Proof of identity
To activate a new prepaid mobile service, you will need to give the telco your:
- name
- date of birth
- home address (or business name and address if you’re activating on behalf of a business)
The telco looks (visual check) at your documents or uses a government service such as the Document Verification Service to check your identity.
They may also verify using an existing post-paid or prepaid account or by real time or time delayed financial transaction.
Purchasing a mobile
Under 5 mobile services
To purchase a new prepaid mobile service, you will need to give the telco:
- your name
- your home address (or business name and address if you’re purchasing on behalf of a business)
- how many other prepaid mobile services you have
If you purchased a service by credit or debit card and have 5 or fewer mobile services activated, that's all you need.
If you don't pay by credit card you may need to provide:
- 1 document from category A
- 2 documents from category B
More than 5 mobile services
If you are purchasing or activating a service you will need to show more identification if you have more than 5 prepaid mobile services activated.
You will need to provide:
- 2 documents from category A
- 1 document from category A plus 2 different documents from category B
Identification documents
Examples of Category A
- tertiary education card
- Australian licence or permit
- Australian passport
- Australian concession card
- birth certificate in the customer’s name or with evidence that they have changed their name
- foreign military ID card
- other government document such as a photo card or proof of age card
Examples of Category B
- credit or debit card
- Medicare card
- passbook for a specified financial account
- statement for a post-paid carriage service less than 12 months old
- rates statement less than 12 months old
Your identification must be current (not expired) and show your name and/or address.
By law, the telco has to protect the privacy of your information.