Proof of identity

Providing proof of identity helps safe guard your super account.

1. How to get your proof of identity documents certified

  • Step 1: Organise and photocopy your proof of identity documents
    • Gather your acceptable proof of identity documents from the list in section 2. Ensure they are current and have not expired.
    • Make photocopies of your documents. If you’re using your driver’s licence you will need to photocopy both sides.
    • If your document is not in English you will need to arrange for it to be translated into English by a translator accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for
      Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).
  • Step 2: Get your proof of identity documents certified
    • Take your original proof of identity document(s) and the photocopy(s) to a person authorised to certify proof of identity documents, see section 3 below. Please note that certification cannot be provided by a family member.
    • The authorised person must:
      • sight the original and the copy
      • confirm that the documents are identical
      • write or stamp on the photocopy:
        • 'I certify that this is a true and correct copy of the original document I have sighted’, and
        • their name, qualification, business address, and registration number (if applicable), 
        • their signature and date on all pages of the photocopy.

    Proof of Identity example

  • Step 3: Send your certified proof of identity documents to us with your completed forms
    • Do not send your original proof of identity documents.
    • We are unable to accept proof of identity documents that were certified more than 12 months before the date they were submitted.

2. Acceptable proof of identity documents

Provide either one document from Section A or two documents from Section B.

  • Section A: Photographic documents (one required)

    A certified copy of one of the following documents:

    1. A licence or permit issued under a law of a State or Territory or equivalent authority of a foreign country for the purpose of driving a vehicle that contains a photograph of the person in whose name the document is issued (current drivers licence or learner's permit).
    2. A passport issued by the Commonwealth (current Australian passport)

    3. A passport or a similar document issued for the purpose of international travel, that:

    • contains a photograph and the signature of the person in whose name the document is issued;
    • is issued by a foreign government, the United Nations or an agency of the United Nations; and
    • if it is written in a language that is not understood by the person carrying out the verification is accompanied by an English translation prepared by an accredited translator (current foreign passport).
     4. A card issued under a law of a State or Territory for the purpose of proving the person's age which contains a photograph of the person in whose name the document is issued (Proof of Age Card, Army, Navy, Air Force ID, Department of Defence ID, Police ID, Australian tertiary institution student card, Firearms/shooting licence, Explosives licence, Waterways/Boat licence).

     5. A national identity card issue for the purpose of identification, that:

    • contains a photograph and the signature of the person in it whose name the document is issued;
    • is issued by a foreign government, the united Nations or an agency of the United Nations; and 
    • if it is written in a language that is not understood by the person carrying out the verification is accompanied by an English translation prepared by an accredited translator (current foreign national ID card).
  • Section B: Non-photographic documents (two required)

    A certified copy of one document from both sections (i) and (ii).

    Section (i)
    1. A birth certificate or birth extract issued by a State or territory.
     2. A citizenship certificate issued by the Commonwealth.
    3. A citizenship certificate issued by a foreign government that, if it is written in a language that is not understood by the person carrying out the verification, is accompanied by an English translation prepared by an accredited translator (National Accreditation Authority for translators and Interpreters (NAATI)).
     4. A birth certificate issued by a foreign government, the United Nations or an agency of the United Nations that, if it is written in a language that is not understood by the person carrying out the verification, is accompanied by an English translation prepared by an accredited translator (National Accreditation Authority for translators and Interpreters (NAATI)).
     5. A concession card, as defined from time to time in the Social Security Act 1991, or an equivalent term which expresses the same concept in relation to concession holders (e.g. Health Care Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Interim Concession Card).
    Section (ii)

    1. A notice that:

    • was issued to an individual by the Commonwealth, a State or Territory within the preceding twelve months;
    • contains the name of the individual and his or her residential address; and
    • records the provision of financial benefits to the individual under a law of the Commonwealth, State or Territory (as the case may be) (Centrelink/Department of Veterans' Affairs benefits notice).

    2. A notice that:

    • was issued to an individual by the Australian Taxation Office within the preceding 12 months;
    • contains the name of the individual and his or her residential address; and
    • records a debt payable to or by the individual by or to (respectively) the Commonwealth under a Commonwealth Law relating to taxation (Tax assessment notice issued by the ATO).

    3. A notice that:

    • was issued to an individual by a local government body or utilities provider within the preceding three months;
    • contains the name of the individual and his or her residential address; and
    • records the provision of services by that local government body or utilities provider to that address or to that person (local council rates notice or utilities bill).

    4. In relation to a person under the age of 18, a notice that:

    • was issued to a person by a school principal within the preceding three months;
    • contains the name of the person and his or her residential address; and
    • records the period of time that the person attended at the school (school attendance letter).

3a. Who can certify your proof of identity documents (if living in Australia)?

