Proof of identity and documents

By the end of this topic you can

• You can gather the right types of documents before your appointment.
• You can check that your names match across all documents.
• You can explain what to do if your name has changed or you cannot prove your address.

What you need to know and understand

• Road authorities generally want original documents, not photocopies, although some, such as Victoria and SA, now accept certain digital cards or electronic statements as secondary documents.
• Victoria, for example, asks for one category A document (such as an Australian birth certificate or a passport) and one category B document (such as a Medicare card, bank card, student ID or a recent utility bill).
• In Victoria a passport can be current or expired by up to two years, and a birth certificate extract or commemorative certificate is not accepted.
• If names differ between documents, you usually need a marriage or change of name certificate to link them.
• NSW requires an Australian identity document to enrol in the DKT online; service centres can accept other documents in person.
• SA asks for full evidence of identity at a Service SA centre before you can enrol in myLs.

The three things you are proving

• Who you are: a primary document such as an Australian birth certificate, an Australian passport or immigration papers.
• That you use this identity: a secondary document such as a Medicare card, bank card or student card.
• Where you live: a document showing your address in that state, such as a recent bill, if your other documents do not show it.

If you cannot prove your address

Teenagers often have no bills in their own name. States have ways around this. In Victoria, for example, a referee who is over 18, holds a Victorian driver licence or learner permit and has known you for at least 12 months can sign a referee statement confirming where you live. Other states have their own options, so ask your road authority.

Getting ready for the appointment

1. Download your state's current list of accepted identity documents.
2. Collect originals and check each is current or within the allowed expiry window.
3. Compare the spelling and order of your names on every document.
4. Add a linking document if any name is different.
5. Pack everything the night before, together with payment and any glasses you need for the eyesight check.

Common mistakes

• Bringing certified copies. Victoria, for example, says photocopies, certified or otherwise, are not acceptable.
• Not noticing a missing middle name or different spelling. This can stop the application on the day.
• Using an out-of-date bill as address proof. Check how recent it must be.
• Assuming one state's list applies everywhere.

Test yourself: Proof of identity and documents

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Proof of Identity for a Learner Licence in Australia