Life in Australia Guide

In Australia, you may be asked for photo ID where your age needs to be checked, such as at places that sell alcohol, or at counters that need to confirm your identity. If you do not have a driver licence, you may not have a suitable photo ID to hand, but state governments also issue photo ID cards you can apply for without a licence. The cards this guide checked are the NSW Photo Card in NSW, the Photo identification card in QLD, and the Proof of Age card in VIC and SA. This guide has not checked WA, TAS, ACT and NT, so check each state government's website.

In NSW, residents aged 16 or over can apply, and in QLD, people aged 15 or over can apply. In VIC, you can apply for a digital card from age 15 and a physical card from 17 years 11 months, and the physical card can be used only from age 18. SA is for people aged 17 years 11 months or over, and the card has no expiry. The issuing agency differs by state, so follow the application page of the state where you live.

Each card has conditions on the state you live in, your age and your identity documents. The official guidance this guide checked does not say whether you can apply by visa type, so this guide does not say either way. The four states checked accept identity documents not by points but from a list set by the state (a List, Category and so on), so follow that list. For the 100-point system, which counts documents by points, see the 100 Points Proof of Identity guide.

• Residence — the NSW card and the VIC digital card are for residents of that state; in QLD and SA you must show a residential address in that state in your documents
• Number of identity documents — for a first application when you do not hold a licence or card from that state: NSW and VIC, 2 documents; SA, 3 or more; QLD, usually 3 (up to 5)
• VIC physical card — the signature of a referee who is on the electoral roll and has known you for at least 12 months (generally an Australian citizen) is needed

These are the four states whose official pages this guide checked directly. For WA, TAS, ACT and NT, check the card types and conditions on each state government's website. Amounts are as checked in November 2026 and may change.

To get your documents and counter visit done in one go, run through the checklist below before you apply. The card comes by post, so it is best to apply well before the date you need it.

• Take your original identity documents when you apply at a counter. Guidance in all four states says copies are not accepted, but postal applications and VIC's documents showing your eligibility to stay have different rules.
• Check that the name spelling is the same on every document. QLD, VIC and SA guidance require proof of a name change if the names differ, so see our guide on matching names on official documents.
• Attach an official translation to any document that is not in English. NSW accepts only translations from designated organisations such as Multicultural NSW and TIS, and SA accepts only translations by approved translators in Australia.
• Have your signature and witnesses ready. In NSW, a document with no signature needs a Witness Letter; in VIC, the signatures of a referee and an authorised person are needed.
• If it arrives late, contact NSW on 13 22 13 after 15 business days, or SA on 13 10 84 after 21 days. In SA, you may have to pay a reissue fee if you do not get in touch within 30 days.

These are misunderstandings that often come up before and after applying. Checking the official guidance once more can save you a wasted trip.

• The misunderstanding that “it works everywhere like a licence” — NSW guidance says the card cannot replace a driver licence for some online applications and similar purposes. Banks, rental applications and online identity checks each accept different documents.
• Trying to use a VIC physical card at 17 years 11 months — guidance says you can apply from that age, but use starts from age 18.
• Assuming in advance whether you qualify based on your visa type — the guidance this guide checked does not say which visas qualify, so neither give up nor assume you qualify; ask at the counter.
• Bringing documents that are not accepted — QLD guidance states that it does not accept bank statements or mobile phone bills as proof of address, or an overseas driver licence as proof of identity. The lists differ by state.
• Assuming the replacement rules are the same in every state — for a VIC physical card, within 3 months of receiving it you request a replacement by email, and after that you apply for a new one; in SA you apply for a new card; and in QLD, the replacement fee may be waived if the card was lost because of a crime.