Verification of Identity Vic
Any document lodged with Land Victoria is now subject to a Verification of Identity Vic (VOI) requirement.
The client’s representative must verify they are a legal person and have the right to enter into conveyancing transactions. The same procedure must also be followed before the representative hands the original title to a client or their agent.
The VOI expires in two years and is applicable for an unlimited number of transactions.
The VOI documentation must be kept on file for seven years by the client’s representative and is not lodged with Land Victoria.
The Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) has produced a Verification of Identity (VOI) Checklist to assist practitioners in conducting VOI in accordance with the standards.
For properties owned by more than one client, VOI is required for all owners.
The procedure is as follows:
Face to face meeting
The client must produce the following documents to their representative:
- Australian or foreign passport, current or expired less than two years ago; and
- Australian drivers licence.
If the client is unable to produce a passport, the following documents are required:
- Australian drivers licence; and
- Full birth certificate or citizenship certificate; and
- Medicare, Centrelink or Veteran’s Affairs card.
If the client is unable to produce a driver’s licence the following documents are required:
- Australian or foreign passport, current or expired less than two years ago; and
- Full birth certificate or citizenship certificate; and
- Medicare, Centrelink or Veteran’s Affairs card.
Other verification options are available and are set out in Schedule 1 of the Registrar’s requirements for paper conveyancing transactions.
Approved identity verifier
If the client is unable to attend a face-to-face meeting with their representative, it is possible for the meeting to be held with an approved identity verifier. Australia Post provides a VOI service for $39.00.
