Identity Requirements

Commencement of Identity Documents

The following can be used as Commencement of Identity documents

Commencement of identity documents, You must supply one document from this category:

(a) Full Australian birth certificate or authorised record of birth(not an extract or birth card)
(b) Australian Citizenship Certificate
(c) Valid Australian Visa, supported by a foreign passport, which is needed for verification, A Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) record may be provided. If you are a New Zealand citizen on a Special Category Visa, you can request your VEVO details from the Department of Home Affairs via their website
(d) ImmiCard issued by Department of Home Affairs (previously the Department of Immigration and Border Protection) that enables the cardholder to prove their visa and/or migration status and enrol in services
(e) Current Australian Passport (not expired)

Primary use in the community documents

The following can be used as Primary use in the community documents

Primary use in the community documents, You must supply one document from this category:

(a) Current Australian passport, not expired
(b) Current Australian drivers licence, learner permit or provisional licence issued by a state or territory, showing a signature and/or photo and the same name as claimed
(c) ImmiCard issued by Department of Home Affairs (previously the Department of Immigration and Border Protection) that enables the cardholder to prove their visa and/or migration status and enrol in services
(d) Australian marriage certificate issued by a state or territory (church or celebrant-issued certificates are not accepted)
(e) Current passport issued by a country other than Australia with a valid entry stamp or visa
(f) Current proof of age or photo identity card issued by an Australian Government agency in the name of the applicant, with a signature and photo
(g) Current shooters or firearms licence showing a signature and photo (not minor or junior permit or licence)
(h) For persons under 18 years of age with no other Primary Use in Community Documents, a current student identification card with a signature or photo.

Secondary use in the community documents

The following can be used as Secondary use in the Community documents

Secondary use in the community documents, You must supply two documents from this category:

(a) Certificate of identity issued by DFAT to refugees and non-Australian citizens for entry to Australia
(b) Document of identity issued by DFAT to Australian citizens or persons who have the nationality of a Commonwealth country for travel purposes
(c) Convention travel document secondary (United Nations) issued by DFAT
(d) Foreign government issued documents (for example, drivers licence)
(e) Medicare card
(f) A relationship certificate issued by a state or territory Births Deaths and Marriages
(g) Enrolment with the Australian Electoral Commission
(h) Security guard or crowd control photo licence
(i) Evidence of right to an Australian Government benefit (Centrelink or Veterans Affairs)
(j) Consular photo identity card issued by DFAT
(k) Photo identity card issued to an officer by a Police Force or Australian Defence Force
(l) Photo identity card issued by the Australian Government or a state or territory government(this may take the form of a Working with Children/Vulnerable People Card or a government occupational licence)
(m) Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) or Maritime Security Identification card (MSIC)
(n) Australia Post Keypass with photo
(o) Firearms licence
(p) Credit reference check
(q) Australian secondary or tertiary student photo identity document
(r) Certified academic transcript from an Australian university or registered higher education provider
(s) Trusted referees report
(t) Bank card, credit card or bank statement (without recording the payment/card numbers)
(u) Australian Tax File Number (notice of assessment or issue)
(v) State/Territory government rates assessment notice or Australian Taxation Office assessment notice (must not be issued more than 12 months prior to use)
(w) Australian utility bill showing name and address (must not be issued more than 3 months prior to use)
(x) Australian private health insurance card
(y) Australian trade association card

New Zealand citizens

The two most common forms/options of Commencement Identity documents for New Zealand residents are as follows:

1) Certificate of evidence of resident status (i.e. an Australian Citizenship Certificate) or

2) Australian visa current at time of entry to Australia as a resident or tourist (VEVO statements are accepted)

The assumption that all New Zealand people have a right of entry to Australia is incorrect- just as not all Australians have right of entry to New Zealand. Unfortunately New Zealand passports or Birth Certificates cannot be accepted as commencement documents, however under the trans-Tasman agreement New Zealand citizens are granted a Special Circumstances Visa (digitally assigned to the applicant’s passport) as they pass through customs.

By searching for the website VEVO (‘Visa Entitlement Verification Online’), the applicant may use the details on their New Zealand passport to generate a statement of their residency status in .PDF form. This statement can be used as proof of entitlement to an Australian Visa within the Commencement Identity category.

In cases where the applicant arrived in Australia before the automated arrangements above, they can apply for a special circumstances visa through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade instead.

Identity Requirements - What is Required