Back to Everyday accounts

Identification requirements

Before we can open an account for you, we need to verify who you are, where you live, and (if required) your tax residency status.

Prove your ID

You can choose to prove your identification with one of the three following options.

Option 1 — One form of the following primary photo ID

  • Valid New Zealand passport
  • New Zealand certificate of identity
  • New Zealand firearms licence
  • Emergency travel document
  • New Zealand refugee travel document

The two documents below must also include your name, date of birth, photo, and be issued by a foreign government, the United Nations (UN) or an agency of the UN. Passports must also have a signature and national ID cards must have a signature or biometric measure (like a fingerprint) where relevant.

  • Valid overseas passport
  • National identity card

Passports must always be valid. The other forms of ID are permitted to be expired up to a maximum of 12 months. 

Option 2 — One form of the following non-photo ID

  • New Zealand full birth certificate
  • Certificate of New Zealand citizenship
  • Citizenship certificate issued by a foreign government
  • Birth certificate issued by a foreign government
AND a supporting form of photo ID:
  • New Zealand driver licence*
  • 18+ card  (Hospitality Association) or Kiwi Access card*
  • a valid and current international driving permit.

Where possible please provide current ID.

*We’ll accept this document if it has expired in the last 12 months.

Option 3 — A New Zealand driver licence together with one of the following

  1. A current item issued by a New Zealand Government agency. This must contain your name and signature, for example a SuperGold Card or Community Services Card.
  2.  A bank statement issued by a registered New Zealand bank other than BNZ.
  3. A statement issued by a New Zealand Government agency.

The statements listed above (option 2 and 3) must be dated within the last 12 months. Original or online versions are acceptable, e.g. a New Zealand marriage certificate (signed or a copy reissued by the Department of Internal Affairs).

Please provide a current New Zealand driver licence where possible. However, we will accept a licence that has expired within the last 12 months. 

All of the above ID documents must be:
  • original (except where indicated in Option 3)
  • clear, legible, a good likeness, not defaced or mutilated
  • valid (signed where applicable and not cancelled)
  • translated where applicable
  • sighted by a BNZ staff member or trusted referee.

Prove your current residential address

When you bring in a document to verify your current residential address, there are a number of options you can choose from. All documents listed below must:

  • display your name and current residential address
  • be dated within the last 12 months
  • not be targeted promotional or marketing material
  • be translated where applicable
  • sighted by a BNZ staff member or trusted referee.

In the event that the documents have been sent to an address where you do not reside, you can use this provided that it includes your name and current residential address. For example, mail sent to your PO Box which includes your current residential address within the document is acceptable. 

How to prove your address

You can prove your current residential address with any one of the following documents.

The following items must be original:

  • a New Zealand driver licence that displays your current residential address. (Please provide a current New Zealand driver licence, however we will accept one that has expired within the last 12 months provided you still reside at the displayed address.) 
  • a document from a New Zealand Electoral Office.

The following items can either be original or online versions:

  • a utility bill from your power, gas, water, land-line phone, SKY or internet service provider company
  • a New Zealand council rates notice or valuation
  • a document from a New Zealand bank, bank subsidiary, credit union or financial institution that provides lending or deposit related products only. This excludes financial advisors, brokers, money remitters, and documents issued by BNZ or any BNZ subsidiary etc.
  • a document from a New Zealand insurance company that contains a unique policy or reference number (this does not include quotes)
  • a document issued by a New Zealand Government agency
  • a residential rental agreement
  • a document from a New Zealand superannuation provider that has a unique customer or reference number
  • a document from a current NZQA registered education provider
  • a letter from your current employer.

New arrivals to New Zealand 

If you’ve recently arrived from overseas and can’t provide any of the documents above to prove your current address in New Zealand, you can use a letter from an accommodation provider confirming temporary residence. This needs to include:

  • your full name and current residential address in New Zealand
  • name, signature, date of declaration, and occupation of the provider.

Migrating to New Zealand from overseas

If you’re currently residing overseas and are intending to migrate or to reside in New Zealand, you can use the following documents as proof of address. 

  • Statement from an overseas bank or financial institution showing your current overseas residential address.
  • Confirmation letter from an overseas bank or financial institution showing your current overseas residential address.
  • Utility bill from your power, gas, water, land-line phone or internet service provider showing your current overseas residential address.
  • Rates notice (or overseas equivalent) showing your current overseas residential address.
  • Utility bill (as above) or rates notice (or overseas equivalent) addressed to your partner or family member with accompanying documents to connect you to the person named in the utility bill (such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate).
  • Valid passport, national identity card, resident identity card, or current overseas driver license issued by an overseas government agency that contains your current residential address.
  • Travel permit/visa issued by a government agency (including a permit issued by a New Zealand government agency) that contains your current residential address.
  • Residential tenancy agreement for a current overseas address in your name (or your partner or family member with accompanying documents to connect you to the person named in the tenancy agreement, such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate).
  • Statement from an overseas government tax authority showing your current overseas residential address.
  • Statement/document from an overseas law enforcement agency showing your current overseas residential address.

Using a trusted referee to prove your ID and residential address

If you are unable to meet with us face to face, you can choose to have your identification and proof of address documents certified by an approved trusted referee. This option is only available for customers and trusted referees within New Zealand.

Certification must:

  • include the name and signature of the trusted referee
  • specify their capacity to act as a trusted referee, i.e., their designation, title, location, and official registration numbers or reference as applicable (this may be included in the official stamp, if applicable)
  • make a statement to the effect that the document provided is a true copy and represents the true likeness of the named individual, if the certification is for photographic identity documents
  • include the date of certification
  • have been carried out within three months of the day that we’re presented with the copied documents.

The trusted referees must: 

  • be at least 16 years of age
  • sight the original documentary identification.

Trusted referees must not be:

  • your spouse or partner
  • related to you or living at the same address as you
  • a person involved in the transaction or business requiring this certification. (For example, if you visit your solicitor to set up a trust or register a mortgage you cannot use that same solicitor to certify your ID & proof of address documents. Another solicitor at the firm could be used as your trusted referee.)

Certified copies of the original documents can be sent to us by you or your trusted referee via email, using the unique reference that was in the email we sent you.

Approved trusted referees include the following:
  • Member of the police
  • Justice of the peace
  • Registered medical doctor
  • Kaumātua (as verified through a reputable source)
  • Registered teacher
  • Minister of religion
  • Lawyer (as defined in the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006)
  • Notary public
  • New Zealand Honorary Consul
  • Member of Parliament
  • Chartered accountant (within the meaning of section 19 of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants Act 1996)
  • A person who has the legal authority to take statutory declarations or the equivalent in New Zealand
  • Commonwealth representative (as defined in the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957)

Contact us

If you'd like to check valid document types with us, please call 0800 269 5494.