Verify Australian identity documents against authoritative government records through the Australian Government's Document Verification Service (DVS).

PharmacyID is a fully operational approved DVS Gateway Service Provider (GSP), helping Australian organisations access the DVS through secure online services and API integration.

Whether you need to verify identity documents as part of customer onboarding, employment screening, regulatory compliance or an existing identity verification workflow, PharmacyID can help you integrate DVS verification into your business processes.

What is the Document Verification Service (DVS)?

The Document Verification Service, commonly known as the DVS, is an Australian Government identity verification service that allows approved organisations to check whether information provided on an Australian identity document matches the original record held by the relevant government issuing authority.

For example, information supplied from a passport, driver licence or Medicare card can be securely checked against the corresponding government record.

The DVS generally returns a match or no-match response.

Importantly, the DVS verifies the information associated with an identity document. It does not perform facial recognition or determine by itself whether the person presenting the document is the legitimate holder.

For higher-assurance identity verification, PharmacyID can combine DVS document verification with other identity proofing methods such as facial biometrics, liveness detection and face-to-face identity verification.

PharmacyID is an Approved DVS Gateway Service Provider

Private sector organisations generally access the DVS indirectly through an approved DVS Gateway Service Provider (GSP).

PharmacyID is listed by the Australian Government's IDMatch service as a fully operational approved Gateway Service Provider.

As a DVS Gateway Service Provider, PharmacyID provides the connection between approved organisations and the Document Verification Service and can support organisations with:

• DVS Business User onboarding
• secure document verification
• standalone DVS verification services
• DVS API integration
• integration into existing HR and onboarding platforms
• automated identity verification workflows
• packaged identity verification services

Access to the DVS is subject to the applicable DVS access policies, participation agreements and approval requirements.

What Documents Can the DVS Verify?

PharmacyID is a DVS Gateway Service Provider (GSP) and can verify the following documents via the DVS:

• Birth certificates
• Centrelink concession cards
• Certificates of registration by descent
• Change of name certificates
• Citizenship certificates
• Driver licences
• ImmiCards
• Marriage certificates
• Medicare cards
• Passports
• Visas
• Death certificates
• Aviation and Maritime Security Identification Cards
• Address details from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)

Availability and eligibility requirements can vary by document type and intended use.

DVS API Integration

Integrate Document Verification Directly into Your Existing Systems

PharmacyID provides a DVS API that enables organisations to incorporate document verification into their own applications and business processes.

Rather than requiring staff to move between separate systems, DVS verification can become part of your existing workflow.

A typical integration can allow your application to collect the required identity information, submit a verification request through PharmacyID and process the resulting DVS response as part of your organisation's identity checking process.

DVS API integration can be useful for:

• HR and recruitment platforms
• employee onboarding
• customer onboarding
• identity verification platforms
• financial and professional services
• background screening providers
• regulated organisations
• government-related workflows
• high-volume verification processes

PharmacyID's RESTful APIs are designed to allow DVS verification to form part of a broader automated identity workflow rather than operate as a separate manual process.

Standalone DVS Verification

You do not need to build an API integration to use PharmacyID's DVS services.

Eligible organisations can also use PharmacyID's standalone application to perform document verification without integrating DVS directly into their existing software.

This can be suitable for organisations that require DVS access but have lower transaction volumes, want to begin using the service quickly, or do not yet require a fully automated integration.

If your requirements change, PharmacyID can also work with your organisation to move from a standalone process to an API-based workflow.

DVS as Part of Identity Verification

A successful DVS result confirms that the biographic information supplied from an identity document matches the relevant government record.

However, document verification is only one component of identity proofing.

For organisations requiring greater assurance that the individual presenting the document is genuinely the person they claim to be, PharmacyID can combine DVS with additional verification methods.

These can include:

• Document Verification - Check identity document details against authoritative government records through the DVS.
• Facial Biometrics - Compare a live image of the individual with the photograph contained in an identity document.
• Liveness Detection - Help determine whether the person completing an online verification is physically present rather than using a photograph or other representation.
• Face-to-Face Identity Verification - Where higher levels of identity assurance are required, PharmacyID's nationwide pharmacy network can provide a physical verification component in which an individual and their identity documents can be sighted in person.

This combination allows organisations to build identity verification processes appropriate to their particular risk, regulatory and operational requirements.

DVS for Employment and Workforce Screening

DVS verification can also be incorporated into employment screening and workforce onboarding.

For example, an organisation may need to establish an applicant's identity before conducting a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) or other background screening service.

PharmacyID can combine identity verification and background screening into a single workflow, reducing duplication for applicants and helping organisations establish a consistent identity checking process.

DVS Business User Access

Private sector organisations that want to use the DVS for their own business purposes generally need to become an approved DVS Business User.

Business Users connect to the DVS indirectly through an approved Gateway Service Provider such as PharmacyID.

PharmacyID can help eligible organisations understand the onboarding requirements and establish their connection through PharmacyID once the necessary approvals are in place.

The appropriate DVS arrangement will depend on how your organisation intends to use the service. Different requirements apply where an organisation is performing identity verification on behalf of another organisation.

Contact PharmacyID and we can discuss your intended use and the appropriate approach.

Privacy, Consent and Responsible Use

Identity information is highly sensitive and should be handled accordingly.

Private sector organisations using the DVS are required to obtain the individual's express consent before their identity information is submitted for verification.

The DVS should also form part of an appropriate identity checking process rather than being relied upon as the sole basis for deciding whether to provide an individual with goods, services or benefits.

PharmacyID can help organisations incorporate DVS verification into a broader identity verification process appropriate to their requirements.

Why Use PharmacyID for DVS?

PharmacyID offers more than access to a document verification endpoint.

Our identity verification services can bring together DVS document verification, APIs, biometric verification, liveness detection, background screening and face-to-face identity verification within a single identity assurance framework.

This allows organisations to start with straightforward DVS document verification and expand their identity verification processes as their security, compliance and business requirements develop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Talk to PharmacyID About DVS

Whether you need a standalone DVS service, access for your organisation, API integration or a more comprehensive identity verification solution, PharmacyID can help you determine the most appropriate approach.

Call PharmacyID on 03 9379 3383 or contact us to discuss your DVS requirements.

For more information about the DVS, please visit the Australian Government IDMatch website.

RESTful API

If you are interested in integrating your existing workflow with our DVS API please call us.