List one
List two
An Australian full birth certificate showing parental details, or a
current photo birth card issued by the NSW Registry of Births,
Deaths and Marriages. Note: Commemorative certificates are
not acceptable (except for 1987 and 1988 NSW Historic Birth
Certificates).
A current Medicare card, Pensioner Concession Card, Department
of Veterans’ Affairs entitlement card or any other current entitlement
card issued by the Commonwealth Government.
An overseas birth certificate showing parental details, provided a
passport or an official Australian travel document is also shown.
A current Australian passport or one that expired within the last two
years. Validation with Australian Passport Office may be required for
passports issued within the last 2 years.
Secure methods of
proving your identity
to the RTA
The following travel documents issued by the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade:
• a current Certificate of Identity
• a current Document of Identity
• a current Titre de Voyage (must be accompanied by a visa)
A current overseas passport.
An Australian naturalisation or citizenship document issued by the
Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
The following documents issued by the Department of Immigration
and Citizenship:
• a Visa Evidence Card (must be accompanied by a current visa)
• a Document for Travel to Australia (up to 5 years from the date of
issue on the accompanying visa)
• a Certificate of Evidence of Residence Status
An RMS-issued NSW photo driver licence or NSW Photo Card that has
been expired more than 2 years but less than 5 years. The licence must
display a card number and not have been revoked or be reported as
lost, stolen or destroyed.
A current photo driver licence from another Australian State or
Territory or one that expired within the last two years. If your
interstate licence shows your middle name(s) as initial(s), you will require
another supporting List 1 or List 2 document showing your full name.
A current photo identity card for the NSW Police Force, excluding
civilian staff or family.
A current consular photo identity card issued by the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
(cont’d)
If you do not have one of the documents listed above, you can
contact BDM on 1300 655 236 or by visiting their website at
www.bdm.nsw.gov.au.
When applying for a replacement licence, NSW Marriage
Certificates issued by churches or celebrants will also be
accepted when the married name is already on RMS records.
Your identity and change of name documents should show a
clear link between your names.
Moving house?
You need to advise RMS of your new address within 14 days.
A current plastic credit card or account card issued by a bank,
building society, credit union, American Express or Diners Club
International, showing your name and signature.
A passbook or account statement up to one year old, issued by a
bank, building society, credit union, American Express or Diners Club
International. An account statement must show your name,
residential or mailing address and account number, as well as the
financial institution’s letterhead or stamp.
A telephone (landline only), gas or electricity bill up to one year old.
A water rates, council rates or land valuation notice up to one year
old.
A current student identity card, displaying the student’s photograph,
issued by an Australian secondary school, TAFE or university. Where
a student identity card has an issue date, but no expiry date, it may
be accepted up to two years from the date of issue.
Evidence of enrolment at an Australian secondary school, TAFE
or university up to one year old showing the student’s name and
address and on the institution’s letterhead.
A current Mobility Parking Scheme (MPS) permit issued by RMS with
or without a photo.
A current RMS-issued NSW photo Firearm, Security Industry or
Commercial Agents & Private Inquiry Agents operator licence.
A current photo identity card for the Australian Defence Force, excluding
civilian staff or family.
You can do this online at www.myRTA.com, by phoning
13 22 13 or at any of our registry.
Deed Poll - Change of Name
Since 1 April 1996, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
(BDM) has assumed responsibility for registering all name
changes in NSW. To provide evidence of a name change
made after 1 April 1996, a Change of Name Certificate from
BDM is required. The NSW Land Titles Office no longer
registers Deed Polls or Instruments Evidencing Change of
Name.
Roads and Maritime Services
The information in this brochure is intended as a guide only and is
subject to change at any time without notice. It does not replace the
relevant legislation.
For further enquiries:
www.rms.nsw.gov.au | 13 22 13
January 2013
Pub No. 09.011
Dec 08
Cat.
No. 48027157
RTA/Pub.
08.xxx
How to prove
How
to
prove
who you are
who you are
to the RTA
Why do I need to prove who I am?
Protecting your identity is important for you and for Roads and
Maritime Services (RMS). Because a driver licence is used by
so many individuals as a reliable form of identification, RMS
has to ensure the integrity of licences is protected.
Identity fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes in Australia
and costs the Australian community billions of dollars every
year. Someone could steal your identity and use it for
fraudulent purposes such as:
• Financial fraud, taking out loans with a false identity
• Immigration fraud, including people smuggling and
undetected movement of criminals between countries.
