Identification

Applicants must provide 4 items of identification in order to process a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check. 

The 4 documents must comply with the ACIC’s specific requirements, as set out in the 'Identification requirements and photograph Verification information sheet'. 

This means:

• 1 item must be from the 'Commencement' of identity documents
• 1 item must be from the 'Primary' use in the community documents and
• 2 items must be from the 'Secondary' use in the community documents
• 1 item must include a recent photograph of the applicant and
• all identification must be current (expired documents cannot be accepted).

All documents must be in the same name, which must be identical to the name of the applicant on the NCCHC application. If any documents appear in a previous name (for example, a maiden name) then official documentation must be provided by the applicant and sighted as evidence of the change in name, such as certified copy or original Marriage Certificate issued by the relevant Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Examples of the compulsory 4 items of identification

Refer to the following examples of some acceptable combinations of the compulsory 4 items of identification.

Combination 1

• Australian Birth Certificate
• Working With Children Card from WA (current)
• Credit card
• Medicare card

Combination 2

• Australian passport (current)
• Australian driver’s licence (current)
• University identity card with photo (current)
• Bank card

Combination 3

• Australian Citizenship Certificate
• UK Passport (current)
• UK driver’s licence (current)
• Credit card

Combination 4

• ImmiCard
• Australian driver’s licence (current)
• Bank card
• Electricity bill

Combination 5

• Certificate of Identity issued by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Italian passport (current)
• University ID card with photo (current)
• Credit card

Other combinations are possible, as long as they meet the criteria outlined above.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission is confident that all applicants will be able to demonstrate their identity through the provision of the required 4 documents, including applicants who were born overseas. If an applicant is having genuine difficulty in providing the required 4 documents, they should contact the Screening Unit on 9264 4477.

Identification documents do not have to be certified copies. However, the person’s identity has to be verified correctly.

To do this, the person doing the verification must sight original documents and compare the applicant’s photograph on their identification documents with a face-to-face comparison of the applicant. 

In most cases, this will be done in-person. In some instances, this can be done via remote sighting (for example, via video conference). The person doing the verification must also check that all documents are in the same name, which must be identical to the name on the application. 

If any identity documents are in a previous name (for example, a maiden name) then official documentation must be provided by the applicant and sighted as evidence of the change in name, such as a certified copy or original marriage certificate issued by the relevant Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Please note, marriage certificates issued by a celebrant or church cannot be accepted.

An Authorised person listed in Schedule 2 of the Statutory Declarations Regulations 2018 (Cth) must verify the applicant’s identity by comparing the applicant’s photographic identity documents with a face-to-face comparison of the applicant, in-person.

The verifier must include their full contact details and sign the 'Photograph and Identity Verification' section of the Summary Sheet.

The document showing the name change (such as a marriage certificate) does not count towards the 4 items of identification that must be provided.

In person – applicants can submit applications in person at the Screening Unit Monday to Friday between 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm.

By post or email – applicants can post or email their application to the Screening Unit, but must have the 'Photograph and Identity Verification' section correctly completed and signed prior to sending.