Australia does not issue a single national ID card. Instead, each state and territory issues its own photo identity card for residents who need official identification beyond a driver’s licence or passport, and the Australian ID card you can apply for depends entirely on where you live. These cards let you prove your age, open a bank account, enter licensed venues, and satisfy identity checks for government and private services.
The Photo ID Card in Each State and Territory
Every jurisdiction offers at least one photo identification card for residents who do not hold a driver’s licence, or who want a second recognised form of ID. The names, fees, and eligible ages differ:
- New South Wales — NSW Photo Card. Available from age 16. $67 for five years or $119 for ten years. Free for eligible pensioners, seniors, and carers. You can hold a NSW Photo Card and a driver’s licence at the same time, with a reduced $6 fee if you apply for both together.1NSW Government. Driver and Rider Licence Fees
- Victoria — Proof of Age Card. $10. You can apply from 17 years and 11 months, but the card cannot be used until you turn 18.
- Queensland — Photo Identification Card. Available from age 15, the youngest eligibility in a mainland state. Applicants aged 15 and older may be eligible for a free card.2Queensland Government. Photo Identification Card
- Western Australia — WA Photo Card. $49.70 standard, $24.85 for pensioners and seniors, free for aged pensioners. Valid for five years.3Western Australian Government. WA Photo Card
- South Australia — Proof of Age Card. $25, available from 17 years and 11 months.4South Australian Government. Apply for a Proof of Age Card
- Tasmania — Personal Information Card. $29.70, available from age 14 (the youngest of any jurisdiction). If you surrender a Tasmanian driver’s licence voluntarily or for medical reasons, you may be eligible for a free card.5Service Tasmania. Apply for, Renew or Replace a Personal Information Card
- Northern Territory — Evidence of Age Card. Available from age 18. Free for NT Concession Scheme cardholders.6Northern Territory Government. Apply for an Evidence of Age Card
- Australian Capital Territory — Proof of Identity Card. Demonstrates that you are 18 or older and doubles as general proof of identity.7Access Canberra. Proof of Identity Cards
Government agencies and private businesses across Australia generally accept any of these cards as equivalent to a driver’s licence for identity verification. They carry security features such as holographic overlays and specialised printing to deter forgery.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility comes down to age and residency. Minimum ages run from 14 in Tasmania to 18 in the Northern Territory and ACT, with most other jurisdictions falling between 15 and 18. You must be a resident of the state or territory where you apply. A Queensland resident cannot apply for a NSW Photo Card, and the same principle holds everywhere.
Holding a driver’s licence does not always disqualify you from also holding a photo card. In NSW, the government explicitly states you can hold both at once, with a $6 combined fee if you apply for them together.8NSW Government. Get Your First Photo Card Other jurisdictions may be more restrictive, so check the rule where you live. If you have surrendered your licence for medical reasons or lost it through a court order, a photo card gives you back a recognised form of government-issued ID, and Tasmania may issue one free in that situation.5Service Tasmania. Apply for, Renew or Replace a Personal Information Card
Temporary residents and visa holders can generally apply if they meet the residency requirement, though specific rules vary. Confirm eligibility with your local transport or service authority before gathering documents.
Documents You Need
Most identity verification in Australia runs on the 100-point check. Documents are assigned point values, and you need at least 100 points combined. A birth certificate or current passport is worth 70 points as a primary document. Secondary documents such as a Medicare card, utility bill, or bank record are typically worth 25 points each.9Australian Border Force. 100 Points of Identification Guidelines The standard combination is one primary document plus two secondary documents.
Not every jurisdiction uses that exact framework for photo card applications. Tasmania asks for a combination of primary and secondary documents without referencing a point total, requiring at least one primary and two secondary, or two primary and one secondary.5Service Tasmania. Apply for, Renew or Replace a Personal Information Card Queensland requires three forms of identification, which could include a birth certificate, Medicare card, or bank card.2Queensland Government. Photo Identification Card The categories overlap, but the exact requirements vary, so check the published list for your state or territory.
