ID Required for Australian Police Checks

Identification Documents that the National Police Checking Service requires for a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check

The National Police Checking service (NPCS) requires THREE pieces of identification to be able to process a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC), as well as a linkage between the individual and their ID documentation.

The combination of identity documents must contain the following:

  • Each piece of ID must detail the applicant’s name.
  • Where the names that appear on any of the identity documents differ, a change of name document must be provided.
  • At least one of the ID documents provided must contain the applicant’s date of birth.
  • At least one of the ID documents provided must contain a photograph of the applicant.

This is a guide as to which ID documents are accepted.

If the applicant can not meet the ID requirements, please contact us on 02 4023 0603 or email validate@peoplecheck.com.au.

Commencement of Identity Document

The applicant will need to provide one document from the following Commencement of Identity Document list. 

  • Full Australian birth certificate or authorised Record of Birth (not an extract or birth card). 
  • Current Australian passport (or no more than three years expired, if expired must be verified via the DVS). 
  • Australian citizenship certificate.
  • Australian visa current at time of entry to Australia as a resident or tourist, and this must be supported by a foreign passport.
  • ImmiCard issued by Department of Home Affairs (previously the Department of Immigration and Border Protection) that enables the cardholder to prove their visa and/or migration status and enroll in services. 

Primary Use in Community Document

The applicant will need to provide one document from the following Primary Use in Community Document list.

  • Australian driver licence, learner permit or provisional licence issued by a state or territory, showing a signature and/or photo and the same name as claimed. 
  • Australian passport (not more than three years expired, if so, verified via the DVS,). This can only be used as a Primary use in the community document if it has not already been provided as a Commencement of Identity document.
  • Passport issued by a country other than Australia with a valid entry stamp or visa (please note, if you intend to provide a Singapore or Korean Passport, please email or call our Customer Service Team at validate@peoplecheck.com.au or +612 4023 0603 before uploading this document as there are some restrictions with obtaining these forms of identification). 
  • ImmiCard issued by Department of Home Affairs to assist visa holders to provide evidence of their Commencement of Identity in Australia.
  • Proof of age or photo identity card issued by an Australian Government agency which shows the name, date of birth, photo and signature of the individual. 

Secondary Use in Community Document

The applicant will need to provide one document from the following Secondary Use in Community Document list. 

  • Medicare card
  • Enrolment with the Australian Electoral Commission. 
  • Evidence of right to an Australian government benefit (Centrelink or Veterans’ Affairs). 
  • Certified academic transcript from an Australian University (must be certified by a Justice of the Peace).
  • Aviation Security Identification Card.
  • Maritime Security Identification card. 
  • Credit reference check. 
  • Australian secondary or tertiary student photo identity document. 
  • Commonwealth or state/territory government photo identity card e.g. Working with Children/Vulnerable People Card of government occupation licence.
  • Australian Defence Force photo identity card.
  • Police Force Officer photo identity card.
  • Consular photo identity card issued by DFAT. 
  • DFAT issued Certificate of Identity.
  • DFAT issued United Nations Convention Travel Document Secondary
  • DFAT issued Document of Identity. 
  • Foreign government issued documents (for example, drivers’ licence) (please note, if you intend to provide ANY form of Singapore Identification please email our Customer Service Team at validate@peoplecheck.com.au before uploading this document as there are some restrictions with obtaining these forms of identification).
  • Firearms licence.
  • Trusted referees report.
  • Bank card, credit card (without recording payment card number/s)
  • Security Guard/Crowd Control photo licence. 
  • Tax File Number.

Linking the candidate to their identification documents

In order for us to process an application for a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) via the National Police Checking Service (NPCS), we must link the applicant with their photo ID.

To perform this linkage, we will visually compare the candidate’s face against the photograph on one of the identity documents they have provided. The most widely used way of carrying out this linkage is to have the applicant provide a ‘linkage photo’.

 We therefore need the applicant to:

  1. Hold up their photo ID next to their face
  2. Take a close-up photo or “selfie” of their face with their photo ID held up next to it
  3. Ensure we can see both the applicant’s face and read all details on their photo ID in the photo that is uploaded. No details on the ID are to be covered or cutoff and the image should be high resolution.

If the applicant is unable to provide this linkage photo, please contact us for an alternative method.

Australian Police Check