Verify your identity

Use a bank account that you either:

• received a tax refund in
• 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 have a myGov account linked to the ATO, you can sign in to access the details online.

If the ATO doesn’t have your bank details, or your bank account hasn’t earned interest in the last 2 years, you must 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 the date in ‘dd/mm/yyyy' format
• 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 ATO online services. You can access this through myGov.

If you use a registered tax agent to lodge your income tax return, they can also help you with these details.

If you don't have a copy of your NOA, you must 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 must 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 sign 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 must 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. This is different from a PAYG payment summary.

If you don't have a PAYG payment summary issued in the last 2 years, you must 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 3 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, we will need details including the card number. 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), marriage certificate or deed poll.

Primary documents

• Australian full birth certificate (extracts and commemorative certificates are not acceptable)
• Australian passport (including passports that have expired in the past 3 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 the front and back of your licence and show your photo, licence card number 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 certified copy of an original document showing the change, such as a:

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

If your identity documents don't reflect your preferred gender, you must give us a document that shows your preferred gender. For example, an amended birth certificate or a statement from a registered medical practitioner.

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

To certify your documents:

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

Approved certifiers

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

• Barrister
• Solicitor
• Medical practitioner who has a general or specialist registration with the Medical Board of Australia (this doesn't include pharmacists)
• Judge
• Justice of the Peace (JP)
• Minister of religion (who has the authority 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 if:

• 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.

A tax, BAS or ASIC agent can't certify your documents. This is because we can't be certain that they have no conflict of interest or commercial relationship with the entity and representing their ABRS affairs.

How documents are certified

An approved certifier must certify that each copy of an original document is true and correct, by:

• physically sighting the original document and the copies of the front and back at the same time

• stamping (if available), signing and annotating the copy of the document with wording similar to 'I have sighted the original document and certify this to be a true and correct copy of the original document sighted'

• providing the following details:

  • full name

  • phone number

  • qualification

  • registration number (if relevant)

  • date of certification.

As the certifier, if the applicant presents you with an original document with more than one page, the certifier must:

• initial or sign the bottom of each page of the copy (front and back)
• number each page if the pages are not numbered.

Delays in processing occur where documents you provide to us don’t meet our certification requirements.

Don't send us your original documents. Copies of certified documents or original documents you mail to us will 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 an English translation of the document. Translations must be done 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 translator 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're obtaining the translation in Australia, you can find a translator in your language using the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd NAATI online directory. If there are no translators available, search for a language service provider online who may be able to help you.

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 3 years).

Secondary documents

• National photo identification card
• Foreign government identification
• Driver’s licence (front and back), 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.

If you’re having trouble certifying your documents or need support, contact us.

If you can’t apply by the date you need to, you or a person authorised by you can complete the 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:

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

An approved certifier must certify that each copy of an original document is true and correct, by:

• physically sighting the original document and the copies of the front and back at the same time

• stamping (if available), signing and annotating the copy of the document with wording similar to ‘I have sighted the original document and certify this to be a true and correct copy of the original document sighted'

• providing the following details
  • full name
  • phone number
  • qualification
  • certifier’s registration number (if relevant)
  • date of certification.

If the applicant presents an original document with more than one page, the certifier must:

• initial or sign the bottom of each page of the copy (front and back)
• number each page if the pages are not numbered.

Documents you provide that don't meet our certification requirements may cause delays in processing.

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.

Approved certifiers at embassies, high commissions and consulates will follow the procedure above. We accept 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

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.
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.

To send your certified documents bearing an apostille, attach the apostille certification to the copies of your identity documents and send them with your application form.

Documents in languages other than English

If your identity documents are in a language other than English, you must translate them into English.

If you need to translate a document, it must:

• be translated by an approved translation service and certified as a true and correct copy
• display an official stamp (or similar) that shows the certifier’s accreditation
• be submitted with a certified copy of the original document (document in its original language). The certifier must sign and stamp the original copy of the document as a true and correct copy

If you are getting the translation in:

• Australia – you can find a translator in your language using the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (NAATI) online directory
• overseas – go to dfat.gov.auExternal Link to find a listing of your nearest Australian embassy, high commission, or consulate to contact for an approved translator in your country.