How to Create a Unique Student Identifier (USI) for Study or Training in Australia

What is a Unique Student Identifier in Australia?

A Unique Student Identifier, usually called a USI, is your personal Australian education identifier. It is a combination of 10 letters and numbers and stays with you for life. You create it only once.

The USI links your education records to you and provides access to a government-authenticated record of nationally recognised vocational education and training achievements recorded through the USI system.

Who needs a USI?

You need a USI if you are studying nationally recognised vocational education and training in Australia. This includes students who need a USI to receive recognised VET qualifications or statements of attainment and students seeking a VET Student Loan.

Higher education students also need a USI to be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place and Commonwealth financial assistance such as HELP, and to graduate and receive their award where the higher education USI requirements apply.

Do university students need a USI?

Yes. The Australian Government states that all higher education students studying in Australia must have a USI. Students commencing higher education should first check whether they already have one, create one if necessary, and provide it to their Tertiary Admissions Centre or higher education provider when requested.

If you previously completed nationally recognised VET, including training undertaken while at school, you may already have a USI. Do not create another one. Use the official USI service to find your existing identifier.

Do you need a USI for a Commonwealth supported place or HELP loan?

Yes. A USI is required to be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place and Commonwealth financial assistance, including relevant HELP loans.

For a Commonwealth supported place, StudyAssist states that you need a USI before the first census date of your course. When applying for Commonwealth assistance through an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form, your provider will require the relevant details, including your USI.

The census date is a legal deadline and varies by provider and unit of study. If you are relying on a CSP or HELP assistance, do not leave your USI creation or submission until after the census date. Check the exact census date published by your university or higher education provider.

How much does it cost to create a USI?

Creating a USI is free. There is no Australian Government application fee for obtaining your USI through the official service.

How to create a USI online

The standard method is to create your USI through the Australian Government USI Student Portal. You can use one form of verifiable identification or, if eligible, Digital ID.

1. Check whether you already have a USI.
2. Open the official USI creation service.
3. Agree to the terms and conditions.
4. Choose to create the USI with verifiable identification or Digital ID.
5. Enter your identity information exactly as recorded on your document.
6. Provide your personal and contact information.
7. Complete the system identity and duplicate checks.
8. Set up your account security details.
9. Record the USI displayed after successful creation.

The identifier remains yours for life, so you should not apply for a new USI each time you change course, university, TAFE, registered training organisation or employer-based training program.

What identification do you need to create a USI?

For the standard online process, the Australian Government requires one verifiable identity document. The Document Verification Service checks the information you enter against the issuing authority's records.

Official USI guidance includes Australian passports, eligible non-Australian passports linked to a current Australian visa, Australian birth certificates, driver licences or learner permits, Medicare cards, citizenship certificates and other supported Australian identity documents. The document options available to you depend on your circumstances.

Your personal details must match the identity document exactly, including the way your name is recorded. Differences in names, spelling, hyphens, apostrophes or other details can prevent successful verification.

Can you create a USI with Digital ID?

Yes. The USI service supports creation through Digital ID. To create a Digital ID for this purpose, the official USI guidance states that you must be at least 15 years old, apply for yourself, have a personal email address and meet the identity-document requirements for the Digital ID service. If you cannot create a Digital ID, you can still use the standard USI creation process with verifiable identification.

International student USI rules

International students studying VET or higher education in Australia need a USI. However, an international student who has not yet entered Australia generally cannot use a foreign passport and Australian visa to create the USI.

Can an international student create a USI before arriving in Australia?

Generally, no when relying on a non-Australian passport and Australian visa. The USI service states that you must have arrived in Australia and passed through customs before your current Australian visa and non-Australian passport can be used as identity documents for USI creation.

If you have not yet arrived, you can enrol with your education or training provider without a USI. Tell the provider that you will create and provide your USI after entering Australia.

When should an international student create the USI?

Create it at the earliest opportunity after you arrive in Australia and provide it to your education or training provider. International higher education students must provide a USI before their award is conferred.

If an international student is eligible for a Commonwealth supported place or Commonwealth financial assistance, the USI must be provided before the applicable census date. International students who are not accessing a CSP or Commonwealth financial assistance are not legally required to provide the USI by census date, but must provide it at the earliest opportunity after arrival and before award conferral.

What if you leave Australia without creating a USI?

The Australian Government warns international students to create their USI before departing Australia. A USI cannot be created using the foreign passport and Australian visa verification method after departure, and failure to have a required USI can affect the ability to graduate or receive a statement of attainment. Limited exemption arrangements exist for some circumstances.

Do international students studying entirely overseas need a USI?

No. The official USI guidance states that an international student who completes all of their study outside Australia does not need a USI.

Can an Australian student create a USI while overseas?

An Australian student studying overseas with an Australian education or training provider still needs a USI and can create one from overseas using valid Australian identification.

An Australian permanent resident who is overseas can also create a USI from overseas if they can verify their identity with suitable Australian-issued identification. If they do not have valid Australian-issued ID and need to rely on their passport and Australian visa, they generally need to be in Australia.

How long does it take to get a USI?

The online process performs identity and existing-USI checks and displays the USI after successful completion. The Australian Government describes creating a USI as fast and simple but does not publish a guaranteed processing-time commitment covering every application.

If your identity cannot be verified or another issue prevents creation, additional assistance may be required through the USI help service.

What happens after you create your USI?

Save the identifier somewhere secure and provide it to your university, TAFE, registered training organisation or other education provider when requested. Your USI does not change when you change providers or courses.

Keep the personal and contact information on your USI account current. For higher education and Commonwealth assistance, make sure your name and other identifying information are consistent across your USI, enrolment records and other relevant government records to avoid verification problems.

Do not create a second USI

Your USI is retained for life. If you cannot remember it, use the official Find your USI service rather than applying for another one.

This is particularly important if you have completed nationally recognised VET since 2015 because you may already have a USI even if you do not remember creating it.

What if you cannot verify your identity?

If the online service cannot verify your identification, check that every detail has been entered exactly as it appears on the document and follow the USI website's identity-verification guidance. The USI service also provides help-request options for students who cannot create or update their identifier.

Special processes exist for limited groups who genuinely do not have access to standard verifiable identity documents. These circumstances should be handled through the official USI guidance or with assistance from the education or training provider rather than by entering inaccurate identity information.