Director identification number – English

What is a director ID?

A director ID is a 15-digit personal reference number. It is given to a director or someone planning to become a director after they have verified their identity with us.

You must apply for your own director ID. You will only need to apply once. You keep your director ID forever, even if you:

• change companies
• change your name
• move interstate or overseas.

Director IDs will help prevent the use of false or fraudulent director identities.

Who needs to apply and when?

You need a director ID if you are a director, or will become a director of:

• a company, a registered Australian body, or a registered foreign company under the Corporations Act 2001 (Corporations Act)
• an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act).

Corporate trustees of self-managed super funds must also apply for a director ID.

To find out more about who needs to apply, see Who needs a director ID (in English).

You must apply for your director ID now if you:

• are already a director
• plan to become a director in the next 12 months.

If you need additional time to apply for your director ID, you need to complete an Application for an extension of time to apply for a director ID (NAT 75390, PDF 271KB) (in English). If you have issues completing the form, contact us (in English) for assistance.

How to apply for your director ID

You must apply for your own director ID so you can verify your identity. No one can apply for you.

It's free to apply.

If you have Australian ID documents, the fastest way to receive your director ID is to apply online by following the steps below.

Step 1 – Set up a Digital ID

You will need a Digital ID, such as myID with at least a Standard identity strength.

If you live in Australia and:

• already have a myID, go to step 2
• don’t have a myID, you will need to set one up. Find out how at How to set up myID (in English)
• can only get a myID with a Basic identity strength, you can apply for your director ID by phone or with a paper form. To find out more visit, Apply for your director ID (in English).

Step 2 – Get your identity documents ready

We will ask you questions so we can verify your identity and link your Digital ID to your Australian Taxation Office (ATO) record.

When you apply, you will need:

• your tax file number (TFN)
• your residential address as recorded by the ATO
• information from 2 documents to verify your identity.

Visit Verify your identity (in English) to find out about:

• examples of the documents you can use to verify your identity
• information you will need to provide from those documents
• identity documents you will need to provide certified copies of if you are applying using the paper form.

Step 3 – Complete your application

If you have your Digital ID and your ID documents, log in to ABRS online using the button below.

The application (in English) should take you less than 5 minutes to complete. You will instantly receive your director ID on screen when the application is finished.

Apply now with Digital ID (in English).

When you log in, you will receive a 4-digit code that you need to enter in to your myID app.

When you complete your application, your director ID will display on your screen.

Other options for directors living in Australia

Apply by phone

If you currently live in Australia and can't apply online, phone us (in English) to apply for a director ID.

When you apply by phone, you’ll be asked to verify your identity. We will ask you questions based on information we have about you, including information from third parties and other government departments. For more information, see Establish your identity (in English). 

Apply with a paper form

If you can’t apply online or by phone, you can use a paper application form – Application for a director identification number – for people living in Australia (NAT 75437, PDF 230KB) (in English)..

If you have issues completing the form or need support, contact us (in English).

Directors living outside Australia

If you live outside Australia and can only get a myID with a Basic identity strength, you will need to complete an Application for a director identification number (NAT 75433, PDF 651KB) (in English).

You will need to provide certified copies of your identity documents. For more information, see Verify your identity (in English).

How to check if you’ve been appointed a director without your consent

If you think you’ve been appointed as a director of a company without your consent, you can lodge an ASIC online enquiry (in English).

1. Select the following options from the drop-down menus on the screen:
   1. My question is about – Company.
   2. I would like to know how to – Director ID.
2. Click Submit.

When you fill in the online form, you’ll need to provide: 

• the Australian Company Number 
• the company name 
• information that explains that you did not provide your consent to become a director of that entity.

What to do with your director ID

Once you have received your director ID, keep it safe until you need to use it. 

Contact us

Phone us

You can phone us between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm Monday to Friday.

• If you are in Australia, phone 13 62 50.
• If you are overseas, phone +61 2 6216 3440.
• Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) – You can speak to us in your preferred language by phoning TIS National on 13 14 50 between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm Monday to Friday. If you are calling from overseas, phone +61 3 9268 8332. The service will then call us with an interpreter, so we can help with your query.
• Call-back line – If we contact you by letter, email or phone, we may provide our call-back number and a PIN. Phone the number then, when asked, enter the PIN we gave you. This will make sure you’re connected with the right customer service representative.
  • Call-back number within Australia 1300 306 275.
  • Call-back number outside Australia +61 2 6216 3442 and ask to be connected to 1300 306 275.

Questions we may ask you

Before we can discuss your details or update your records, we must verify your identity.

We will ask you questions based on your tax or superannuation information, including information from third parties and other government departments.

This may include details from ATO letters or notices that have been issued to you, details from a tax return, or other information that will help us verify your identity.

Write to us

You can write to us at:

Australian Business Registry Services
Locked Bag 6000
ALBURY NSW 2640
Australia