  • 1. A person who is currently licensed or registered under a law of a State or Territory to practice in one of the following occupations:
    architect
    		 occupational therapist
    chiropractor
    		 optometrist
    dentist
    		 patent attorney
    financial adviser or
    financial planner    		 pharmacist
    legal practitioner
    		 physiotherapist
    medical practitioner psychologist
     midwife trade marks attorney
    migration agent registered
    under Division 3 of Part 3 of
    the Migration Act 1958    		 veterinary surgeon
     nurse  
  • 2. A person who is enrolled as a legal practitioner on the following rolls:
    • the Supreme Court of a State or Territory, or
    • the High Court of Australia
  • 3. An officer with, or authorised representative of, a holder of an Australian financial services licence:

    Having two or more years of continuous service  with one or more licensees.

  • 4. A person who is on the following list:
     A person who is enrolled on the roll of the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory, or the High Court of Australia, as a legal practitioner (however described).

     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; or
      • the Institute of Public Accountants
    Agent of the Australian Postal Corporation who is in charge of an office supplying postal services to the public
     An officer with, or a credit representative of, a holder of an Australian credit licence, having 2 or more years of continuous service with one or more licensees.
     An officer with, or authorised representative of, a holder of an Australian financial services licence, having 2 or more years of continuous service with one or more licensees.
     A person in a foreign country who is authorised by law in that jurisdiction to administer oaths or affirmations or to authenticate documents.
    Australian Consular Officer or Australian Diplomatic Officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955)
     Australian public service employee engaged on an ongoing basis with 2 or more years of continuous service who is not specified in another category of this list
    Bailiff
    Bank officer with two or more continuous years of service
    Building society officer with two or more years of continuous service
    Chief executive officer of a Commonwealth court
    Clerk of a court
    Commissioner for Affidavits
    Commissioner for Declarations
    Credit union officer with two or more years of continuous service
     Employee of a Commonwealth authority engaged on a permanent basis with 2 or more years of continuous service who is not specified in another category of the list

    Employee of the Australian Trade Commission who is:

    • in a country or place outside Australia; and
    • authorised under paragraph 3(d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and
    • exercising his or her function in that place.

    Employee of the Commonwealth who is:

    • in a country or place outside Australia; and
    • authorised under paragraph 3(c) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and
    • exercising his or her function in that place. 

    Engineer who is:

    • a member of Engineers Australia, other than at the grade of student; 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
    Fellow of the National Tax Accountants' Association
    Finance company officer with two or more years of continuous service
    Holder of a statutory office not specified in another item in this list
    Judge of a court
    Justice of the Peace
    Magistrate
    Marriage celebrant registered under Subdivision C of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
    Master of a court
    Member of Chartered Secretaries Australia
    Member of Engineers Australia, other than at the grade of student
    Member of the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants
    Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

    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 two or more years of continuous service; or
    • a warrant officer within the meaning of that Act.
     Member of the Governance Institute of Australia Ltd
    Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants or the National Institute of Accountants

    Member of:

    • the Parliament of the Commonwealth; or
    • the Parliament of a State; or
    • a Territory legislature; or
    • a local government authority of a State or Territory
    Minister of religion registered under Subdivision A of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961

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

    • the Commonwealth; and
    • the external Territories of the Commonwealth
    Permanent employee of the Australian Postal Corporation with two or more years of continuous service who is employed in an office supplying postal services to the public

    Permanent employee of:

    • the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority; or
    • a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority; or
    • a local government authority with two or more years of continuous service who is not specified in another item in this list
    Person before whom a statutory declaration may be made under the law of the State or Territory in which the declaration is made
    Police officer
    Registrar, or Deputy Registrar, of a court

    Senior Executive Service employee of:

    • the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority; or
    • a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority
     SES employee of the Commonwealth
    Sheriff
    Sheriff's officer
    Teacher employed on a permanent full-time or part-time basis at a school or tertiary education institution

    If the authorised person is required to have a minimum service period e.g. a bank officer, the certification must state this.

3b. Who can certify your proof of identity documents (if living outside of Australia)?

Persons who are living outside of Australia must have their proof of identity documents certified by a person who has an Australian connection or by a foreign notary public.

  • 1. Persons with an Australian connection are:
    An Australian Consular Officer or Australian Diplomatic Officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955)  
    An employee of the Commonwealth or the Australian Trade Commission who is:
    • in a country or place outside Australia; and
    • authorised under paragraph 3(c) or paragraph 3(d), respectively, of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and
    • exercising his or her function in that place
    Any person who is in a country or place outside Australia and:
    • is currently licensed or registered in Australia under a law of a State or Territory to practise in an occupation listed under item 1 above; or
    • holds a position in Australia listed under item 4 above
  • 2. A foreign notary public
    • a person authorised as a notary public in a foreign country or a person in a foreign country who is authorised by law in that country to administer oaths or affirmations or authenticate documents.