A few rules apply everywhere. The name on every document must match exactly. Documents must be originals, not photocopies or digital screenshots. Anything not in English needs a certified translation. If your name has changed through marriage or deed poll, bring the supporting certificate.
How to Apply
First-time applicants generally need to visit a service centre in person, because the issuing authority has to photograph you and capture your signature for the card’s security features. Some states allow part of the process online. South Australia lets you apply online if you already have a SA photographic licence or learner’s permit on file, for example.4South Australian Government. Apply for a Proof of Age Card
Bring your completed application form (available online or at the service centre), your identity documents, and payment. Standard five-year cards typically cost between $25 and $67. Fees drop to zero for concession holders in several states, and rise to $119 for a ten-year NSW Photo Card.1NSW Government. Driver and Rider Licence Fees
Delivery, Renewal, and Replacement
You will not leave the service centre with your card in hand. Cards are printed at a central facility and posted to your registered address. Delivery times sit in a similar range across jurisdictions: about 14 days in Western Australia, 15 business days in NSW, up to 15 working days in Tasmania, and up to 21 days in South Australia.10Western Australian Government. Apply for a Photo Card4South Australian Government. Apply for a Proof of Age Card If the card has not arrived within the expected window, contact the issuing authority. Waiting too long can create complications; in South Australia, if you do not follow up within 30 days you may need to pay the fee again.
When a card expires, most jurisdictions require you to visit a service centre and apply for a new one rather than offering a postal renewal. In NSW there is technically no renewal at all. You apply for a fresh card, present your expired card or proof of identity, and pay the fee again. The new card is valid for five years, or ten years if you are over 21.11NSW Government. Get Your Photo Card Reissued
Lost, stolen, or damaged cards can be replaced in person and sometimes online. NSW charges $17 for a replacement and allows one online replacement per 12-month period, though the online option is not available if you have changed your address in the past 14 days.12NSW Government. Replace a Lost, Stolen or Damaged Photo Card WA charges $33.30 for a replacement, or $16.65 for concession holders.3Western Australian Government. WA Photo Card
myID and Digital Identity
The federal government does not issue a physical ID card, but it does run a voluntary digital identity system. The Digital ID Act 2024 took effect on 30 November 2024 and created the legal framework for that system.13Digital ID System. Digital ID Act It is not a replacement for a state photo card. It is designed for verifying your identity online when dealing with government services and, increasingly, private businesses.
The main tool for individuals is myID (formerly myGovID), a smartphone app that verifies your identity against government records. To reach “Standard” identity strength, you verify any two Australian documents such as a passport, driver’s licence, birth certificate, or Medicare card. For “Strong” identity strength, needed for more sensitive transactions, you also complete a one-time face verification check, where the app compares a selfie against the photo on your passport or licence.14myID. How to Set Up myID
Under the Digital ID Act, accredited providers must obtain your consent before collecting biometric information, can only use it to verify your identity, and must delete it after verification is complete. They cannot profile you or sell your data for marketing. The ACCC is the Digital ID Regulator, and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner handles privacy oversight. Participation is voluntary for individuals and businesses.15Digital ID System. Privacy and Security
Using an Australian Photo Card Overseas
State-issued photo cards are domestic documents. They are not travel documents, cannot be used to board international flights, and cannot be used to cross borders. For travel you need an Australian passport.
Australian photo cards are also not on the TSA’s list of accepted identification for domestic flights within the United States, though a foreign government-issued passport is accepted.16Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint The same generally applies elsewhere. Carry your passport as your primary ID when travelling abroad, and treat your state photo card as a backup at best.
Penalties for a False Application
Providing false information on a photo card application is a criminal offence. Under NSW’s Photo Card Act 2005, obtaining or attempting to obtain a card through false statements, misrepresentation, or other dishonest means carries a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units, and a card obtained through fraud is automatically void.17NSW Legislation. Photo Card Act 2005 No 20 – Section 20 Other states have comparable provisions under their own legislation.