Locating Your Australian Director Id: A Simple Guide

how do I find my australian director id number

If you are a director of an Australian company, you will need a director ID number. The process of obtaining one is relatively simple. First, you will need a myGovID with at least a Standard identity strength. Once you have this, you can log in to the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) online and view your director ID, along with its status and when it was issued. You can also apply for a director ID online if you have the required Australian identity documents.

Characteristics Values
Who needs a Director ID? Directors of companies in Australia
Who doesn't need to provide a Director ID? Directors under the Corporations Act
Who must provide a Director ID by law? Directors under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act
When to provide Director ID? Within 14 days of getting the Director ID
Who to provide the Director ID to? The corporation record-holder or corporations (if a director of more than one)
Who can be the corporation record-holder? Corporation secretary, another director, a contact person or an authorized agent of the corporation
How to apply for a Director ID? Online, by phone or by paper application form
Who can apply for a Director ID? Australian residents living overseas with required Australian identity documents
What if I don't have the required identity documents? Submit certified copies of original documents that verify your identity
What if I don't have a myID? Contact Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS)
What if I can't call or update my details online? Use the paper form – Update your personal details (NAT75330, PDF, 343KB)
What to do once you have your Director ID? View, update and manage your details online anytime

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Applying for a director ID number

If you are a director of a company in Australia, you will need a director ID in most cases. The fastest way to apply for a director ID is online. You must apply for your own director ID.

To apply online, you need a myGovID with at least a Standard identity strength. You can then log in to the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) online and view your director ID, along with its status and when it was issued.

If you don't have a myGovID, there are other ways to apply. If you live in Australia, you can apply by phone. You will be asked questions based on information held about you to verify your identity. You can also apply by submitting a paper application form and certified copies of your original documents that verify your identity. Do not send original documents, as these cannot be returned.

If you are an Australian resident living overseas, you can apply online if you have the required Australian identity documents. You will need to submit a paper application form and certified copies of your documents that verify your identity.

Once you have your director ID, you can view, update and manage your details online at any time.

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Logging in to view your ID

To log in and view your Australian director ID number, you will need a myGovID with at least a Standard identity strength. If you don't have a myGovID, you can set one up with the required identity documents. Once you have a myGovID, you can log in to the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) online and view your director ID, along with its status and when it was issued.

If you have a myGovID with a Strong identity strength, you can access all participating government online services. To set up a Strong myID, you will need to provide one of the following:

  • Bank account details the ATO has on record, most likely where you've received a tax return refund in the last 2 years
  • Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) super fund account details, including the super fund's Australian Business Number (ABN). Note that self-managed super fund details are not accepted.

If you are an Australian resident living overseas, you can apply for a director ID online if you have the required Australian identity documents. You can also apply by submitting a paper application form and certified copies of your documents. However, original documents should not be sent as they cannot be returned.

Once you have your director ID, you can view, update, and manage your details online at any time.

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Updating your details

You need a director identification number (director ID) if you're a director of a company, registered Australian body, registered foreign company or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation. A director ID is a unique identifier given to a director who has verified their identity. This will help to prevent the use of false or fraudulent director identities.

Once you have your director ID, you can view, update and manage your details online at any time. If you have a myID with at least a Standard identity strength, you can log in to the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) online. Once you log in, you can view your director ID or update your details anytime.

If you don’t have a myID, and you want to update your details, you can contact the ABRS. If you can't phone or update your details online, you can use a paper form – Update your personal details (NAT75330, PDF, 343KB).

If your personal details change, you must notify your company within 7 days. Details may include your name, role or address. The person (or people) responsible for keeping your company officeholders' details up-to-date must notify the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) of the change within 28 days to avoid late fees.

If you're a director of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation, you must notify your corporation of any changes to your personal details within 14 days. The corporation must notify the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) of the change within 28 days.

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Compliance obligations

Directors must also comply with taxation and business registry laws, including maintaining Australian Business Number (ABN) contact and associate details on the Australian Business Registry. Directors are required by law to apply for a director identification number (director ID) and must provide this number to their corporation record-holder within 14 days of receiving it. This could be a corporation secretary, another director, a contact person, or an authorised agent of the corporation.

The director ID requirement does not replace existing requirements to keep company records updated. For example, directors must notify their company of changes in address or other details, and the company must notify the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) of any changes for the public record.

Additionally, businesses expanding into new markets must navigate industry-specific regulations, consumer protection laws, licensing requirements, and jurisdictional variations. Failure to comply with these obligations may result in severe penalties, reputational damage, and operational disruptions.

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Director ID requirements

Directors of companies in Australia are required to have a director ID in most instances. The process of applying for and finding your director ID number is relatively simple.

Firstly, you must apply for your own director ID. The fastest way to apply is online. If you are an Australian resident living overseas, you can apply for a director ID online if you have the required Australian identity documents. You will need certified copies of your identity documents. Do not send original documents, as they cannot be returned.

Once you have your director ID, you can view, update and manage your details online at any time. To do this, you will need a myGovID with at least a Standard identity strength. With this myGovID, you can log into the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) online and view your director ID, along with its status and when it was issued.

If you are a director under the Corporations Act, there is no requirement to provide your director ID to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). However, if you are a director under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act, you are required by law to provide your director ID number to your corporation record-holder within 14 days of getting your director ID. This might be your corporation secretary, another director, a contact person, or an authorised agent of the corporation.

Frequently asked questions

You will need a myGovID with at least a Standard identity strength. With this, you can log in to the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) online and view your director ID.

If you don't have a myGovID, you can apply for one with the required Australian identity documents. You can also apply for a director ID by phone or by submitting a paper application form along with certified copies of your identity documents.

The fastest way to apply for a director ID is online.

If you are a director of a corporation under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act) and are unable to provide all the required identity documents, you can use the ABRS director ID Proof of Identity reference form.

No, there is no requirement to provide your director ID to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). However, if you are a director under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act, you must provide your director ID number to your corporation record-holder within 14 days of receiving it.

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