Home buying assistance – proving your identity
The identification you'll need to prove your identity when applying for NSW Government home buyer assistance.
Each applicant (you and your spouse/de facto partner or other eligible buyer) must satisfy each proof of identity category.
You will be expected to supply separate documents for categories 1, 2 and 3 as a minimum.
Category 1 –Primary ID, Australian-born applicants
If you were born in Australia, you must provide an Australian birth certificate issued by Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages. Birth extracts and passports cannot be submitted as a category 1 document.
If your birth certificate is not in your current name, you will also need to supply an official document to link your birth and current name, such as a marriage certificate or change of name certificate, issued by NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.
Alternative ID – Category 1, Australian born
An Australian birth certificate is the only acceptable document for those born in Australia; there is no alternative.
Category 1 – Primary ID, applicants born overseas
If you were born overseas, you must provide one of the following, in your birth name or the name used when you migrated to Australia.
| Document | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Foreign passport and current Australian visa issued for entry into Australia | Where your passport does not have a visa label or the visa label is not current, please contact the Department of Home Affairs to arrange a Visa entitlement verification online (VEVO) report (except for New Zealand citizens). |
| Foreign passport and citizenship certificate | Australian citizen certificate. |
| New Zealand passport | New Zealand citizens only need to produce their New Zealand passport as their Special category visa issued under section 32 of the Migration Act 1958 satisfies the permanent resident requirement for the grant. New Zealand citizens must however be living in Australia at the commencement date of the eligible transaction. |
Australian passport | Only acceptable where foreign passport is no longer available. You must provide a written statement outlining:
|
Alternative ID – Category 1, overseas born
If you are unable to provide the relevant identification from the list of preferred category 1 documents above, you must supply the alternative below.
Foreign passport and one of the following documents from the list below.
- Permanent resident certificate
- Permanent resident visa
- Certificate of evidence of resident status
The document must show your birth name or the name used when you migrated to Australia.
Category 2 – ID with photo and signature
All applicants must provide a current category 2 document from the list below.
- Australian driver’s licence
- Passport
- Firearms licence
- NSW photo card issued by RMS
Alternative ID – Category 2
If you are unable to provide one of the preferred identity documents from the list above, you must be able to supply a Certificate of identity issued by Department of Foreign Affairs for one time use by Australians travelling overseas.
Category 3 – Operating in the community
All applicants must provide a category 3 document from the list below.
- Medicare card
- Motor vehicle registration
- Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card
- Security guard/crowd control licence
- Tertiary education institution ID card
- Debit/credit card issued by a financial institution
Alternative ID – Category 3
If you are unable to provide one of the preferred identity documents from the list above, you must supply at least one of the below alternatives.
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Change of name certificate | Change of name certificate issued by a Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages. Only in cases other than change of name by marriage |
| Australian marriage certificate | Original Australian marriage certificate (full) issued by a state government agency, not a church or celebrant |
| Australian divorce certificate | Original Australian divorce certificate (Decree nisi) |
| Share certificates | Share certificate issued in your name |
| Term deposits | Term deposit notice in your name |
| Other financial papers | Other financial papers or documents in your name such as superannuation statements |
| Health insurance membership card | Current health insurance card showing your name |
| Trade certificate | Original Australian trade certificate in your name |
| Registration certificate from a professional board | Registration certificate from a national or state/territory professional registration board e.g. doctors, nurses, dentists, physiotherapists and accountants |
| Defence discharge papers | Australian armed services discharge papers |
| Motoring association membership card | Current membership card or documents issued in your name: NRMA, RACQ, RACV, RAA, RACT, RAC (WA), AANT |
| Education institution ID card | Current education institution ID card issued in your name |
Category 4 – Current residential address
If your current address is not shown in your category 2 or 3 documents, you must also supply one of the following:
- utility documents for your residential address (e.g. bills for electricity, gas, water etc.)
- insurance policy with current residential address
- statement from a financial institution.
Alternative ID – Category 4
If your current address is not shown in your category 2 or 3 documents, and you are unable to provide one of the preferred options from the list above, you must supply at least one of the alternatives from below.
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Rates notice | Current rates notice in your name and current address |
| Mortgage papers | Legally drawn mortgage papers showing your name and current address |
| Lease or tenancy agreement | Formal lease or tenancy agreement in your name and current address |
| Electoral enrolment | Proof of electoral enrolment – card issued in your name and current address |
| Work notice/reports/reference | Termination notice, report or reference from employer in your name and current address, verified with employer |