Apply for a Director ID Number with Ease

Director ID Application Services in Australia

We offer Director ID Application services to local and foreign companies in Australia in need of professional assistance with completing their Director ID requirements.

The application process and specific requirements for successfully obtaining a Director ID number/s will vary depending on the nationality of the director/s. You need to have at least one resident director in Australia, and they should have appropriate documents for identity checks from the government. If you are not able to appoint an Australian resident director, we are here to help you.

Our Director ID Application Services

Initial assessment for the specific requirements to submit for application
Compile and verify identification documents
Step-by-step professional assistance during the application process
Assistance with managing/updating the director’s details on record with the government

What is a Director ID in Australia?

A Director Identification Number (Director ID) is a 15-digit identifier granted to a director (or a person who intends to become one) who has verified their identity with the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS).

It is primarily used for confirming the identity and relevant details of a company’s directors when doing business in Australia to prevent the use of identity fraud to commit fraudulent transactions or illegal activities.

Who Needs to Apply for a Director ID?

Individuals who have been appointed as “eligible officers” to fulfil the roles of either: 1) director; or 2) alternate director acting in the same capacity are mandated by law to apply for a director ID.

Furthermore, the following business entities need their eligible officers to apply for a director ID:

a company, registered Australian body, or registered foreign company under the Commonwealth Corporations Act 2001 (or Corporations Act)
an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (or CATSI Act)
foreign company registered with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) and carrying out business activities in Australia
registered Australian body (e.g., an incorporated association registered with ASIC and trades outside the state/territory of incorporation)

Only one Director ID number will be issued to an eligible officer even if they become directors of other companies in Australia.

Who Doesn’t Need to Apply for a Director ID?

Individuals included in this list need not apply for a Director ID:

a company secretary but not a director
acting as external administrator of a company
running a business as a sole trader or partnership
referred to as a “director” in the job title but have not been officially appointed as such under the Corporations Act or the CATSI Act

When to Apply for a Director ID

The application period is determined by the date a director was appointed and under which Act, which are as follows:

if appointed before 1 November 2021, must apply for Director ID by 30 November 2022;
if appointed for the first time between 1 November to 4 April 2022, must apply within 28 days from appointment date (as registered with ASIC); or
if appointed after 5 April 2022, must apply for a Director ID prior to appointment.

How to Apply for a Director ID in Australia

Directors can apply for a Director ID through any of the following:

online through the myGovID and by visiting the ABRS website to link myGovID account;
by telephone with the ABRS; or
by lodging a paper form.

Directors who have all the necessary requirements ready can apply either online or by telephone. Please note that the specific requirements and application process will be different for resident directors and foreign directors.

Application for Directors Residing in Australia

Applying online is the easiest route for directors living in Australia. To apply online, directors must set up a myGovID account and submit the following documents to ABRS:

their individual Tax File Number (TFN)
residential address matching the records with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
information from two (2) documents to verify their identity, which could be any of the following:
- bank account details
- an ATO notice of assessment
- super account details
- a dividend statement
- a Centrelink payment summary
- a PAYG payment summary (not similar to income statement or PAYG instalment activity statement)

Application for Foreign Directors

Generally, more documents are required for foreign directors to submit compared to resident directors owing to identification documents being presented in a foreign language and/or issued by a foreign government. ABRS will only accept applications from foreign directors who have provided certified English translations and notarisation for their documents. Please do not send original documents because they will not be returned.

Unlike resident directors, foreign directors must go through the paper form application process to obtain a Director ID number. They must provide certified copies of their identification documents (i.e., primary and secondary documents). These documents must be certified by a Notary Public or though the Australian Consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. No other alternatives are possible.

Primary documents

foreign birth certificate
foreign passport

Secondary documents

national photo identification card
foreign government identification
driver’s licence (should match the address details in the application)
marriage certificate (if used to verify change of name, this cannot be used as a secondary document)

For change of names, the following must be submitted as supporting documents

marriage certificate
deed poll
change of name certificate

After documents are submitted to the government for the application, the process can take up to 6 weeks (taking into account the government’s processing time and postage time).

If you want to expedite the incorporation process of your new company in Australia, these requirements must be compiled, certified, and notarised before lodging your application for company incorporation.