VOI-02 Western Australian Registrar and Commissioner of Titles Joint Practice: Verification of Identity and Authority for Self-Represented Parties. Paper Based Transactions

1. Overview

The Verification of Identity Practice (the Practice), issued jointly by the Western Australian Registrar of Titles and Commissioner of Titles sets out the minimum standard of verification of identity for registered proprietors and others who sign a range of real property paper documents that are to be lodged with Landgate. 

The Practice is intended to reduce and better manage fraud risk with the aim of strengthening the integrity of the Western Australian Torrens land title system for the benefit of all users of that system. It is also intended to reduce the risk of successful claims for compensation against industry participants, and against the State under the Transfer of Land Act 1893 (TLA).

The Practice outlines the requirements for conducting a verification identity for a paper-based transaction. This Practice is comprised of the following Guides: 

• VOI-01 Western Australian Registrar and Commissioner of Titles Joint Practice: Verification of Identity and Authority. Paper Based Transactions 

• VOI-02 Western Australian Registrar and Commissioner of Titles Joint Practice: Verification of Identity and Authority for Self-Represented Parties. Paper Based Transactions (this document)

• VOI-03 Western Australian Registrar and Commissioner of Titles Joint Practice: Verification of Identity and Authority. Paper Based Transactions - Foreign Countries 
• VOI-04 Verification of Identity and Authority - Electronic Transactions

1.1. What does Self-Represented Mean?

If a person does not have a solicitor or licensed settlement agent acting on their behalf, they are referred to as a "self-represented" party.

Not all people are eligible to be self-represented. Where a person decides to be self-represented, they may only deal on land or interests in land in their name and not subject to a trust, nor in the name of a company.³

³Paragraph amended 06/06/2026

Parties to land transactions should consider engaging the services of an industry professional to act on their behalf.   

1.2. Verification of Identity – Inside Australia

Self-represented parties must be identified by an Identifier who is authorised by the Registrar of Titles. Australia Post has been authorised by the Registrar of Titles to conduct verification of identity of self-represented parties in accordance with this Practice. Identity verification can be conducted at a participating Australia Post outlet. Australia Post charges $49.00. 

All natural persons signing the land transaction document must be identified - this includes any person signing as an attorney or in any other capacity (e.g. as an Executor or Administrator of a deceased estate).

1.3. Verification of Identity - Outside Australia

 A person who is outside Australia cannot be self-represented.

For more information on the Verification of Identity Practice in a foreign country for both electronic or paper transactions please refer to VOI-03 Western Australian Registrar and Commissioner of Titles Joint Practice: Verification of Identity and Authority. Paper Based Transactions – Foreign Countries.

1.4. Verification of Identity Process Summary⁴

There are two main steps –

1. having your identity verified at Australia Post and
2. completing a “SRP VOI Statutory Declaration” that must be lodged with your documents at Landgate.

Step 1

To complete a self-represented verification of identity at Australia Post, you will need:

• Form: "Land Title Verification of Identity Form – Self-Represented Party (Western Australia)" see Section 3.1 and link to form, SRP VOI Statutory Declaration
• Relevant identification documents as per Page 1 on Form 1 and
• Service fees payable to Australia Post, see Section 3.1.

When the self-represented person attends Australia Post to have their identity verified, on completion of the VOI process and payment of the service fee, Australia Post will issue a receipt which must be retained. Click here for sample receipt.

The Australia Post receipt contains a unique TSP Reference number which must be stated in your SRP VOI Statutory Declaration.

Step 2

Completing the SRP VOI Statutory Declaration:

• Form: “SRP VOI Statutory Declaration” – see section 3.3 below and link to statutory declaration and Example declarations.

To complete the Self-Represented party Statutory Declaration:

⁴Section updated 06/08/2026

2. Identity Document Production Standard

The person who is being identified should produce to the person who performs the identification (the Identifier), all the current and original identity documents specified in the highest category possible detailed at Table 1 below.

The highest category are those documents in category 1, with the lowest standard being category 5.

Category 6 is for foreign nationals who cannot meet the requirements of category 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Table 1 – Categories of Identification Documents

The documents produced must be current, except for an expired Australian Passport which has not been cancelled and was current within the preceding two (2) years.

Category	Minimum Document Requirements
1	One of the following: Australian Passport, Foreign Passport, Australian Evidence of Immigration Status Immicard, Australian Migration Status Immicard, plus Australian drivers licence with photo or Photo Card plus change of name or marriage certificate if necessary
2	One of the following: Australian Passport, Foreign Passport, Australian Evidence of Immigration Status Immicard, Australian Migration Status Immicard, plus full birth certificate or citizenship certificate or descent certificate plus Medicare or Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card plus change of name or marriage certificate if necessary
3	Australian drivers licence with photo or Photo Card plus full birth certificate or citizenship certificate or descent certificate plus Medicare or Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card plus change of name or marriage certificate if necessary
4	(a) One of the following: Australian Passport,  Foreign Passport, Australian Evidence of Immigration Status Immicard, Australian Migration Status Immicard, plus another form of Australian State Government or Commonwealth Government issued photographic identity Document plus change of name or marriage certificate if necessary (b) One of the following: Australian Passport,  Foreign Passport, Australian Evidence of Immigration Status Immicard, Australian Migration Status Immicard, plus full birth certificate plus another form of Australian State Government or Commonwealth Government issued identity Document plus change of name or marriage certificate if necessary
5 (a) or (b)	Not available for Self-Represented Party
6	(a) Foreign Passport plus another form of government issued photographic identity Document plus change of name or marriage certificate if necessary (b) Foreign Passport plus full birth certificate plus another form of government issued identity Document

A person who cannot produce identification documents to comply with the one of the above categories cannot be self-represented and will need to engage the services of an industry professional.

