You should ask to see at least three documents, one of which should include both photo identification and the person’s signature. The documents should be originals: do not accept photocopies or faxed documents as proof of identity.
Original documents accepted by LPI as proof of identity are shown in the table below. One document from each category is required, or in the case of New Zealand nationals, a total of three documents from categories 2 and 3. Personal References can be used in circumstances where an individual does not have photo identification. They must be in the form of a statutory declaration provided by an Australian citizen certifying that they have known the person being referenced for at least 12 months. For LPI’s purposes, Personal References must be in an approved form (form 10 - 1210) and be supported by other documentation (excluding a personal reference) that identifies the referee as an Australian citizen.
Proof of Identity documents accepted by LPI
Category |
Australian citizens |
New Zealand nationals |
Foreign nationals |
|---|---|---|---|
Category 1 |
|
|
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Category 2 |
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|
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Category 3NB: documents in this category must show the applicant’s current address) |
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The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) website www.austrac.gov.au/customer_id.html provides information on the full range of documents acceptable as proof of identity, and guidelines and forms to facilitate the identity verification process.
Possession of a Certificate of Title for a parcel of land is not of itself sufficient to prove that a person is the owner of that land or is otherwise entitled to deal with it. The increasing incidence of identity theft and associated fraud, including mortgage fraud means that all parties to land transactions and their agents must exercise due diligence in verifying the identity of persons claiming a right to deal in land.
More information about identity theft and strategies for limiting its impact is available from:
- the Australian Crime Commission www.crimecommission.gov.au/publications
- the Australian Attorney General's Department Identity Security www.ag.gov.au/Crimepreventionandenforcement/Pages/Identitysecurity.aspx and
- the website Protect Your Financial Identity www.protectfinancialid.org.au/Home/default.aspx established by the Australian Bankers Association, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and the Australian High Tech Crime Centre.
