FOI 24/25-1473 DOCUMENT 51

Understand age and residence evidence

SGP KP Publishing

Exported on 2025-04-02 23:34:32

SGP KP Publishing – Understand age and residence evidence

1 Recent updates …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2 Before you start……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3 What documents can be accepted as evidence of age?…………………………………………. 4 What documents can be used to show evidence of residence?……………………………… 5 Next steps ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Table of Contents – 2

SGP KP Publishing – Understand age and residence evidence

This article provides guidance for an access delegate, early childhood partner and local area coordinator to understand:

what documents can be accepted as evidence of age
what documents can be used to show evidence of residence.

SGP KP Publishing – Understand age and residence evidence

1 Recent updates

November 2023

Updates include:

title changed from Providing evidence of age and residency requirements
article referrals to relevant consent articles.

SGP KP Publishing – Understand age and residence evidence

2 Before you start

You have read and understood:

Our Guidelines – Applying to the NDIS, including section How do you apply to the NDIS?
Our Guidelines – Your privacy and information, including section How do we check your identity?.

SGP KP Publishing – Understand age and residence evidence

3 What documents can be accepted as evidence of age?

An applicant or authorised representative on behalf of a person can send us copies of one of the following as evidence of their age:

Full birth certificate. An extract isn’t acceptable
Passport biodata page from a current passport, or one that expired less than two years ago and was not cancelled. Must show the person’s photograph
Proof of age card. Must be issued by state licensing authorities
Current driver’s licence
Adoption papers.

Parents of newborns less than 3 months old can also provide a copy of:

my first health record, also called a blue book in some states, signed by a doctor or midwife.

What if there is no evidence of age?

If there is no evidence of age, you should make reasonable attempts to get the evidence by contacting the applicant and explaining the following options are available:

Consent can be provided to use evidence of identity as evidence of age. Refer to article, Understand how to verify identity documents
Consent can be provided to use Centrelink information as evidence of age. Refer to article, Consent to use Centrelink information
The applicant can provide documentary evidence of age. Refer to article, Understand how to verify identity documents.

If an applicant lives in a remote or very remote area and doesn’t have or has never had documentary evidence:

Confirm the applicant lives in an area that’s classified as Remote or Very Remote. ‘MM6’ or ‘MM7’ under the Modified Monash Model
Make sure that you have explored all the options listed above and confirmed that the applicant doesn’t have any of these documents
Discuss the applicant’s circumstances with your Team Leader to look at the most appropriate alternatives. As a last resort, you may need to ask for a statutory declaration.

SGP KP Publishing – Understand age and residence evidence

4 What documents can be used to show evidence of residence?

Copies of one of the following can be used as evidence for meeting residence requirements:

Full Australian birth certificate. An extract isn’t acceptable. Also note that if the person was born on or after 20 August 1986, they will need additional documents
Australian passport biodata page, the page with photograph on it, from a current passport or a passport that expired within the last 2 years but was not cancelled
Australian citizenship or naturalisation certificate
Permanent resident documentation.
Overseas passport or travel document which includes a valid Australian Permanent Residency Visa or Protected Special Category Visa.

If the evidence doesn’t match the above requirements and the applicant has given a passport, visa grant notification, or ImmiCard, you may be able to verify visa status in the Visa Entitlement Verification Online system (VEVO).

If the applicant holds a Protected Special Category Visa

New Zealand citizens who enter Australia on a New Zealand passport are granted a Special Category Visa also referred to as, TY-444. This is technically a temporary visa, however New Zealand Citizens can live, study and work here indefinitely.

A Special Category Visa holder is protected if they:

were in Australia on 26 February 2001; or
were in Australia for at least 12 months in the 2 years before 26 February 2001 and returned to Australia after that day.

VEVO Visa check online

The applicant must have a valid passport or ImmiCard to obtain a VEVO check.

For NARB to check: the applicant must provide a copy of their passport or ImmiCard and permission to check on their behalf
For the applicant to check: the applicant can give the completed check to NARB. They can complete this check on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Receive an IMMI Grant notification

Copy provided of the Immi Grant notification that was issued at the time of granting the visa
If the person loses the original copy, they must contact the Department of Home Affairs for it to be reissued.

Note: If the applicant doesn’t have evidence to confirm that their Special Category Visa is protected, they will need to contact the Department of Home Affairs.

Complete the check and save the VEVO result in the person’s account. VEVO login details are regularly updated for security purposes. If you are unsure of the VEVO username and password, check with your Team Leader.

If the applicant was born in Australia on or after 20 August 1986

Check that the citizenship status matches one of the following documents:

FOI 24/25-1473

SGP KP Publishing – Understand age and residence evidence

Australian passport issued on or after 1 January 2000 in the applicant’s name, valid for at least 2 years
Australian citizenship certificate
Full Australian birth certificate. An extract isn’t acceptable
Proof of one parent’s Australian citizenship
Full Australian birth certificate from one parent, showing that the parent was born in Australia before 20 August 1986. An extract isn’t acceptable
Australian passport from one parent before the applicant’s birth, valid for at least 2 years and issued on or after 20 August 1986
Australian citizenship certificate from one parent, showing that they were an Australian citizen before the applicant’s birth.

Note: A birth certificate is not sufficient evidence if the person was born on or after 20 August 1986 – additional evidence will be needed.

Also, if the parent was born on or after 20 August 1986, the applicant must show evidence that one grandparent was an Australian citizen before this date.

If the applicant can only give partial evidence such as their own birth certificate without any other documents listed above, discuss their situation with your Team Leader to look at the most appropriate alternatives.

If an applicant lives in a remote or very remote area and doesn’t have, or has never had access to documentary evidence:

Confirm that the applicant resides in an area that is classified as Remote or Very Remote.
Referred to as ‘MM6’ or ‘MM7’ under the Modified Monash Model
Make sure that you have explored all the options listed above and confirmed that the applicant doesn’t have any of these documents
Discuss the applicant’s situation with your Team Leader to look at the most appropriate alternatives. As a last resort, you may need to ask for a statutory declaration.

Australian home address

We can use the person’s home address as evidence of residence if they give consent to use information from their Centrelink record. Alternatively, they can send us copies of relevant documents showing their home address, such as:

Utility bill from within the last 3 months with applicant’s current address
Lease, rental agreement, or contract of house purchase from the current year
Council rates notice from the most recent financial year
Home insurance policy from the current year.

Note that if the person is a minor, these documents will likely be addressed to their parent or guardian.

What documents can be used to show evidence of residence? – 8

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SGP KP Publishing – Understand age and residence evidence

5 Next steps

For more information about applying to the NDIS refer to article How to apply for the NDIS in PACE.

Next steps – 9

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