Proof of Identity (POI)

Proof of Identity (POI) is required under the BoatCode system before an applicant can register or transfer a boat with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure (DPI). Applicants must show POI to verify their name and signature.

Companies, businesses and unincorporated organisations have special POI requirements.

• How to establish proof of identity
• Acceptable full POI documents
• Acceptable primary POI documents
• Acceptable secondary POI documents
• Company or business POI
• Associations, charities and trusts
• Who can verify POI documents?

How to establish proof of identity

To satisfy the POI requirements, applicants must provide either:

• one full POI document; or

• at least one primary plus one secondary POI document.

Applicants must provide original documents or verified copies. At least one document must show the applicant's signature.

Acceptable full POI documents (no other proof required)

• photographic driver's licence issued within Australia;

• Australian passport;

• document of identity issued by the Passport Office;

• Australian Defence Force photographic identity card;

• Federal or Western Australian police officer photographic identity card;

• Police warrant card;

• Proof of age card issued by DPI;

• Marine certificate of competency carrying a photograph of the holder; and

• Western Australian photographic (security) licence issued by or cleared with the Western Australian Police Service.

If a full proof of identity document is not available, then at least one primary and one secondary form of identification will be required.

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Acceptable primary POI documents

Applicants can prove their identity with at least one of the following primary documents plus one secondary document:

• a current non photographic drivers license issued within Australia;

• photographic driver's licence issued within Australia which may have expired within the last two years;

• full birth certificate, or an extract of the birth certificate (must be a certified copy from issuing body);

• Australian Naturalisation or Citizenship document, Immigration Papers issued by the Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs or documents issued by a passport office;

• foreign passport or foreign document of identity that is current or may have expired within the last two years;

• Certificate of Aboriginality issued by an organisation (eg. Land Council) recognised by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission;

• Consular Photographic Identity Card issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade;

• Western Australian Firearm Licence; and

• security licence which may have expired within the last two years.

Acceptable secondary POI documents

Applicants can prove their identity with at least one of the following secondary documents plus one primary document:

• current Medicare card, Pensioner's Concession card, Department of Veterans Affairs Entitlement card, or any other current entitlement card issued by a Commonwealth Government Department or Authority;

• current credit card or account card, passbook or account statement not more than 12 months old;

• telephone, gas or electricity bill not more than 12 months old;

• water rates, council rates or land valuation notice not more than two years old;

• electoral enrolment card or other evidence of enrolment not more than two years old;

• armed services discharge papers not more than two years old; and

• current student identity card, certificate or statement of enrolment not more than two years old from an educational institution.

Company or business POI

An organisation or business shows POI by providing evidence of its legal status. A company or business must provide an Australian Business Number (ABN).

The documents, when submitted, must be:

• Signed by a designated office bearer of the company, business or organisation with evidence to substantiate this position; and

• the office bearer must also provide POI.

Associations, charities and trusts

Associations, Charities and Trusts are to be treated in the same way as a company or business.

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POI exempt organisations

The following organisations do not need to provide POI although their ABN should be quoted:

• government agencies or departments;

• statutory authorities;

• credit unions, banks, building societies;

• public hospitals;

• park and cemetery trusts;

• universities;

• city, town, municipal and shire councils;

• volunteer rescue organisations; and

• finance or insurance organisations with the word "mutual" or any organisation with the word "corporation" in their name.

Instead of providing POI, these organisations must provide a letter written on the organisation's letterhead paper, or evidence of the organisation's legal status.

Who can verify POI documents?

The following are acceptable notaries for witnessing POI documents:

• any Licensing Officer of DPI or Agent performing the licensing role;

• a Justice of the Peace;

• any Western Australian Police Officer (rank and station stamp must appear on the document);

• any BoatCode Provider (for the purpose of affixing and validating a HIN).

Applicants, who are unable to attend a DPI office, may lodge an application by mail, provided that POI has been sighted and verified by one of the above notaries. The application must include the following details:

• document title and number;

• notary's name;

• title;

• contact details;

• signature; and

• date.

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