When accessing or applying for services, you often need to prove who you are. Different services have different identity 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 identity information to prove you are who you say you are.
Your Digital Identity
When you create your Digital Identity you'll be asked what strength identity 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 Identity.
The more identity 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 Identity vary depending on what strength Digital Identity you are trying to create and the identity app you use to create it. The documents needed to create a Digital Identity at a particular strength can vary from one identity app to another. Check with your identity app for the documents they accept for the identity strength you need.
Accredited identity apps
Identity apps that are part of the Australian Government Digital Identity 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 identity apps need to meet the strong rules around privacy, security, fraud control and risk management.
Accreditation of an identity app at an identity proofing level gives you the assurance that their handling of your Digital Identity data to either the Basic, Standard or Strong level, has been verified by government as safe and secure.
Increasing the identity proofing level of your Digital Identity
Different services require different levels of identity strength. Some require Basic level proofing, some require Standard, and some require Strong. If you have created your Digital Identity 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 Identity. You can do this using your Digital Identity app.
Identity proofing levels
Basic
Identity proofing level 1 and identity proofing level 1+
What you’ll need
You need one email address or mobile phone number.
For some services you may also need an acceptable identity document, which includes your full name and date of birth.
You might use this level of identity proofing to pay a parking infringement or for the provision of loyalty cards.
Accredited identity provider
If a provider is accredited to identity proofing level 1+, this means they meet the TDIF standards to verify an identity document safely and securely.
Standard
Identity proofing level 2 and identity proofing level 2+
What you’ll need
You need to provide two acceptable identity 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 identity proofing for the provision of utility services or undertaking large financial transactions.
Accredited identity provider
If a provider is accredited to identity proofing level 2 and 2+, this means they meet the TDIF standards to verify multiple identity documents safely and securely.
Strong
Identity proofing level 3
What you’ll need
You need to provide at least two acceptable identity 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 identity documents by scanning your face with your smart device.
You might use this level of identity proofing to access welfare and related government services.
Accredited identity provider
If a provider is accredited to identity proofing level 3, this means they meet the TDIF standards to verify multiple identity documents and face verification safely and securely.
