Protecting our financial system

Important things about the documents we require

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.

Utility bills used to provide address verification must be issued within the last three months.

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

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 then include the following information on the copy:

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. If they only wish to write on the first page, they must clearly state they are certifying all pages 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.

But over 40 occupations are recognised as acceptable document certifiers in Australia, so they’re easier to find than you might think.

View the list of acceptable document certifiers.