What Documents Are Accepted for Online Identity Verification?

One of the most common questions businesses ask when setting up an online identity verification process is: what documents will my clients need to provide? The answer depends on your client's country of origin, the level of verification required and the platform you use.

This guide explains which documents are accepted for online identity verification, how they are used and what happens when a client cannot provide standard documents.

Australian Identity Documents

For Australian clients, identity verification platforms typically use two methods: electronic database matching and document capture. The most common documents accepted are:

Driver Licence

An Australian driver licence is the most commonly used identity document for online verification. The licence number and other details are checked electronically against the relevant state or territory road authority database via the Australian Document Verification Service (DVS). This is an instantaneous check that confirms the licence is genuine and the details match government records.

Passport

Australian passports are verified against Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) records via DVS. Passport verification is particularly useful for clients who do not hold a driver licence, for older clients whose licence may have expired, or for clients requiring a higher-assurance verification.

Medicare Card

A Medicare card is accepted as a supporting document in combination with another primary ID. Medicare details are checked against Services Australia records. Medicare cards do not include a photo, so they are typically used alongside a photographic ID rather than as a standalone verification document.

Visa Documents

For overseas nationals living in Australia, visa details can be verified against Department of Home Affairs records via DVS. This is particularly useful for verifying international clients who do not yet hold Australian government-issued ID.

Proof of Age Card

State-issued proof of age cards — such as the NSW Photo Card or Victorian Key Pass — are accepted as photographic identification and verified against the relevant state authority database.

International Identity Documents

For international clients, verification platforms use document capture and authentication technology rather than live database matching (which is only available for Australian and New Zealand government records). Modern platforms support over 8,500 government-issued ID document types from 195 countries, including:

• Foreign passports — the most universally accepted international identity document, supported from all countries
• National identity cards — accepted from countries that issue them, including most EU member states, many Asian and Middle Eastern countries
• Foreign driver licences — accepted from major jurisdictions including the US, UK, Canada, EU countries, New Zealand and others
• Residence permits and visas — accepted from select countries as supporting identification

For international document verification, the platform photographs the document, checks it against a template database for authenticity, extracts the data from the document and then matches the photo on the document against the client's live selfie using biometric face matching.

Document Categories Under Australian AML Rules

AUSTRAC's customer due diligence rules categorise identification documents into three tiers:

Primary Photographic Identification Documents

These carry the most weight and include: Australian passport, Australian driver licence, Australian proof of age card, foreign passport and foreign identity card.

Primary Non-Photographic Identification Documents

These require combination with another document or a referee statement: Australian birth certificate, Australian citizenship certificate, Australian Medicare card, Veteran card and marriage certificate.

Secondary Identification Documents

These are used in combination with a primary document: utility notices (within 3 months), council rates notices, Australian bank statements (within 3 months) and ATO tax assessment notices (within 12 months).

What If a Client Cannot Provide Standard Documents?

AUSTRAC's rules recognise that some individuals face genuine barriers to providing standard identification. Alternative verification methods are available for clients who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, refugees or recent migrants, people experiencing homelessness, older Australians, or individuals affected by natural disasters or domestic violence.

In these cases, verification can be supported by a referee statement from a person in a position of trust — such as a doctor, community leader, employer or legal professional — combined with whatever documentation the client can provide.

How Documents Are Verified Online

When a client completes an online verification through a platform like VerifyID Online, the process works as follows:

1. The client selects their document type and country of issue
2. They photograph the front and back of their document using their phone camera
3. The platform's AI checks the document against the relevant template for that document type, detecting any signs of tampering or forgery
4. For Australian documents, the details are checked against government DVS records in real time
5. The client takes a selfie, which is biometrically matched against the photo on the document
6. A pass, fail or review-required result is returned to the business within seconds

The entire process typically takes under three minutes. The result, document images and verification data are stored securely for 7 years as required under the AML/CTF Act.

Choosing the Right Document for Verification

For most Australian clients, a driver licence or passport combined with a Medicare card will satisfy AUSTRAC's identity verification requirements at the highest level of confidence. For international clients, a foreign passport is the most widely accepted and most readily verified document type.

Your verification platform should guide your clients through the document selection process automatically, prompting them to choose the most appropriate document type for their situation and jurisdiction.