Identity Verification Service in Australia

You can use a range of documents to verify your identity in Australia. However, according to myID by the Australian government, you must use an Australian passport to achieve a “strong” identity. Several documents can be used to prove identity, including passports, driving licenses, and notifications from an Australian government body to verify the birth name and address. AUSTRAC has published guidelines to help determine reliable and independent documentation.

The Document Verification System (DVS) verifies document authenticity by checking whether the biographical information on an Australian identity document matches the original record. It does not check facial images but will provide a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response based on the accuracy of the data.

Yes, the Digital ID Act commenced on December 1, 2024. In this way, Australia is taking multiple steps to move forward more digitally by strengthening governance for Digital ID and giving legislative authority for the Australian Government Digital ID System (AGDIS) to expand and enhance data protections of consumers and customers.

In addition, Accreditation requirements are set out in the Act—Accreditation Rules and Accreditation Data Standards. The Accreditation Rules prescribe requirements about identity verification levels, privacy, security, accessibility, and usability.

Under the Digital ID Act, an entity can be accredited to provide three types of Services: Identity Service Provider, which verifies information about an individual as a first step; Attribute Service Provider, which verifies additional identity attributes; and Identity Exchange Provider, which facilitates information flow between identification service providers and Digital ID system parties (has the role of a switchboard).

The Australian government’s digital app, myID, allows digital verification to access government online services. Second, the Australian Digital ID Act means less need to carry physical documents, less risk of loss or theft, and faster transactions.

The Australian Government Digital Identity System will expand to private sector entrants by no later than 2 years after the commencement of the Digital ID Act. This will provide even more choices for individuals considering who to use to create a Digital ID to access some government services.

The Digital ID Act provides for civil penalties imposed by the Regulator to help promote compliance of accredited providers. It also clarifies that breaches of the Digital ID Act’s privacy safeguards may be treated as interference with privacy under the Privacy Act.