Protecting our financial system.

How to ensure your documents are accepted the first time.

Important things about the documents we require.

Primary Identification that holds part middle names or initials requires a secondary document or an Australian Electoral Roll to verify the member’s full legal name

Documents used to verify your identity, such as your name, cannot be expired with the exception of an Australian Passport, which can be expired within the previous two years.

ATO tax assessments must be issued within the previous 12 months.

Commemorative or decorative certificates (marriage, birth etc) are not acceptable identification.

Requirements for certified documents.

For a certified document to be accepted, an acceptable document certifier must sight the original document and a copy of that document.

They must have sighted the original and note the following on each page that is copied:

• 'I hereby certify this document is a true copy of the original document shown to me on [date]'
• signature
• date
• full name (printed)
• address (work or residential)
• phone number (work or residential)
• qualification
• registration number

The acceptable certifier is to be an independent and impartial witness or certifier of documents. Conflict of interest should be avoided, whether it is an ‘actual’ conflict or ‘perceived’. Examples include and not limited to family members (e.g. immediate members, relative, de-facto), associated parties (e.g. Director of one company certifying another Director from the same company). Where there is ‘actual’ or ‘perceived’ conflict the document is to be rejected.

The document certifier needs to certify every page of the document. 

Finding an acceptable document certifier.

For many people, the most convenient way to certify their documents is to take their original documents and copies to their nearest post office, pharmacy or police station. Please make sure all document copies are clear (preferably in colour) and clearly certified.

If you need another option, you can send us copies of your documents certified by any of the following approved certifiers. 
Certifier categories.

• An officer or warrant officer in the Australian Defence Force.
• A non-commissioned officer in the Australian Defence Force with 5 years continuous service.
• Nurse.
• Pharmacist.
• Judge.
• Justice of the peace.
• Legal practioner.
• Police officer.
• Australian consular or diplomatic officer.
• Officer of a financial institution with 2 years continuous service.
• Finance company officer with 2 years continuous servie.
• Officer or Auth. Rep. of AFS licensee.
• Accountant (member of a recognised accounting body).
• Notary public.
• Permanent employee of Australia Post with 5 years continuous service.