Three questions, one path
Answer three questions and the guide shows which of the four Director ID paths applies to you, a checklist you can tick off (saved only in your browser) and, if you enter an appointment date, the latest sensible date to post a paper application.
| Your situation | How you apply | Official reference |
|---|---|---|
| You already have a Director ID | Nothing to do. You keep one ID for life | ABRS Director ID scenarios |
| You have 2 Australian identity documents | Online with myID (Standard strength or higher) | ABRS: apply for your director ID |
| You live in Australia without myID | By phone, or paper form NAT 75437 | ABRS: apply for your director ID |
| You live outside Australia without myID | Paper form NAT 75433 with certified copies | NAT 75433; ABRS: verify your identity |
The paper path in detail
Overseas directors without Australian identity documents use form NAT 75433. You need either two primary documents, or one primary and one secondary:
- Primary: foreign passport, foreign birth certificate, Australian passport (including one expired within the last 3 years), Australian full birth certificate.
- Secondary: national photo identification card, foreign government identification, driver's licence (front and back, with an address matching your form), marriage certificate (unless you are using it to show a change of name).
Copies must be certified by a notary public or by staff at an Australian embassy, high commission or consulate, or carry an apostille. The certifier sights the original and the copy together, signs and dates each copy, adds their name, phone number and qualification, and initials every page. Documents not in English need a certified English translation as well as a certified copy of the original.
Post the signed original form and the certified copies to Australian Business Registry Services, Locked Bag 6000, ALBURY NSW 2640, AUSTRALIA. ABRS does not return documents, so never send originals. Electronic signatures are not accepted.
Timing
You must hold your Director ID before you are appointed, and you can apply up to 12 months ahead. ABRS says paper applications may take up to 56 business days. If you will not make it, an extension of time application (NAT 75390) is available; directors outside Australia must post it, and it should be lodged before the Director ID application.
We don't apply for Director IDs; the law requires each director to apply personally. We check every director's ID before appointment and plan the company registration around it. See the setup timeline for the whole sequence, or start onboarding once your directors have applied.
Frequently asked questions
Do overseas directors of an Australian company need a Director ID?
Yes. Every director of a company registered under the Corporations Act needs one, wherever they live. A company secretary who is not a director does not.
How long does a paper Director ID application take?
ABRS says a paper application may take up to 56 business days to process. Add time for certifying documents and for international post to Albury.
Can our lawyer or accountant apply for the Director ID for us?
No. Each director must apply personally. An agent or lawyer can help check eligibility and prepare documents, but cannot apply on the director's behalf.
Who can certify identity documents outside Australia?
A notary public, or staff at an Australian embassy, high commission or consulate. In Hague Apostille Convention countries you can also use an apostille from the competent authority.
Can I apply before I am appointed?
Yes, and you must. You can apply up to 12 months before your appointment, and you must hold the Director ID before you are appointed.
Official sources
- ABRS: apply for your director ID abrs.gov.au
- ABRS: verify your identity (certified copies, translations) abrs.gov.au
- ABRS: Application for a director ID for people living outside Australia (NAT 75433) abrs.gov.au
- ABRS: Director ID scenarios abrs.gov.au
- ABRS: who needs to apply and when abrs.gov.au
Checked against these sources on . Fees, thresholds and forms change: confirm with the source before you lodge.
General information about Australian law and practice, not legal or tax advice for your circumstances. Check the official sources, or ask your adviser, before you act.