View source for Identity documents of Australia

{{Short description|none}} <!-- This short description is INTENTIONALLY "none" - please see WP:SDNONE before you consider changing it! -->
Australia does not have a national [[identity card]]. Various '''Identity documents of Australia''' may be used or required to prove a [[Personal identity|person's identity]] instead of a national identity card, whether for government or commercial purposes such as:
* International and domestic travel
* Starting a job with a new employer<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.border.gov.au/Busi/Empl/Empl/employing-legal-workers|title=Employing legal workers|website=www.border.gov.au|accessdate=28 November 2017}}</ref>
* Obtaining social welfare
* Opening bank accounts
* Asserting identity with government agencies or companies
* General purpose validation of identity when picking up goods etc.
* At the request of police or security officers for legally valid purposes.
* Asserting that one is a responsible adult (generally 18 years or over) to:
** Access age restricted venues such as licensed premises, casinos, nightclubs or other gaming venues.
** Purchase of alcohol, tobacco, knives or aerosol based spray paint.
==Overview==
Currently, [[Driver licence in Australia|driver licences]], issued by the [[States and territories of Australia|state and territory]] authorities, are the most widely used personal identification documents. Driver licences list a person's full name, date of birth, current address and contains a photograph. They can commonly be used for personal identification for various purposes such as obtaining various government permits and documentation (for example, passport or [[tax file number]]) as well as for opening bank accounts or applying for credit cards. (See also [[100 point check]].)
For people who do not drive, the road authorities of the states and territories will issue a "[[Australian state and territory issued identity photo cards|photo card]]", also called "proof of age card", to people who do not have a driver's licence.
Other identity documents sometimes used include a passport, an official birth certificate, an official marriage certificate, cards issued by government agencies (typically Medicare card), some cards issued by commercial organisations (e.g., a debit or credit card), and utility accounts. Often, some combination of identity documents is required, such as an identity document linking a name, photograph and signature (typically photo-ID in the form of a driver licence or passport), evidence of operating in the community, and evidence of a current residential address.
[[Australian nationality law#Evidence of Australian citizenship|Proof of citizenship]] or right to work status on a visa may be required in some cases, such as when applying for a job.<ref name="auto"/>  In these cases separate [[#Photo identity|photo identity]] may also be required.
== Main Types ==
There is no consistent standard for verifying identity.  For most purposes, an Australian drivers licence or Australian photo card will suffice; however, for more sophisticated transactions (e.g. applying for a passport or opening a bank account), each institution tends to have its own rules.
Some examples of identity documents<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.passports.gov.au/passportsexplained/theapplicationprocess/eligibilityoverview/Pages/confirmingidentity.aspx|title=Documents that confirm your Australian citizenship and identity|first=Australian Passports|last=Office|website=www.passports.gov.au|accessdate=28 November 2017|archive-date=15 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115072122/https://www.passports.gov.au/passportsexplained/theapplicationprocess/eligibilityoverview/Pages/confirmingidentity.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> are:
===Primary Identification Documents===
The highest category of identity documents that often act as primary validation of identity include:
* [[Australian passport]]
* [[Australian nationality law#Certificate of Australian Citizenship|Australian citizenship certificate]]
* Overseas [[passport]]
* [[Birth certificate#Australia|Australian birth certificate]]
* [[Driving licence in Australia|Australia drivers licence]]
* [[Driver's license|Overseas drivers licence]]
* [[Australian Document of Identity]]
* [[Australian Certificate of Identity]]
* [[Australian Convention Travel Document]]
* ImmiCard
* [[Australian state and territory issued identity photo cards]]
* [[Australia Post Keypass identity card]] (Regional, limited recognition)
* [[Digital identity in Australia#Australia Post Digital iD|Australia Post Digital iD]] (Regional, limited recognition)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Apply for a Keypass in Digital iD™ |url=https://auspost.com.au/id-and-document-services/apply-for-a-keypass-id |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=auspost.com.au |language=en}}</ref>
===Secondary Identification Documents===
Other documents generally used to enhance an identity check along with primary documents, or used for specific purposes include:
* [[Medicare card (Australia)|Medicare card]]
* [[Social security in Australia#Concession cards|Federal Concession cards]]
* [[Australian Seniors Card]]
* [[Marriage certificate#Australia|Australian Marriage Certificate]] (for change of name)
* [[Name change#Australia|Australian Change of Name Certificate]] (for change of name)
* [[Recognised details certificate|Australian Recognised Details or Identity Acknowledgment Certificate]] (for change of sex indicator)
* Utility bill – a Telephone, Water, Electricity or Gas bill
* Travel concession card issued by State transport authorities
* Rates notice – a notice of rates issued by an Australian municipal council
* An Australian education institution identification card
* A letter of enrolment from an Australian school or education institution
* An Australian bank issued plastic debit or credit card
* An Australian bank statement
* [[Motor vehicle registration#Australia|Motor vehicle registration papers issued in Australia]]
* Home insurance papers
* Student cards issued by schools or higher education institutions
Preference is given to Identity documents showing full name, address and a photo, and documents issued by Australian institutions.