Your licence could be used unlawfully and traffic offences and
demerit points could be incorrectly assigned to you.
RMS has worked with the NSW Police and other relevant
agencies on its proof of identity arrangements. While the
arrangements may seem strict, they are necessary to protect
your identity and privacy, as well as the driver licence system.
You will be asked to prove your identity to obtain or replace a
NSW driver licence or RMS issued photo card. You will also
be asked to do this if you want to establish or transfer a vehicle
registration or conduct number plate transactions.
In addition to the stringent proof of identity requirements, RMS
also has a number of other measures in place to help protect
you from identity fraud. Some of these measures include:
• Comparison of photo images using facial recognition
technology.
• Significant security features in the licence and other photo
cards.
• Recording driver licences/photo cards reported as lost,
stolen or destroyed when an application for a replacement is
made.
• Referral of difficult or suspicious customer enrolment cases
to a specialist unit.
• Validation of key proof of identity documents with the issuing
authorities, where appropriate.
13 22 13 to find out about the relevant proof of identity
requirements.
What do I need to prove who I am?
To prove who you are to RMS, you will need to provide:
• A NSW photo driver licence or NSW Photo Card that is current
or that expired within the last two years (provided it is not
recorded as lost, stolen or destroyed), or
• Two documents - one from List one and one from List two, and
• Proof of your NSW residential address if your current address
is not shown on one of your documents, and
• A statement from your employer, bank manager, school
principal or an accompanying parent or guardian witnessing
your signature, if one of your documents does not show your
signature. To do this, complete the relevant section on the
licence application form or use RMS ‘witness letter’ that is
available from any registry.
Important notes
 Identification documents must be originals.
• Documents from list one must show your name in full and the
date, month and year of your birth. A List two document must
at least show your family name and first given name in full.
• Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by an
official translation from the Community Relations Commission
of NSW. For further information go to our website at
www.rms.nsw.gov.au.
• RMS also accept translations obtained from the fee-free
translation service provided by the Department of Immigration
and Citizenship (DIAC). The DIAC fee-free translation service
is only available for eligible people. For further information
on fee-free translations for eligible persons please go to the
DIAC website: www.immi.gov.au>Help with English>Help with
Translations, or telephone 131 881.
• If you are showing documents from lists one and two, your
name should be the same on both documents. If the names
are different, please see the Have you changed your name?
section. Your gender should be the same on both documents, if
gender is shown.
will only be eligible to apply for a NSW licence once you
have been in Australia for a continuous period of at least
six months. For more information visit our website at
www.rms.nsw.gov.au.
NSW residential address
If none of your proof of identity documents show your current
NSW address, you will need to provide one of the following
documents showing your current NSW address:
• A current certificate of registration issued by RMS.
• A licence or registration renewal notice for the coming
period issued by RMS.
• A contract of sale, lease agreement or rental receipt for
your place of residence up to two years old.
In the case of vehicle registration, this policy does not apply
to company addresses.
Reference statement
You will need to provide a reference statement on the licence
application form from someone who has known you for at
least 12 months and who holds a current NSW unrestricted
licence if you:
• Cannot provide proof of residential address.
• Cannot provide sufficient proof of identity when applying
for a replacement licence.
RMS may contact the referee to confirm the statement.
Have you changed your name?
If you have changed your name, you will also need to
provide the original of one of the following documents:
• A Marriage Certificate. For NSW, generally RMS only
accepts Marriage Certificates issued by BDM. If you were
married in another state or country, a Marriage Certificate
from a celebrant or church is acceptable.
• A Change of Name Certificate issued by BDM.
• A birth certificate showing your name at birth and your new
name.
• A divorce document bearing the name being reverted to.
In a small number of cases these checks may take a number of
days. You will be advised as soon as enquiries are completed.
• NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM)
Commemorative Certificates are not acceptable, except for
1987 and 1988 NSW Historic Birth Certificates.
If you need to do business with RMS in the names of companies,
government authorities or other organisations, please call
• Special licensing rules apply to temporary overseas visiting
drivers who want to get a NSW licence for the first time. You
• A completed Instrument Evidencing Change of Name form
which has been registered in the Land Titles Office.
• A deed poll registered with the relevant authority (see
Deed Poll – Change of Name).
(continued next page)