Completing your identity check

Moving to a new country can be a long process. To make things easier, we give you up to 12 months to complete the identification requirements once you’ve opened an account.

Remember, your account can only accept deposits until you have been identified. Once you’ve been identified, you’ll have access to transact on your account, even if you are still overseas.

There are 2 ways to complete your identity check, depending on when you need to have full access to your accounts.

1. Before you arrive

Visit one of our the Westpac offshore offices or an approved certifier such as a foreign bank, an Australian consular officer or an Australian diplomatic officer.

You can complete an overseas identity check by:

• Downloading the following form Certified Copy Certificate (PDF 525kb)
• Present the form to an approved certifier (refer to the Certified Copy Certificate for a list of certifiers) or an offshore Westpac representative
• Your certifier or offshore Westpac representative will identify you by examining your passport, birth certificate or national identity card* plus another document that displays your residential address such as a driver's licence and complete the certifiers section of the Certified Copy Certificate.
• You will need to complete and sign Part A of the form in the presence of the certifier
• Send the original copy of the completed form and the certified copies of the identification documents to the Australian Westpac Branch you selected when you opened your account.

* Your national identity card, issued by a foreign government, the United Nations or an agency of the United Nations, must contain your photograph and signature.

For assistance with identifying yourself offshore, please contact us.

2. After you arrive

Visit any Westpac branch in Australia within 12 months of your application.

If you do this within 6 weeks of arriving in Australia, all you’ll need to show is your passport and Australian address. Any longer than 6 weeks, and you’ll need to provide at least 2 forms of identification such as a passport, driver’s licence or birth certificate.

If you don't complete the identity check

If the identity check isn't completed within 365 days of your account application, the account will be closed. Note: any credit balance will be held by us pending identification of the account holder(s) and confirmation of their payment instructions.