Identity verification services

Verifying people's identity securely and efficiently is critical to minimising the risk of identity fraud and theft. It helps protect the privacy of Australians when they seek to access government and industry services and engage with the digital economy.

Identity verification services are a national capability that allow government entities and industry to securely and efficiently verify an individual's identity with their express consent. The services are used to verify personal information on identity documents against government records, such as passports, driver licences and birth certificates.

The identity verification services include the:

  • Document Verification Service (DVS) – checks whether the biographic information on your identity document matches the original government record
  • Face Verification Service (FVS) – checks whether a facial image and the biographic information on your identity document match the original government record 
  • Face Identification Service (FIS) – checks a facial image against multiple government records. The FIS can only be used when needed to protect the identity of individuals who have a legally assumed identity, for example an individual who is in witness protection.

The FVS will soon be supported by the National Driver Licence Facial Recognition Solution (NDLFRS).

With agreement from the states and territories, the NDLFRS will enable Australians to use a state or territory drivers licence to biometrically verify their identity through the FVS. The NDLFRS is expected to be operational in 2025. 

For more information about identity verification services, visit the ID Match website.

The Identity Verification Services Act 2023 and Identity Verification Services Rules 2024

The Identity Verification Services Act 2023 (Cth) (the IVS Act) provides the legislative framework for the identity verification services. It ensures that government and non-government entities can harness the benefits of these services without compromising the privacy of Australians.

The IVS Act establishes important safeguards, oversight and transparency arrangements to provide Australians with certainty that the identity verification services are secure and their personal information is protected.

The Identity Verification Services Rules 2024 (the IVS Rules) support the operation of the identity verification services under the IVS Act. This includes prescribing the fees entities must pay to connect to and request to use the services.

Intergovernmental Agreement on Identity Matching Services

A national approach for the use of the identity verification services was established when the Commonwealth and state and territory governments entered into the Intergovernmental Agreement on Identity Matching Services on 5 October 2017.

This agreement complements the IVS Act and establishes a common understanding of the roles and responsibilities of all jurisdictions in operating and using the identity verification services. It also supports the provision of data for the identity verification services and establishes clear safeguards and oversight arrangements to protect the privacy of Australians.

Identity verification services agreements

The IVS Act requires that all government and non-government entities wanting to access or provide data to the identity verification services must enter into a participation agreement for the relevant service. These agreements contain the security standards, privacy obligations and reporting requirements for each party, including the Commonwealth. 

Participation agreements are supported by participant access arrangements, which outline specific conditions for government entities accessing or providing data to the identity verification services.

The IVS Act also provides that each state and territory agency supplying or proposing to supply data to the NDLFRS must be a party to the NDLFRS hosting agreement. This agreement sets out the obligations that parties must satisfy in order to access and use the NDLFRS.

Identity verification services access policies

For entities wanting to use identity verification services, access policies set out the criteria they must:

  • satisfy to gain access
  • keep complying with to maintain access.

The criteria include protecting personal information and meeting other obligations.

Access policies are approved by the National Identity Security Coordination Group (NISCG).

Go to Identity verification service access policies to find the:

  • Document Verification Service access policy
  • Face Verification Service access policy – government entities
  • Face Verification Service access policy – non-government requesting entities (commercial service).