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The Digital ID Act commenced on 1 December 2024,  please read our article on what's changing for more information.

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The Australian Government wants to expand the voluntary use of Digital ID to bring whole of economy benefits  

For individuals this would mean being able to use Digital ID to verify your ID in more places, if you choose.  

For businesses this would mean being able to use Digital ID as one way to verify your customers.  

Australia’s Digital ID System will deliver this through the:

  • voluntary Accreditation Scheme for Digital ID service providers  
  • Australian Government Digital ID System

Download this page as a factsheet: Expanding the government system (PDF 116KB)

How we will expand the Australian Government Digital ID System

We’re rolling out the Australian Government Digital ID System in four phases.

The phases may overlap. Timing of each phase will be informed by consultation and maturity of support services. This includes capacity of call centres to accommodate larger call volumes.  

Before a new phase commences there may also be pilots involving a small number of organisations.

Phase 1  

We’ve started by rolling out myID to some government services.

The Australian Government’s Digital ID app is myID (formerly myGovID). It is already used by millions of Australians through the Australian Government Digital ID System.

Right now, more than 185 government services have the option available to login with a myID. We will continue to connect more government services.  

We will also commence legislation on 1 December 2024 to:  

  • strengthen the existing voluntary Digital ID Accreditation Scheme  
  • provide legislative authority for the Australian Government Digital ID System to expand  
  • strengthen privacy and consumer protections
  • strengthen governance for Digital ID.

Phase 2

From 1 December 2024: Accredited state and territory Digital ID providers can apply to the Digital ID Regulator to join the Australian Government Digital ID System. This will provide more choice of which Digital IDs you can use to access Commonwealth, state and territory services. Commonwealth, state and territory services can continue to apply to the Digital ID Regulator to join as a relying service.  

Phase 3  

By December 2026: Private sector services can apply to the Digital ID Regulator to join the Australian Government Digital ID System to verify their users and customers. For example, this means you could use your myID to:

  • open a new bank account with an Australian bank
  • apply for a new phone contract  
  • apply for a real estate lease.

Phase 4

By December 2026: Accredited private sector providers, attribute providers and exchange providers can apply to the Digital ID Regulator to join the Australian Government Digital ID System. This will provide more choice of which Digital ID provider you can use to access Commonwealth services.

Accreditation  

Accreditation of private sector Digital ID providers, attribute providers and exchange providers will continue throughout all phases. This will help expand the use of secure Digital IDs by businesses across the economy.