The 100-point ID check

Australian institutions use a 100-point system to verify identity. You collect documents until they add up to 100 points. The system originates from the Financial Transaction Reports Act and is reused by banks, telcos, employers and landlords.

Common documents and points (varies slightly by institution)

• Australian passport — 70 points
• Foreign passport with valid visa — 70 points
• Australian driver's licence — 40 points
• Medicare card — 25 points
• Australian birth certificate — 70 points (rarely available to newcomers)
• Bank card / statement — 25 points
• Utility bill — 25 points
• Lease agreement — 25 points
• Council rates notice — 25 points
• Tax assessment — 40 points

Practical approach for newcomers

• Your foreign passport with valid visa gets you 70 points immediately.
• Add Medicare (25) and a bank statement (25) and you're at 120.
• Once you have your driver's licence, you usually swap that in for the passport at 40+25+25 = 90 — you may need one more document.

Common gotchas

• "Certified copies" mean a signed-and-stamped photocopy by a Justice of the Peace, doctor, accountant, or other authorised person — not just a photocopy.
• Documents must be originals (not photos on a phone) unless certified.
• Some institutions have stricter lists — banks can be pickier than rental agents.