Proof of identity factsheet

Proof of identity factsheet1

Do I need to prove my identity?

If you are over 15 years of age and have an independent income you will need to give proof of identity documents when you apply for housing services.

What is an independent income?

An independent income is an income paid directly to you for you to use.It is not dependent on a Centrelink parental income or assets test.

What if I’m a Centrelink customer?

You can use Centrelink documents as your proof of identity.

When do I need to provide proof of identity?

You will need to give us proof of identity when you:

•Apply for housing service (that is, place your application on the Victorian Housing Register) or

•Apply for a service provided by the Department of Health and Human Services, such as:

–signing tenancy agreements

–applying for a bond loan, movable unit or rental rebate.

What can I use as proof of identity?

We will accept original documents or copies of original documents. Examples of the types of documents we need are listed in Tables 1 and 2 over the page.

Please make sure:

•The documents you give add up to at least 100 points.

•One of your proof of identity documents is from Table 1 and shows your photograph and signature.
The rest of your documents can come from Table 1 or Table 2. You can only use a document once.

•Your name is the same on all of the documents you give us. If your name is different, you must give us a change of name certificate.

•Your documents are current. We can’t accept expired documents.

Table 1: Primary proof of identity documents

Points / Document type
70 / Australian birth certificate
70 / Australian citizenship certificate
70 / Australian residency status certificate
70 / Australian visa
70 / Certificate of Evidence of Resident Status (CERS) issued by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection
70 / Certificate of Identity (COI) issued by the Australian Passport Office
70 / Document of identity (DOI) issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
70 / Passport
70 / Shooter or firearm licence
70 / Security protection industry or crowd control licence
40 / Australian driver’s licence
40 / Australian working with children check card

Table 2: Secondary proof of identity documents

Points / Document type
70 / Australian birth certificate
70 / Australian Defence Force discharge papers
40 / Australian Defence Force identity card
40 / Australian divorce papers (Decree nisi, Decree absolute)
40 / Centrelink card (containing a reference number)
40 / Child’s birth certificate with your name as parent/guardian
40 / Department of Veterans’ Affairs gold card
40 / Intervention order
25 / Australian driver learner permit
25 / Change of name certificate issued by a registry of births, deaths and marriages of an Australian state or territory
25 / Council rates notice
25 / Credit or account card, statement or passbook for a current account issued by an Australian bank, credit union or building society
25 / Electoral enrolment for current address
25 / Marriage certificate issued by an Australian state or territory government agency (not church or celebrant issued certificates)
25 / Medicare card
25 / Motor vehicle registration
25 / PAYG payment summary with tax file number
25 / Private health insurance card
25 / Proof of age card issued by an Australian government agency
25 / Reference from Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander organisation showing referee’s full details and length of time they have known applicant
25 / Residential tenancy agreement or lease, or receipt issued by landlord, agent or owner
25 / Student identification card
25 / Superannuation statement
25 / Taxation assessment notice
25 / Utilities notice (water rates, electricity, gas or phone account)
TOTAL(Must be at least 100 points)

Proof of identity factsheet1

To receive this publication in an accessible format, contact your local office using the National Relay Service 13 36 77 if required.
Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.
© State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human ServicesMay 2016
ISBN:978-0-7311-6756-2
Available at

Proof of identity factsheet1