For proof of identity purposes, some of the documents are listed as primary and others secondary.  Generally at least one primary and one secondary document is required to prove identity at the time of origination of a new facility or product, along with documents that have a photo and address. Requirements vary from institution to institution, and from time to time. The [[100 point check]], that gives higher points for photo-ID government documents, and lower points for less reliable identity documents, remains a popular system, but is not ubiquitous.
==Photo identity==
Primary means of acceptable [[photo identification]] includes:
* [[Australian passport]] or foreign [[passport]]
* [[Australian state and territory issued identity photo cards]]
* [[Driving licence in Australia|Australian driving licence]]
* [[Australia Post Keypass identity card]]
* [[Digital identity in Australia#Australia Post Digital iD|Australia Post Digital iD]]<ref name=":0" />
For visitors to Australia:
* Foreign [[driving licence]] – if a photo is present
* Foreign [[Identity document|national identity]] – if a photo is present
Some institutions may accept for general purposes other forms of photo identity, such as student identity cards.
== Verification ==
There are cases where it is against the law to use false or fake identity documents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawstuff.org.au/nsw_law/topics/fake-ids#whatifiuse|title=Lawstuff Australia - Know Your Rights - - Topics - Fake Identification Cards|website=www.lawstuff.org.au|accessdate=28 November 2017}}</ref>  Documents used for identity have security features - training and experience is necessary to properly identify genuine documents from counterfeits especially as the security features of many documents are not published.  Increasingly online facilities are available for document verification services and establishing [[Digital identity in Australia]]:
* The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs provides a document verification service that allows for validation of some licences and certificates.
