New South Wales is moving ahead with its next phase of government-run Digital ID services, expanding the use of document checks and selfie-based facial matching through Service NSW to verify residents online.
The updated verification flow allows people to confirm their identity remotely by submitting key identity documents and capturing a live selfie that is matched against official records.
The approach mirrors the document-plus-biometric verification stacks commonly deployed across banks, telecommunications providers and other high-assurance sectors.
The state is also building out a reusable credential ecosystem. A staged digital photo card rollout — piloted in late 2025 — sits at the centre of NSW’s long-term digital identity roadmap, enabling residents to use a single verified credential across multiple government services.
NSW’s model represents a public-sector adaptation of commercial identity proofing: validating documents, confirming biometric likeness, and issuing a persistent credential that can streamline future interactions.
While reusable IDs can reduce friction, their success hinges on clear assurance levels, strong exception pathways and strict safeguards for biometric data handling.
Eligibility for the Digital ID program has expanded steadily, now including photo card holders and widening the credential’s everyday utility.
The state’s work continues against a national backdrop of major reform. Federally, the government has rebranded myGovID as myID and enacted the Digital ID Act 2024, creating a legislated framework for secure online identity services across Australia.
As NSW advances its multi-year build-out, key questions remain around technical design, assurance classifications and interoperability with federal and private-sector systems — factors that will determine the scale and commercial opportunities of Australia’s evolving digital identity ecosystem.
