Identity Documents
Your Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check starts with these documents
We want to make the screening process as simple as possible. Before you begin your police check, there are certain documents you will need to provide in order to fulfill the proof of identity requirements. Most of these documents should be easily accessible however, we recognise that in some cases it may be difficult to meet all of the requirements. In such cases, please contact us and we will work with you to determine the most suitable method to confirm your identity.
Proof of Identity Documents
It is a requirement of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) that a minimum of three identity documents and a self-captured photo must be provided. Each document will need to be uploaded via the secure ProbityPeople portal when you complete your police check.
- Document Type
- Commencement of Identity
- Primary Use in the Community
- Secondary Use in the Community
- Self-Captured Photo (selfie) Holding Photo ID
- Required Documents
- Minimum of one (1) document is required from this section
- Minimum of one (1) document is required from this section
- Minimum of one (1) document is required from this section
- Minimum of one (1) photo is required
If you have gathered your three (3) identity documents and have taken a self-captured photo, you are ready to complete your police check.
Change of name
If you provide identity documents using more than one name (i.e. a former name), you must provide evidence of your name change. This must be a Change of Name Certificate issued by the Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages or an Australian Marriage Certificate issued by a State or Territory, in addition to your four identity documents. Church or celebrant-issued certificates are not accepted.
Special provisions for Proof of Identity
The ACIC recognises that in some circumstances you may not be able to meet the minimum proof of identity requirements. In this case, please contact us to assess your ability to meet the requirements and determine the most suitable method to confirm your identity.
- Australian Birth Certificate or authorised record of birth (Extract or birth card is not acceptable)
- Australian Citizenship Certificate
- Australian Passport (current, not expired)(Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.)
- Australian Visa (current at time of entry to Australia as a resident or tourist)
Please note that when a Visa is provided as a ‘Commencement Document’, corresponding passport to this visa must be uploaded. - ImmiCard (A card issued in the individual’s name or former name by the Department of Home Affairs.)
- Australian driver licence, learner permit or provisional licence – Both front and back(Digital or expired licences are not accepted.)
- Australian Passport (current, not expired)
(Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.) - Foreign passport (current)
(issued by a country other than Australia with a valid visa or valid entry stamp or equivalent) - ImmiCard A card issued in the individual’s name or former name by the Department of Home Affairs.
- Proof of age or photo identity card which shows the name, date of birth, photo and signature of the individual
(Issued by an Australian State or Territory Government in the Individual’s name and includes their photo.) - Student identity document for persons aged under 18 years with no other Primary Use in Community Documents
(issued by Australian secondary school, TAFE, University, Registered Training Organisation or State Government Agency.)
- Australian secondary or tertiary student photo identity document (Issued by an Australian secondary school, TAFE, University, Registered Training Organisation or State Government Agency)
- Aviation security identification card (A current card issued in the Individual’s name and includes their photo and issued by the Department of Home Affairs)
- Bank card, credit card (without recording the card numbers. Bank name, cardholder name and expiry date must be visible)(Issued by a bank, credit union or building society. The Individual’s signature must be on the card, documents from foreign banks or institutions are not accepted)
- Certificate of identity (Issued in the individual’s name or former name by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
- Certified academic transcript (Issued by an Australian secondary school, TAFE, university or Registered Training Organisation which includes the Individual’s name or former name)
- Consular photo identity card (A photo ID card issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
- Credit reference check (Issued by a credit provider)
- Defence Force photo identity card (A photo ID card issued by the Australian Defence Force)
- Document of identity (Issued in the individual’s name or former name by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.)
- Electoral enrolment (Proof of electoral enrolment in the Individual’s name and showing their current address provided by the Australian Electoral Commission)
- Evidence of right to a government benefit (DVA or Centrelink)(Issued by Services Australia)
- Firearms licence (A current card issued in the Individual’s name and includes their photo and issued by the State and Territory Police Agencies)
- Foreign Government Issued documents (for example, drivers licence) Note: Documents in languages other than English must be accompanied by a NAATI accredited translation.
- Maritime security identification card(A current card issued in the Individual’s name and includes their photo and issued by the Department of Home Affairs)
- Medicare Card issued by Services Australia. (digital card is not accepted)
- Photo identity card (this may take the form of a Working with Children or Vulnerable People card or a government issued occupational licence) (A Photo ID card issued by the Commonwealth, or an Australian State or Territory Government issued in the Individual’s name and includes their photo. The card may include a validity period)
- Police Force Officer photo identity card (A photo ID card issued by an Australia Federal, State or Territory Police Agencies)
- Security Guard/Crowd Control photo licence (Issued by an Australian State or Territory Government)
- Tax File Number (Issued by the Australian Taxation Office)
- Trusted referees report (The referee providing the report must know the applicant)
- United Nations Convention Travel Document Secondary (Issued in the individual’s name or former name by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.)
In addition to providing the minimum three identity documents , applicants must provide a self-captured photo of themselves holding their photo ID. This is a legal requirement by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) to ensure that the applicant presenting the identity documents is the person to which the documents relate.
The purpose for this is to prove that you are the person in your photo ID.
Instructions for applicants:
- Take a self-captured photo (selfie) of yourself holding your photo ID
- Ensure this is a headshot
- Ensure the photo ID you are holding is clear and readable
- Ensure the photo captures the entire Passport; and your entire face and shoulders, like the sample image below
