Using overseas documents in Australia: passports, birth certificates and ID

When dealing with processes in Australia — from opening a bank account or registering for Medicare, to applying for a job or completing administrative paperwork — you usually need to provide identity documents. For newcomers, or anyone who does not yet have enough Australian documents, a common question is: will my overseas documents be accepted, and in what form?

Your overseas passport

A valid passport is the most widely accepted identity document in Australia. Most agencies, banks and organisations will accept a valid foreign passport when verifying your identity.

An expired passport is usually not accepted as proof of current identity — even though you are still the same person. If your passport is close to expiring, prioritise renewing it early to avoid disruption when you need to complete a process.

You can usually renew an overseas passport through your country’s immigration department or through your country’s embassy or consulate in Australia. Many countries operate consular services in Australia’s major cities for this purpose.

Your overseas birth certificate

A birth certificate is an original document proving identity and date of birth. However, because it is in another language, you usually need a certified translation into English to use it in Australia.

A few points to note:

• Not every agency requires a certified translation — sometimes they only need to see the original together with an unofficial translation. But for important processes (visas, court, registering your child’s birth in Australia), a NAATI translation is the standard.
• If your birth certificate is lost or damaged, you will need to contact the relevant authority in the issuing country to apply for a replacement.

An overseas driver licence

An overseas driver licence does not allow you to drive in Australia long-term — there is a time limit on how long you can use it, depending on the state and your residency status. If you settle permanently, you need to convert it to an Australian driver licence.

To convert your licence, you usually need a certified translation of the original licence. The state where you live sets the specific conditions and process for converting a licence.

Other civil registry documents

Marriage certificates, divorce certificates and death certificates from overseas may be required in many processes in Australia (family visas, inheritance, insurance, and so on). They all need a certified translation, and depending on the case may also need an apostille.

If your documents are old, you may need to contact the issuing authority to confirm they are still valid before submitting them to an Australian agency.

Looking after original documents

Keep originals somewhere safe — a locked cabinet, a safe, or store high-quality scans with a secure cloud storage service. Having to apply for a replacement of an original document from overseas takes time and is not always easy.

Note: The rules on which documents are accepted differ depending on the agency and the purpose. This article is general information — always confirm directly with the organisation asking for the document to know exactly what they need.