Verification of Identity

From 28 April 2014 there are strict requirements for verification of identity (VOI) for the execution of conveyancing instruments.

These changes are welcome as they are designed to prevent fraud. In general terms to identify yourself in any conveyancing transaction you will need to go through a process not unlike the way you presently need to identify yourself to open a bank account but a higher level of assurance is required under the VOI legislation.

The good news though is that Verification of Identity once carried out is valid for two years with the same conveyancer but is not transferrable.

The process involves a face-to-face in-person interview at which particular documents are produced to verify the identity or since COVID they can be carried out remotely through an approved third party agent.

Given there are no longer paper titles which need to be produced at settlement the conveyancer is the gateway to prevent fraud and money laundering through the purchase of property under false names. Legally the buck ultimately stops with the conveyancer if they do not carried out the required Verification of Identity checks as mandated by legislation.

Verification of Identity is carried out through a third party provider who has full security to protect your identity with controls such as date stamped security codes and using facial recognition technology.

Clients find the process very easy to use, as long as they have the required identity documents, as no software needs to be downloaded and only a very short video needs to be taken on their mobile phone which can be recorded and uploaded anytime at their convenience.

It is an easy process for Ezy-as well as it can view the Verification of Identity results when it is best available to do so.

the quoted fixed price is reduced by $45.

As long as you have a current drivers licence or government issued photo id card AND either a birth certificate original or certificate copy OR a current passport, which can be from overseas, or one expired less than two years then that will be sufficient.

A medicare card is also helpful to provide proof of permanent residency otherwise whether you are foreign resident needs to be checked and if you are there are stamp duty loadings and Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval requirements to be met.

So three ID documents all up.

In place of a passport a copy of your visa if applicable can be used.

If you do not have those documents then SA Government births,deaths and marriages can issue replacement birth certificates, and proof of age cards and surprisingly quickly.

There is an alternative process which can be used if you can’t produce those identity documents in time for settlement but it is cumbersome and requires someone identifying you and they themselves going through the verification of identity process.

Ezy-as can provide those details on request.