When accessing or applying for services, you often need to verify your ID. Different services have different ID requirements, depending on the level of risk of incorrectly verifying you, or providing the service to the wrong person.
You can set up an email account with nothing more than your name and a phone number – but to apply for a tax file number online you’ll need to provide more ID information to verify that you are who you say you are.
Your Digital ID
When you create your Digital ID you'll be asked what strength you want. You can choose from Basic (IP1, IP1+), Standard (IP2, IP2+) to Strong (IP3).
Services that have a higher level of identity risk, like applying for a tax file number online, will require a stronger Digital ID.
The more ID documents a service asks from you, the harder it is for someone to pretend to be you. This protects you and the service you’re accessing. For example, you don’t want it to be easy for someone to access your tax file number.
Documents you'll need
The documents you need to create your Digital ID vary depending on what strength Digital ID you are trying to create and the app you use to create it. The documents needed to create a Digital ID at a particular strength can vary from one app to another. Check with your Digital ID app for the documents they accept for the ID strength you need.
Accredited Digital ID apps
Digital ID apps that are part of the Australian Government's Digital ID system are accredited under the Australian Government’s Trusted Digital Identity Framework (TDIF) for a specific identity proofing level ranging from 1+ to 3.
All accredited Digital ID apps need to meet the strong rules around privacy, security, fraud control and risk management.
Accreditation of a Digital ID app at a proofing level gives you the assurance that their handling of your Digital ID data to either the Basic, Standard or Strong level, has been verified by government as safe and secure.
Increasing the proofing level of your Digital ID
Different services require different levels of ID strength. Some require Basic level proofing, some require Standard, and some require Strong. If you have created your Digital ID at a Basic or Standard proofing level and you want to access a service that requires a Strong proofing level, you will need to increase the strength of your Digital ID. You can do this using your Digital ID app.
ID proofing levels
| Proofing Level | What You'll need | Accredited Digital ID provider |
|
Basic Identity proofing level 1 and identity proofing level 1+ |
You need one email address or mobile phone number. For some services you may also need an acceptable ID document, which includes your full name and date of birth. You might use this level of proofing to pay a parking infringement or for the provision of loyalty cards. |
If a provider is accredited to identity proofing level 1+, this means they meet the TDIF standards to verify an ID document safely and securely. |
|
Standard Identity proofing level 2 and identity proofing level 2+ |
You need to provide two acceptable ID documents such as your Australian driver licence, Medicare card, Australian birth certificate or Australian passport. For some services you also need to prove that you are the same person shown on these documents, by scanning your face with your smart device. You might use this level of proofing for the provision of utility services or undertaking large financial transactions. |
If a provider is accredited to identity proofing level 2 and 2+, this means they meet the TDIF standards to verify multiple ID documents safely and securely. |
|
Strong Identity proofing level 3 |
You need to provide at least two acceptable ID documents, such as your Australian driver licence, Medicare card or Australian birth certificate and one must have your photo on it, for example, your Australian passport. You also need to prove that you are the same person as shown on the ID documents by scanning your face with your smart device. You might use this level of proofing to access welfare and related government services. |
If a provider is accredited to identity proofing level 3, this means they meet the TDIF standards to verify multiple ID documents and face verification safely and securely. |
