Guide to applying for a Director Identification Number

New standards for Directors

 From November 2021, there are new guidelines, company directors will need to apply for a director ID. This involves verifying their identity and applying for a director ID. A director ID is a unique 15-digit number that a director will apply for once and keep forever.

This will apply to directors, or alternate directors, if their organisation is one of the following:

• Company
• Registered foreign company
• Registered Australian body
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation
• Charity or not-for-profit organisation that is a company or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation

When do you need to apply?

How to Apply? 

All directors must apply for their Director ID themselves as they will need to verify their identity. There are 3 ways you can apply:

• By myGovID (preferred option)
• By phone
• By paper form

Applying via myGovID

Step 1 • Set up myGovID

 If you don’t already have the myGovID app, you can download it on most smart devices. The app is compatible with most smart devices and is only available from the Apple App store or Google Play.

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As it’s your personal digital identity you should use a personal email address not a work or shared email address. You will need to enter your full name (the same as on your identity documents) and your date of birth. You will need a standard or strong identity strength myGovID for your director ID online.

A Standard Identity Strength

A standard identity strength allows access to most participating government online services. You will need to enter your personal details and verify at least two of the following Australian Documents (your name must match on both).

• Driver’s licence or learner’s permit
• Passport (not more than three years expired)
• Birth certificate
• Visa (using your foreign passport)
• Citizenship certificate
• ImmiCard
• Medicare card

A Strong Identity Strength 

A strong identity strength allows access to all government online services. You will need to enter your personal details and verify the following Australian identity documents (your name must match on both).

• Passport (not more than three years expired)
• One of the following: Birth Certificate

Citizenship Certificate

Driver’s licence (including learner’s permit) Medicare card

Verify your photo – you also need to complete a face verification check. This is a one-off scan that checks that you’re a real person, the right person and it is verified in real-time. This verification check is compared to the photograph on your passport.

If your name doesn’t match across your identity documents, you may be able to verify this using

a change of name certificate (Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory only) or marriage certificate.

Step 2 • Gather your documents

 You will need to have some information the ATO knows about you when you apply for your director ID:

• Your tax file number (TFN)
• Your residential address as held by the ATO
• Information from two documents to verify your identity
• Examples of the documents you can use are:

Step 3 • Complete your application

Once you have a standard or strong identity strength myGovID and you have your documents you can apply for your director ID. The application process should take about 10 minutes.

Applying online

You will require a personal mobile phone to complete the Online Application

• Go ABRS website – Director identification number page: abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number
• Apply now
• Go to Step 3 – Complete your application and click on:
  • Enter the same email address you used to set your myGovID You will then need to login to your myGovID app to receive a code to enter. Enter the code and you will be able to apply for your director ID.

Applying via phone

If you can’t apply via the myGovID app, you can apply by phone 13 62 50 (in Australia) or +61 2 6216 3440 (from overseas) if you have:

• An Australian tax file number (TFN)
• The information to verify your identity (see above)

To establish and verify your identity, you will be asked questions based on your tax or superannuation information, including information from third parties and other government departments.

This may include details from ATO letters or notices that have been issued to you, details from a tax return, or other information that will help verify your identity.

You may also need to provide details from identity documents, such as your driver’s licence, Medicare card or passport, and to consent to ABRS checking those documents with the issuing authority.

Applying via paper form

If you can’t apply online or over the phone, you can apply using a paper form. This is a slower process, and you will also need to provide certified copies of your documents to verify your identity.

The paper form can be downloaded from this link – Application for a director identification number (NAT75329, PDF, 306KB) or access on the web using these instructions:

• Go to ABRS website – Director identification number page: abrs.gov.au/director-identification- number
• Apply now
• Scroll to the bottom to the section How to apply if you cannot get a myGovID
• Apply with a paper form

Once you have your Director ID

Once you receive your director ID, you will need to:

• Keep a record of it — we recommend either printing or electronically saving a copy as you will not receive a notice from ABRS
• Notify us of your Director ID so we can update our

If you require any assistance with obtaining your Director ID, please contact our office on 0749276888.