Australia Introduces Facial Recognition for Driver’s License Checks

Published Date : 10/17/2025 

Australia is set to implement a facial recognition system by the end of this year to enhance the verification of driver’s licences and passports. The system aims to improve access to services and combat identity fraud. 

Australia expects the rollout of a facial recognition system by the end of this year, which will facilitate the verification of documents such as driver’s licences and passports. This initiative, known as the National Driver Licence Facial Recognition Solution (NDLFRS), has been in the works since 2017 and is designed to streamline ID verification and combat identity fraud and data breaches, according to itNews reports.

Per the outlet, the state of Western Australia will be the first to make driver’s licence data available for the system. Discussions are ongoing for other states to follow suit. The NDLFRS is a repository of facial images provided by federal, state, and territorial agencies, managed as part of the Department of Home Affairs’ Identity Matching Services. Cognitec was involved in the initial stages of the contract, and Fujitsu was later contracted to manage the system until mid-next year. Cognitec is also supplying biometric hardware and software for Australian airports.

After years of back and forth, the legal framework to guide the NDLFRS was finally put in place in 2024. The government emphasizes that the platform supports its efforts to effectively protect citizens’ biometric data against identity theft, which is becoming increasingly prevalent in the country.

In a related development, Ghana’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) plans to introduce biometric driver’s licenses and vehicle permits next year. GhanaWeb reports that the DVLA CEO, Julius Kotey, stated that the upgrade is intended to address the high rejection rate of Ghanaian international licenses and vehicle permits abroad. The new documents will be redesigned to hold biometric data and will include security features that align with International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) standards.

Additionally, Lebanon has resumed the issuance of biometric driver’s licenses. According to LBC International, all applicants who completed their transactions by August 14 can now collect their licenses from the Traffic Management Organization’s departments and branches nationwide. This resumption follows a suspension in 2022 after a racket issuing underserving licenses was busted by the government. Lebanon contracted Vision Box in 2018 to set up the biometric driver’s license system. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the National Driver Licence Facial Recognition Solution (NDLFRS)?

A: The NDLFRS is a facial recognition system being implemented in Australia to verify driver’s licences and passports, improving access to services and combating identity fraud.

Q: Which state in Australia will be the first to make driver’s licence data available for the system?

A: Western Australia will be the first state to make driver’s licence data available for the NDLFRS.

Q: What is the purpose of the NDLFRS?

A: The NDLFRS aims to streamline ID verification, enhance access to services, and combat identity fraud and data breaches.

Q: What biometric upgrades are planned for Ghana’s driver’s licenses?

A: Ghana plans to introduce biometric driver’s licenses and vehicle permits that will hold biometric data and include security features aligned with ICAO standards.

Q: When did Lebanon resume the issuance of biometric driver’s licenses?

A: Lebanon resumed the issuance of biometric driver’s licenses from October 10, for applicants who completed their transactions by August 14. 

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