What documents and data will Australians need to verify identity online under the new rules?
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Executive summary
Australians will need standard government identity documents — typically a combination of at least two items such as a current Australian passport, a state/territory driver licence, Medicare card or birth certificate — and in many cases a photo to reach “Strong” identity strength when using government Digital ID services like myID [1] [2]. New systems also rely on government verification back‑ends (Document Verification Service, Face Verification Service and the National Driver Licence Facial Recognition Solution) so documents are checked against official records and facial matching may be required [3] [4] [5].
1. What the rules actually ask for: two documents, one photo for higher strength
Federal guidance for the myID Digital ID says you must verify at least two documents to increase your identity strength; to reach Strong strength one document can be an Australian passport and you must verify your photo, and a Western Australian driver licence can be used as a photo source in some cases [1] [6]. myGov’s Digital ID pages reiterate that passports and driver licences are core documents used to create a Digital ID and that users choose the identity strength appropriate to the task [2].
2. Which documents are commonly accepted — and how they’re combined
Government services list typical Category 1 and Category 2 documents: current Australian passport (or recently expired in some checks), state/territory driver licences, Medicare cards and birth certificates appear across agency guidance as acceptable items — and online checks normally need at least one photo ID plus a second document from another category [7] [3]. The Australian Taxation Office and Services Australia pages confirm that DVS checks details on Australian identity documents when you request changes or access online services [3] [8].
3. Biometric checks and central services: what’s behind the scenes
Identity verification will increasingly use government back‑end services. The Identity Verification Services Act 2023 created the Document Verification Service (DVS) and a Face Verification Service (FVS); the National Driver Licence Facial Recognition Solution (NDLFRS) is being used to enable biometric checks of driver licences and was expected to be operational in 2025 [4] [5]. Those services let agencies and accredited operators match your document details — and sometimes your face — to official records rather than relying on uploaded scans alone [3] [5].
4. Where facial matching and photo capture come in
Service Victoria’s online verification workflow shows how a smartphone is used to photograph a photo ID and a second document and to perform a face match against the photo ID; the service states it does not retain the selfie image used for matching [7]. myID guidance likewise links Strong identity strength to a verified photo when an Australian passport or WA licence is used [1] [6]. The Attorney‑General’s Department materials explicitly link driver licence data and biometric verification through the NDLFRS and FVS [4] [5].
5. Privacy and regulatory framing — government assurances and guards
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner frames the Digital ID System as designed to avoid repeatedly sharing full ID documents with many organisations and to share only necessary information; OAIC says it will be the system’s privacy regulator and enforce safeguards for accredited services [9]. The Identity Verification Services Act is cited as establishing legislative safeguards and oversight for the services [4].
6. Diverging views and unresolved details in public reporting
Reporting notes differences in how platforms and private operators might implement age or identity checks: industry codes for social media and search services may use drivers licences, facial age assurance, bank card checks or behavioural signals depending on proportionality and risk, so not every platform will require the same documents or biometrics [10] [11]. Sources discussing rollout timelines and private sector uptake highlight debate over privacy trade‑offs and whether methods will be mandatory for all online interactions; the OAIC emphasises voluntary, privacy‑protective use within the government‑accredited system [9] [11].
7. Practical takeaways for Australians preparing to verify online
Have at least two official ID items ready: a passport and another document (driver licence, Medicare card, birth certificate) and a smartphone capable of photographing your documents and selfie for face matching when required. Expect that many checks will be performed through government verification services (DVS, FVS, NDLFRS) rather than by individual organisations storing your documents [1] [3] [5] [7].
Limitations and what’s not in the sources: available sources do not mention the exact complete list of every acceptable private‑sector verification document or every platform’s final chosen method; they also do not provide a single consolidated checklist for every use case — requirements vary by service and identity strength (not found in current reporting).