Department of the Attorney General
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Identification requirements

Help us to protect your identity and reduce fraud.

Why are identification requirements needed?

Identity fraud involving the use of stolen, fictitious or altered identities to commit criminal offences is a concern for our community. The WA Registry recognises that certificates and changes of name help establish a person's identity. The Registry is committed to maintaining the security of its information by reducing the risk of certificates being wrongfully issued to people who may use them for fraudulent purposes.

Applicants are required to provide a range of commonly available identity documents before being eligible to receive certificates or register a change of name.

When providing certificate information from Registry records, the Registrar must consider the privacy of the person to whom the record relates. For example, a birth certificate is usually only available to the person named in the certificate, their parent or legal guardian. For more information, refer to the relevant Certificate Access Policy.

Age of record exceptions

In recognition of the fact that the fraudulent use of certificates reduces with the age of the record, the identification requirements for historical certificates, i.e. births that occurred 100 years ago or more, deaths that occurred 30 years ago or more and marriages that occurred 75 years ago or more will not be required.

Identification requirements

If you are applying for a certificate or a change of name or a correction, you must provide at least three forms of identification:

  • ONE document from each list (1, 2 and 3).  At least one containing a photograph; or
  • ONE from List 1 and TWO from List 2.  At least one containing a photograph; or
  • TWO from List 2 and ONE from List 3.  At least one containing a signature.

All forms of identification produced MUST be current.

Documents from List 3 MUST show your current residential address.

Bank statements, utility accounts or rates notices MUST have been issued within the last six months.

Applying in person - original documents must be provided

Applying by post - send clear certified photocopies of your identification documents with your application.  Do not post original documents.

Certification requirements

Photocopies of identification will only be accepted if they are certified by a qualified person as being "true copies" of the original documents. Information about who can certify documents is attached to the downloadable application form below.

List 1

List 2

List 3

  • Australian driver's licence (with photo)
  • Australian passport (with photo)
  • Australian firearm's licence (with photo)
  • Defence force/Police ID card (with photo)
  • Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) certificate with of evidence of residence status (with photo)
  • Over 18 or Proof of Age identity card (with photo)
  • Australian learner driver’s permit card (with photo)
  • Debit or Credit card (one or the other, not both) issued by a financial institution
  • Document of Identity issued by the Passport Office
  • Entitlement card issued by the Commonwealth or State Government (Centrelink, Health Care card, Veterans Affairs card etc)
  • Full birth certificate issued in Australia (birth extracts not accepted)
  • Medicare card
  • Naturalisation, citizenship or immigration papers issued by DIAC
  • Overseas passport with current Australian Entry Permit
  • Security guard or crowd control licence (Australian)
  • Student identity document or Statement of enrolment issued by an educational institution, including Tertiary (should include photo and/or signature)
  • Working with children card
  • Driver’s licence renewal notice
  • Financial institution statement less than six months old
  • Motor vehicle registration
  • Property lease or tenancy agreement
  • Shire/water rates notice
  • School or other educational report or certificate less than twelve months old
  • Utility account less than six months old (e.g. gas, electricity, home phone etc)
 

Applying for certificates on behalf of another person

If you are applying for a certificate on behalf of another person, you must provide the following:

  • Identification for yourself;
  • Identification of the person who is entitled to the document as stated in the Registry's Certificate Access policy.

AND

  • A letter giving permission from the person entitled to the document. See Letter of Authority download on this page.

Last Updated: 31-Jan-2013

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