* The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs also provides a bio-metric face verification service
* The [[Department of Home Affairs]] offers a Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service to confirm work conditions and validity of visas.<ref>Identity document</ref>
* Some States and territories allow for [[Driving licence in Australia|drivers licences]], [[Australian state and territory issued identity photo cards|photo cards]] and certificates to be validated online e.g. NSW<ref>{{cite web|url=https://myrta.com/tpe/|title=Driver Licence Check|website=myrta.com|accessdate=28 November 2017|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322204334/https://myrta.com/tpe/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Victoria.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/transactions/about+the+online+identity+verification# |title=About the online identity verification - Births, Deaths & Marriages Victoria |access-date=2017-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326135827/http://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/transactions/about+the+online+identity+verification# |archive-date=2017-03-26 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Private companies offer aggregated online identity checking services e.g. Digital iD by Australia Post,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalid.com|title=Digital iD|website=www.digitalid.com|accessdate=15 August 2018}}</ref> VIX Verify<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vixverify.com|title=Home - VIX Verify|website=VIX Verify|accessdate=28 November 2017}}</ref> and Equifax<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.equifax.com.au/business-enterprise/products/idmatrix|title=IDMatrix|date=22 May 2016|publisher=|accessdate=28 November 2017}}</ref>
For organisations choosing to out-source identity verification, over-the-counter services are available from some providers, such as:
* Australia Post Verification of Identity (VOI) service.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://auspost.com.au/travel-id/identity-document-services/land-title-transfers/verification-of-identity-voi-service|title=Identity checks for property transfers|publisher=|accessdate=28 November 2017}}</ref>
* Equifax ZipID<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zipid.com.au/|title=Verification of Identity (VOI) - We Come to You - ZipID|website=www.zipid.com.au|accessdate=28 November 2017}}</ref>
* ID Secure<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idsecure.com.au/|title=HOME|publisher=|accessdate=28 November 2017}}</ref>
== Issues ==
While it is rare for people to be stopped on the street and asked for identity documents, it was raised in NSW parliament that there are 47 (possibly more) theoretical instances where identity particulars and/or documents need to be supplied to authorities by state law alone.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/7714/Removal-of-face-coverings-for-identification-Table-in-issues-paper-footnote-11.pdf|title= Laws that authorise police officers to request or require a person to provide their identification particulars|publisher=ombo.nsw.gov.au}}</ref>  In some cases head covering may need to be removed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/nsw-identity-law-requires-veils-masks-helmets-to-be-removed-for-jps-lawyers/news-story/602952568c8dc547791ec1af9e66253f|title=Veils to be removed under identity law|date=4 March 2012|publisher=|accessdate=28 November 2017}}</ref>  In 2016, proposed laws to force bicycle riders in NSW to carry identity were abandoned after public resistance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-02/nsw-govt-backpedals-on-laws-to-force-cyclists-to-carry-id/8086514|title=NSW backpedals on changes forcing bike riders to carry ID|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=2 December 2016|publisher=|accessdate=28 November 2017}}</ref>  Drivers must carry a drivers licence, however for most people, while they can be asked for identity (Name and address etc.), failure not to show should generally not result in any breach of law, however they may be refused entry, refused passage, or arrested if there is an associated suspected breach of law (e.g. supplying false details to Police<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawstuff.org.au/nsw_law/topics/police|title=Lawstuff Australia - Know Your Rights - - Topics - Police|website=www.lawstuff.org.au|accessdate=28 November 2017}}</ref>).
There have been two proposals to introduce ID cards for tax and social security access in Australia: The [[Australia Card]] in 1985 by the [[Bob Hawke|Hawke Labor Government]] and the [[Health and social services access card (Australia)|Health and Social Services Access Card]] in 2006 by the [[John Howard|Howard Liberal Government]]. Although neither card would have been an official compulsory ID card, they were both criticised as leading to ''de facto'' ID cards. Ultimately, both proposals failed.  On 22 October 2017, [[Pauline Hanson]] was reported requesting a new identity card to stop [[Welfare fraud]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/pauline-hanson-and-sarah-hansonyoung-clash-over-skyrocketing-welfare-costs/news-story/48a4586860fdef872e38d58b546aef20|title=Hanson calls for Australian ID card|publisher=|accessdate=28 November 2017}}</ref>  It has been suggested that the Australia Card has been delivered gradually over time utilising cooperation of various state and federal government agencies and documents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itnews.com.au/news/the-australian-governments-identity-catch-all-322040|title=The Australian Government's identity catch-all|website=iTnews|accessdate=28 November 2017}}</ref>
New alcohol laws in 2017 require pubs and bars to scan ID documents against a database of people who should be denied alcohol, for which foreign passports and driver licences are not valid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/news/surprising-ways-alcohol-laws-are-really-affecting-brisbane/news-story/14ecc60b4fda37ec715753ce55e1cd7f|title=This isn't the first time the rules have caused major embarrassment|publisher=|accessdate=28 November 2017}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[Digital identity in Australia]]
*[[Identity documents]]
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Australian Identity Documents}}
[[Category:Identity documents of Australia| ]]