3. Verification of Identity and Right to Deal

3.1 How to Verify your Identity at a Post Office - More Information¹

• Download the Land Title Verification of Identity Form – Self-Represented Party (Western Australia) form (“SRP VOI Form”)

Can only be used by eligible self-represented individuals 

• • This form cannot be used by licensed settlement agents or qualified legal practitioners who are sending their clients to Australia Post to have their identity verified. Settlement agents need to contact Australia Post if they wish to use its identification services to comply with the Western Australian Registrar and Commissioner of Titles Joint Practice: Verification of Identity Practice.
• Gather the identity documents from the highest category possible as per table 1 above or as listed in the downloaded SRP VOI Form.
• Complete your details within the SRP VOI Form, however DO NOT sign the Form. Your signature must be witnessed by the Australia Post employee performing the Verification of Identity.
• Take your identity documents and completed and unsigned SRP VOI Form to a participating Post Office. You can find a list of Post Offices online: Find a location or service or call 13 POST (7678). There is no need to make an appointment.
• An experienced Australia Post representative will perform the identity check. They will check and scan your documents, take your photo and witness your signature. Pay the verification of identity service fee.
• Australia Post will issue a receipt to the identified person. This receipt must be retained by the identified person, as the TSP Ref number on the receipt will be required to be provided to Landgate by the identified person in their SRP VOI Statutory Declaration at the time they lodge the land transaction documents. AustPost receipt - Example 33
• Australia Post will advise Landgate that your identity check was undertaken at Australia Post.

¹Section updated 06/08/2026

3.2 Right to Deal¹

When a person intends to represent themselves in one of the following specified land transactions:

• Transfer
• Mortgage
• Application by Survivor
• Application by Personal Representative
• Caveat
• Withdrawal of Caveat

they must be able to provide documentary evidence supporting their right to deal on the specified land in the specified transaction to the Registrar of Titles and/or the Commissioner of Titles if requested. Such evidence should be retained for at least seven (7) years.  

Documentary evidence supporting a self-represented party’s right to enter into one of the specified land transactions may include, but is not limited to, originals, copies or records of:  

• Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration 
• court orders 
• State Administration Tribunal Order (SAT)
• the contract of sale for the property 
• a current local government rates notice
• current utility bills for the property
• a current land tax assessment notice for the property
• loan documentation
• the mortgage granted by the mortgagor
• contract or agreement

¹Section updated 06/08/2026

3.3 Document Lodgement and the Self-Represented Party Statutory Declaration³

Once the verification of identity has been conducted by Australia Post and the right to deal evidence is in order and retained by the self-represented party, the paper-based land transaction document can be prepared and lodged with Landgate for registration or noting. See the Land transactions hub for more information on how to make changes to a title, guides and forms, etc.

A statutory declaration must be made by each natural person who has had their identity verified by Australia Post as a self-represented party to the document. If there are multiple documents being lodged in a case, a statutory declaration is required for each document. The statutory declaration must state that

• their verification of identity has been completed,
• specify the Australia Post branch where the verification of identity took place,
• the date and TSP Ref number on the receipt which was provided at the time of the identity check,
• the declarant must also confirm their right to deal with the land the subject of the transaction.

Please use this SRP VOI Statutory Declaration proforma. See sample declarations - Examples 30, 31 & 32 (scroll up and down).

The land transaction documents must be lodged within 12 months of the date of verification of identity by Australia Post and comply with all lodgement and registration requirements, otherwise the person will need to commence the verification of identity process again.

Note: The TSP Ref number corresponds to the VOI Report provided by Australia Post to Landgate. Where a transferor is self-represented and the transferee is represented, prior to settlement, the industry professional can verify that a TSP Ref number corresponds with a VOI Report from Australia Post by providing Landgate with the TSP Ref number and the date of identification.  

³Section updated 06/08/2026

4. Transitional Arrangements - Australia Post Verification of Identity Statement²

Self-Represented VOI Statements issued by Australia Post directly to individuals by post concluded on 10 February 2025. These SRP VOI Statements ceased being accepted by Landgate on 10 February 2026.

²Section updated 06/08/2026

5.Further Information

• VOI-01 Western Australian Registrar and Commissioner of Titles Joint Practice: Verification of Identity and Authority. Paper Based Transactions
• VOI-03 Western Australian Registrar and Commissioner of Titles Joint Practice: Verification of Identity and Authority. Paper Based Transactions - How to Complete a Verification of Identity Overseas
• VOI-04 Verification of Identity and Authority - Electronic Transactions
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Verification of Identity