Australian and New Zealand authorities will be able access personal identity documents from either country under an agreement signed off today.
The information-sharing initiative was mainly designed to combat identity crime, but would also help promote cross-border travel, migration and commerce, ministers said.
New Zealand's government agencies and businesses would now be able to use Australia's Document Verification Service (DVS) to verify a customer's identity documents with official records.
The DVS held details about Australians' passports, Medicare cards, visas and drivers licences.
In return, Australia would be able to access the New Zealand Confirmation Service to verify passport details, birth certificates and citizenship certificates.
