The table lists the checks we could document, who can use each and the guide that explains it. Where we found no public check, we say so rather than invent one. Details were checked on 5 October 2026.
- The Ahpra register is public and lists every registered health practitioner across 16 professions.
- Genuine IDPs show “Convention on International Road Traffic of 19 September, 1949” on the cover, per the NRMA.
- White cards are issued by eight state and territory licensing bodies; the course provider is checked on training.gov.au.
- We found no public online check for a driver licence, passport or birth certificate.
The checks, one by one
| Document | Official check | Who uses it | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver licence | Ask the issuing state or territory agency; each publishes licence information. Queensland lists the security features of its card. We found no single public lookup | The holder, and employers through the agency | Licence by state |
| Passport | The Passport Office verifies a previous passport through the Document Verification Service inside its own portal. We found no public check for a passport you are shown | The Passport Office; the holder renewing | Passport cost and time |
| Birth, death or marriage certificate | The registry of the state or territory where it was registered; Scamwatch directs to registries via myGov. We found no public online verification | Authorities, through the registry | Order by state |
| White card | The state or territory licensing body that issued it; the training provider on training.gov.au | The holder; site managers should ask the licensing body | How to get a white card |
| Health practitioner | Ahpra public register, by name or registration number | Anyone | Ahpra register |
| International Driving Permit | Seller must be a state or territory motoring club acting for the AAA; check the cover wording | The traveller | The real IDP |
| myGov or ATO message | Do not use the message; open the official app or website yourself, or call the ATO on 1800 008 540 | Anyone who gets a message | Government scam texts |
| Website claiming to be government | Address ends in .gov.au (Scamwatch: never .org, .net or .com) | Anyone | Red flags |
Three rules that apply to every row
First, start from the agency, not from the document. If a card or paper arrives from a seller, the check is whether the agency’s own record agrees, and an agency will not confirm a record to a stranger who cannot show a reason. Second, never use a phone number, link or “verification page” printed on the document or in the message you are checking; find the agency’s contact details yourself. Third, a check that depends on how a thing looks is the weakest kind. The 2016 white card case involved cards that came from a real training organisation, and the 2025 nurse case involved a forged degree certificate that was caught by the register, not by examining the paper.
What we could not verify
We could not confirm a public process for verifying a driver licence presented by another person, a passport shown to you or a birth certificate. Some states may offer a check to employers or authorised users; we did not read one. If your agency offers it, use that rather than anything we have said here. See how we research for the full list of gaps.
A one-page routine for employers
- Health practitioners. Search the Ahpra register by name and number; treat the certificate as a claim.
- Construction workers. Ask to see the white card, as Safe Work Australia says workers must show it on site, and where a card looks out of step with a person’s experience ask the issuing licensing body.
- Drivers. If driving is part of the job, ask your state agency what verification it offers employers; we did not find a single public route.
- Identity documents. Do not rely on a scan sent by message; see originals, and keep what you take secure, because a store of copied licences is itself an identity-theft risk.
The last point connects to every scam on this site: copies of identity documents are what look-alike sites want. An employer who collects them takes on the duty to protect them.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a driver licence is real?
Through the issuing state or territory agency. We found no single public lookup. Looking at the card is the weakest check; Queensland publishes the security features of its card, and each agency covers verification on its own pages.
How do I check a nurse or doctor?
Search the Ahpra public register by name or registration number. Ahpra says if a practitioner is listed they are allowed to practise.
How do I check a website is official?
Scamwatch says most Australian government websites use .gov.au, never .org, .net or .com.
Can I check a birth certificate is genuine?
We found no public online check. Contact the registry of the state or territory where it was registered.