There will be changes to the Verification of Identity (VOI) process for Self-Represented Parties, coming into effect in early February 2025.
Landgate will continue to work with Australia Post to support Self-Represented Parties with their VOI requirements under this revised process, which will see several key changes come into effect:
- A new form will need to be completed prior to attending Australia Post to request the Verification of Identity.
- Instead of Australia Post issuing a Verification of Identity Statement to the identified person, a statutory declaration will need to be made by each identified self-represented person for each document in a land transaction.
The new form and further information will be made available by Landgate closer to February 2025.
How to verify your identity
Our VOI practice is designed to reduce the opportunity for successful land title fraud as a result of identity theft or other improper dealings. It sets out to achieve this by requesting verification of the identity of a person transacting and their authority to deal with an interest in land. This verification is required for nominated electronic and paper based transactions.
For further information regarding paper based transactions please refer to:
For further information regarding electronic transactions please refer to: VOI-04 Verification of Identity and Authority - Electronic Transactions
As part of our commitment to VOI best practice, we have provided responses to frequently asked questions below. For all further enquiries, please contact us on 9273 7373 or email customerservice@landgate.wa.gov.au.
Frequently asked questions
These FAQs are intended to act as a general guide and not as legal advice. They are provided in good faith and believed to be accurate at the time of publication. They are provided on the basis that you will be responsible for making your own assessment of the contents and that they are appropriate for your particular circumstances. If you have any issues of a legal nature, you should consider seeking the advice of an independent legal practitioner who is experienced in property matters.
The Registrar and Commissioner believe the VOI standard is more robust than existing standards because:
- The identity document production involves photographic identity documents and a face-to-face meeting.
- It reduces reliance on identity documents without photographs, and reduces reliance upon documents that are easily obtained or issued, such as utility bills. The standard is aligned to the national electronic conveyancing requirements.
Because the Verification of Identity and Authority practice covers a person's right to perform the transaction on each property, a statement for each property and transaction is required.
Landgate forms are being rationalised and simplified in anticipation of the widespread adoption of electronic conveyancing. Including VOI statements for both buyers and sellers in transfer documents would make the forms unnecessarily complex.
Represented Parties: Where a person is represented by the same conveyancer/lawyer on a continuous or ongoing basis with respect to the sale and purchase of real property in Western Australia, the lodgement of caveats and withdrawal of caveats, Verification of Identity is required on the first and second document but not on any subsequent documents within the next two (2) years. After the expiry of the two (2) years the Verification of Identity should be repeated.
Self-represented Parties: A VOI statement provided by Australia Post (previously issued by Landgate) is valid for 2 years for the property and transaction specified, being a person has 2 years to use the statement. Once the VOI statement has been used, subsequent transactions on the same or different properties will require a new VOI statement (person/s will need to be identified again). Note: It is the statement that is valid for 2 years not the identification.
The Applicant will receive one (1) VOI statement from Australia Post for each parcel of land specified on their application form. Australia Post will post your statements to you based on the address specified in your application form. Australia Post will not send your statements directly to Landgate. For more information on Verification of Identity by Australia Post please visit their website at Identity checks for self-represented parties in WA
Yes. People dealing in land in the Indian Ocean Territories (Cocos and Christmas Islands) are required to comply with the Verification of Identity practice.
No. A conveyancer/lawyer cannot provide a standalone service of Verification of Identity in a property transaction.