returned to you.

A document that has been altered or corrected and initialled is not acceptable.

Documents in languages other than English

If your identity documents aren't written in English, you must provide a certified copy of the original document and also arrange for the documents to be translated into English. Translations must be completed by an approved translation service and certified as a true and correct copy by the service. An approved translation service is an appropriate embassy, or a professional translation service accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (NAATI).

The translation should also display an official stamp (or similar) that shows the certifier’s accreditation.

If you are obtaining the translation in Australia, contact NAATI for a list of approved translators using one of the following options:

• visit naati.com.au
• phone (02) 6260 3035
• email info@naati.com.au.

Primary documents

• Foreign birth certificate
• Foreign passport
• Australian full birth certificate (extracts and commemorative certificates are not acceptable)
• Australian passport (including passports that have expired in the past 2 years)

Secondary documents

• National photo identification card
• Foreign government identification
• Driver’s licence, as long as the licence address matches the address details on your application
• Marriage certificate, but if you use this document to verify your change of name, you can’t use it as a secondary document

If you have changed your name, you must provide another document showing the change, such as a:

• marriage certificate
• deed poll
• change of name certificate.

We know that many businesses and communities are being heavily affected by the challenging economic conditions created by continuing COVID-19 outbreaks and restrictions.

If you are having difficulties certifying your documents, contact us for help and support. If you can’t apply by the date you need to, you can complete an Application for an extension of time to apply for a director ID (NAT75390, PDF 271KB). If you have issues completing the form, you can find help on our Accessibility page.

The following people are authorised to certify your identity documents outside Australia:

• notaries public
• staff at your nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate, including Vancouver and Prague Consulates headed by Austrade Honorary Consuls.

An authorised certifier must certify that each copy is a true and correct copy of the original document. This involves:

• sighting the original document
• stamping, signing and annotating the copy of the identity document to state, ‘I have sighted the original document and certify this to be a true and correct copy of the original document sighted'
• initialling each page
• listing their name, date of certification, phone number and position.

If you can’t provide certified copies of your paper identity documents with your application form, contact us to discuss your circumstances.

Certifying your documents outside Australia at an Australian embassy, high commission or consulate

Some embassies, high commissions and consulates outside Australia can certify documents by mail. If you need to certify documents in person, you may need to make an appointment. Check the local requirements on the relevant embassy, high commission or consulate website.

Authorised certifiers at embassies, high commissions and consulates will follow the procedure above. They’ll note that ABRS accepts DFAT’s standard certified copy wording, ‘This is a true copy of the document presented to me’.

For a list of Australian embassies, high commissions, and consulates by country, visit Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Copies bearing an apostille

If your country is party to the Hague Apostille Convention, you can ask the competent authority in your country to certify a copy of your documents by using an apostille.

An apostille is a type of certification that is designated by the state in which a document was issued. A notary public can certify public documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, from outside Australia by way of an apostille.

To send your certified documents bearing an apostille, make sure the apostille certification is firmly attached to the copies of your identification documents that accompany your application form.

Documents in languages other than English

If your identity documents are not written in English, you must arrange for them to be translated into English.

Translations must be completed by an approved translation service and certified as a true and correct copy. Each translation should display an official stamp (or similar) that shows the certifier’s accreditation.

Translations should also be accompanied by a certified copy of the original document in the language of origin. The certifier must sign and stamp the original copy of the document as a true and correct copy.

To find out more about an authorised translation service in your country, contact your closest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate.