What to provide when you apply for Community Services Card

When you apply for a Community Services Card, you need to prove who you are and that what you've told us is true.

You must provide original documents or certified true copies. If you can't get a document certified right now, we'll talk to you about alternative options.

If you have a partner they'll also have to provide these documents as well.

You need to provide 2 forms of identification. You'll need to provide either:

• 2 Government issued IDs
• One Government issued ID and one other document that proves your identity.

If you've had a benefit before, you don't need to provide this evidence.

Government issued ID

You'll need to provide 2 forms of Government issued ID. What you can provide depends on whether you were born in New Zealand or overseas.

Born in New Zealand

• Passport
• Birth Certificate (order a Birth Certificate online)
• Firearms or Driver Licence
• Marriage Certificate (order a Marriage Certificate online)
• Citizenship Certificate
• Residency Visa/Permit.

You must also provide full birth certificates for any children in your care.

Born overseas

Proof of your lawful residence in New Zealand e.g.

• New Zealand passport
• Other country passport with residence visa
• Citizenship certificate

You must also provide full birth certificates for any children in your care.

You will need to provide originals or certified copies of the identification for verification.

Other documents that prove your identity

If you can't provide 2 types of Government issued ID, you'll need to provide one Government issued ID and one of the following:

• Household accounts, eg:
  • utility bills such as power and phone,
  • documents from suppliers of goods and services such as hire purchase agreements or a tenancy agreements
  • tax assessment
  • rates notice
  • car registration form
  • licences
  • birth or marriage certificate
  • passport from another country
  • a support letter from an employer (past or present)
  • pay slips
  • bank account statements
  • mortgage papers
  • insurance policy
  • student ID card
  • school report
  • school leaving certificate
  • doctors bill
  • degree or trade certificate
  • Kiwi Access card (18+)
  • Justice of the Peace
  • Doctor
  • kaumatua
  • clergyman
  • Women's Refuge co-ordinator.

  Related

  Contact

  Contact us if there's anything on the list you're not sure about, don't have or will have some delay in providing.