identification for a young person

when evidence is required

Identification evidence is required when we don’t already hold previous confirmation of a young persons identity in our system and they are applying for:

on-going financial assistance (including public housing applications), or
one-off financial assistance.

If identification is already held on ART then you must ask the young person to verbally confirm the details (e.g. Passport number).

If identification is not already held on ART then you cannot ask the young person to verbally confirm the details of their identity document and you will need to upload this to ART, send via email or provide this at their local Work and Income office.

scenario 1

Edward has received a Youth Payment in the past and is applying for a Young Parent Payment as he has had a child in his care. Edward’s identification (driver's licence and NZ passport) is already scanned in ART, you ask Edward to verbally confirm details by asking key identifiers, e.g. driver licence number. This is sufficient and you don’t need to ask for further evidence.

scenario 2

Abby is a new applicant applying for Youth Payment, she doesn’t have any primary identification but does have a tax summary from IR and a bank account statement (2 supporting identification).

Two forms of supporting identification is sufficient evidence to grant Youth Payment; however, Abby must provide these at her Youth Service provider.

Abby will have 35 days to provide 1 form of Primary identification.

acceptable identification evidence

When identification is required a young person must provide:

two forms of primary identification, or
one form of primary identification and one form of supporting identification.

As a last resort where the young person has no primary identification, they can provide two forms of supporting identification and they have 28 days to provide primary identification.

YSSU will add an expiry date on the young person's file of 35 days. This allows extra time if primary identification is not provided for you to follow up with the young person. You must have a conversation with the young person so they understand what is required and by when.

types of identification evidence

Primary identification

Primary identification evidence must show the young person's:

full legal name (minimum of first name and surname)
date of birth.

It must be current, or no more than 2 years expired.

If the young person has received a benefit in the past, but we don’t hold any primary identification on the young person's ART file, then the young person will need to provide evidence of this.

Acceptable primary identification by birthplace

For young people born in New Zealand:

NZ passport
NZ driver licence
NZ firearm licence
NZ Birth certificate (note a Certificate of Date of Birth is not considered Primary ID)
Steps to Freedom release papers
Deportation documents
Temporary NZ passport
NZ Certificate of Identity (DIA) with photo
NZ Certificate of Identity (DIA) without photo

For young people born in Australia:

Full birth certificate
Passport
Confirmation of residency visa or permanent NZ residency

For young people born the Cook Island, Tokelau or Niue:

Full birth certificate
Letter of confirmation
Certificate of Registration, or naturalisation
Certificate of Identity issued by Cook Islands
Certificate of Identity issued by Niue
Certificate of Identity issued by Tokelau

For young people born in another overseas country:

Overseas passport (endorsed with permanent residence in New Zealand)
Certificate of Citizenship or refugee status
Certificate of Identity
Confirmation of permanent residence letter from New Zealand Immigration

Supporting identification

Non-government supporting identification must:

Have the young person's full name
have been issued within the last six months (or a reasonable timeframe).

Acceptable secondary identification

Age Card (Hospitality industry)

Kiwi Access card

Household accounts (with the young person's address)

utility bills
tenancy agreement or documents from suppliers of goods and services such as: hire purchase agreements.

Note: an electronic version of the bill or statement in PDF format, is acceptable as supporting identification.

Government issued documents

marriage certificate
a tax summary
rates notice
car registration form and licenses from another country

Employment related documents

letter from employer
payslips

Health/education documents

student identification card
school report
school leaving certificate
doctors bill
degree
trade certificate

Prominent community members

support letters from people such as: New Zealand Police, Justice of the Peace, doctor, kaumatua, clergyman or Women’s Refuge coordinator.

Note: The person providing the reference must not live at the same address, not be related to the young person and must have known the young person for over 12 months.

Corrections documents

Screen printout from the prison and/or correctional facility known as 'Integrated Offender Management System' (IOMS)

birth certificates as id

We can only accept government-issued birth certificates, if the young person choose to use this form of ID to verify their identity. We can’t accept sovereign citizen birth certificates as they don’t comply with the legislative requirements we need to meet when verifying identity. This is part of our responsibility to keep our young people's identity safe and give support to the right person.

One of the details to check for is that the certificate has a registrar stamp from the Department of Internal Affairs.

ways we can accept identification evidence

Young people who do not have identification scanned on their ART profile or new applications (never received financial assistance) must provide evidence face to face:

at local Work and Income office
to a Youth Service provider.