Living in New Zealand – IRD number application

You'll need 1 of these primary identification documents (Category A):

• current New Zealand passport
• current overseas passport and a New Zealand visa (you do not need a New Zealand visa if you have an Australian, Cook Islands, Niuean or Tokelauan passport)
• full New Zealand birth certificate
• New Zealand citizenship certificate
• New Zealand firearm or dealer licence
• New Zealand certificate of identity from the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) or the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
• New Zealand refugee travel document
• New Zealand emergency travel document.

You'll also need 1 of these secondary identification documents (Category B):

• current New Zealand driver licence
• current overseas driver licence
• Kiwi Access Card
• HANZ 18+ card (existing cards are valid until their expiry dates)
• New Zealand student photo ID
• International Driving Permit.

Your identification documents must be physical, not digital.

If you're unable to provide the required primary and secondary identification documents, call us on 0800 775 247 to discuss your options.

If you need to use an expired photo identification document, you need to bring this into your nearest Inland Revenue office. You do not need an appointment to do this.

If you’ve changed your name, you'll need a document proving your name change. This can be 1 of the following:

• marriage or civil union certificate
• name change certificate.

You’ll need 1 primary identification document (Category A) and 1 secondary identification document (Category B) for yourself from the list above. As well as these documents, you’ll need 1 of the following forms of identification for your child:

• current New Zealand passport
• full New Zealand birth certificate
• New Zealand citizenship certificate
• New Zealand student photo ID.

If your documents do not show your relationship with your child, you’ll also need a document such as:

• adoption papers
• overseas birth certificate
• parenting orders
• guardianship orders
• Statutory declaration IR595D form.

Make sure you've made electronic versions of the ID documents you've chosen. You need to upload them during the online application.

For New Zealand passports, you only need to scan the pages showing your photo and names.

For overseas passports (except Australia, Cook Islands, Tokelau or Niue) you need to scan the pages showing your:

• photo
• name(s).

You must also include 1 of the following:

• the pages showing your visa type and duration
• your Immigration New Zealand visa application letter. 

For New Zealand driver licence, you need to scan both sides of the licence.

If your identification documents are not in English, you must get them translated into English by an approved translator. Your translation will need to be certified.

Waka Kotahi - New Zealand Transport Agency has a full list of approved translators or you can use the Translation Service.

Approved translators (Waka Kotahi - New Zealand Transport Agency)

Translating documents into English (govt.nz information for the Translation Service)

Apply for an IRD number

Once you've applied online, you have 20 days to take your original, physical identification (ID) documents to an AA Driver Licensing Agent for verification. Your ID must be physical, not digital.

Only the AA Centres verify documents. The AA Auto Centres do not do this.

Locations (AA driver licensing agents)