Document Verification Service
The DVS is a secure, online system that provides for automated checks of the accuracy and validity of information on the key government documents commonly presented as evidence of identity.The DVS provides the ability for its user organisations to check the information on identity credentials against the records of the issuing agency. These checks are conducted in real time to inform decisions that rely upon the confirmation of a person's identity. It provides a key tool for organisations that are seeking to prevent the enrolment or registration of customers, clients and even staff who may be using fraudulent identities.
Identity documents that can be verified include but not limited to:
- birth, marriage and change-of-name certificates
- citizenship certificates
- driver license
- Medicare cards
- passports
- visas.
- Tittle deeds
- Education certificates
- log books
- certificate of incorporation
Increased confidence and efficiency
DVS verifications have been available to government users since 2009 and are currently being used by 19 Commonwealth, state and territory agencies. User agencies consider that the DVS affords them improved data quality and greater confidence in making identity-related decisions.In addition to supporting more robust identity proofing processes, the DVS can also provide significant cost and time savings. One agency reported a reduction of more than 60 per cent in processing times in its call centre after implementing DVS checks. Others have estimated a reduction of 3000 postal items per year.
Promoting privacy
The DVS is not a database. It does not store any personal information.Requests to verify a document via the DVS are encrypted and sent via a secure communications pathway to the document issuing agency. DVS checks are based on informed consent and are conducted against agencies' existing information holdings, without retaining personal information once the check has been completed.
If a document matches information held by the issuing agency, a simple 'yes' response is transmitted to the querying agency; otherwise a 'no' response is returned indicating that the document details did not match and so were not verified.
In addition to its privacy-enhancing design, use of the DVS further promotes privacy when compared to other alternative methods of identity verification. In many cases, use of the DVS may reduce the need for organisations to store copies of identity information—and instead rely upon a record of a successful DVS check.
Private sector use of the DVS
A commercial DVS product is now available to the private sector. This allows businesses to verify the information on certain evidence of identity credentials presented by customers and staff with the records of the credential issuing agency.The commercial DVS product is offered on a fee-for-service basis and enables the verification on information on Commonwealth issued identity credentials such as passports, Medicare cards, visas and citizenship certificates; as well as state and territory driver licences.
Eligible businesses can access the DVS by either connecting directly to the service, or by using a third party gateway service provider. A range of these providers have now been approved to offer DVS services.
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