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The short answer
Every director of an Australian company needs a director ID before they are appointed, and ASIC will not register a new company until its directors have one. The rule applies whether you live in Sydney or Lagos. You apply to the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS); directors who cannot verify their identity online use ABRS's other application routes, so a Nigerian director abroad should start well before the company is formed.
The director ID is a unique identifier for a person who is, or is about to become, a company director. It exists so that the register can track who has actually been a director of which companies, and it is one of the first practical hurdles for Nigerians setting up or joining an Australian company, especially directors who live outside Australia and do not have Australian identity documents.
Who needs one, and when
ASIC's pages, both updated 2 October 2026, set the timing:
- "Directors must apply for a director ID before they are appointed." (Company officeholders page.)
- "Directors must apply for a director ID before a company is registered." (Steps to register a company.)
So the director ID comes before the company, and before any appointment to an existing company. Being Nigerian, or living abroad, does not exempt you. A proprietary company also needs at least one director who normally lives in Australia; an overseas director can sit on the board alongside that person but cannot replace them. A company secretary, if there is one, is a different office and the director ID rule as ASIC states it applies to directors.
How the application works
Applications are made to ABRS, which ASIC links to from its registration pages. The online route asks you to prove your identity using the Australian Government's digital identity. Directors who live in Australia with Australian documents usually find this the quickest path. Directors who cannot set up the digital identity, which often includes people living overseas with only a Nigerian passport and Nigerian documents, apply through ABRS's alternative routes, typically involving a form and certified copies of identity documents.
We could not open the ABRS application page itself when this article was checked in October 2026, so we do not list its form numbers, the exact identity documents accepted, or processing times. Use the ABRS director ID page linked from ASIC for the current version, and keep the following practical points in mind.
If you live in Australia
- Set up the government digital identity with your passport and Australian documents.
- Apply for your director ID online with ABRS.
- Give the ID to whoever is registering the company or appointing you, and keep a record of it.
If you live in Nigeria
- Check on the ABRS page which documents it accepts and how copies must be certified.
- Arrange certification in Nigeria by a person ABRS accepts. Do not assume a Nigerian commissioner for oaths or notary qualifies until you have checked.
- Send the application by the route ABRS specifies and allow time for posting and processing.
- Do not sign a consent to act or allow yourself to be appointed until the director ID has been issued or applied for as ABRS and ASIC require.
Common situations
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| New company, all directors in Australia | Each director applies online, then the company is registered through the Business Registration Service. |
| New company, one director in Lagos | Lagos director applies through ABRS's alternative route early; the resident director applies online. |
| Joining an existing Australian company | Apply before the appointment date; the company then records you as a director. |
| Director of a Nigerian company only | Not an Australian director ID matter; see Nigerian Tax ID below. |
Director ID, ACN, ABN and Nigerian Tax ID
These are easy to confuse. The director ID belongs to you as a person. The ACN belongs to the company and is issued by ASIC on registration. The ABN is the company's business number from the Australian Business Register. None of them is a Nigerian number: if you are also a director of a company registered with CAC, the Nigerian requirements are separate, and we cover them in getting a Nigerian TIN as a director living abroad.
For the full sequence of company registration, see registering a company in Australia as a Nigerian.
Where Pryme fits
Directors spread across Australia and Nigeria often need a shared view of company money. A Pryme Business Account supports approvals: the Chief of Staff agent prepares payments and a person approves above a set ceiling, with each action recorded, and security uses an authenticator app and a transaction PIN.
Questions people ask
Do overseas directors need a director ID in Australia?
Yes. ASIC says directors must apply before they are appointed, and before a company is registered. Living abroad does not exempt you.
Can I get a director ID without the Australian digital ID?
Directors who cannot verify online use ABRS's other application routes, usually with certified identity documents. Check the ABRS page for the current form and accepted documents.
Is a director ID the same as an ACN?
No. The director ID belongs to the person; the ACN is the company's number issued by ASIC.
Can a director in Nigeria be the only director?
Not of a proprietary company. ASIC requires at least one director who normally lives in Australia.
Sources
- ASIC: Company officeholders, directors and secretaries (updated 2 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- ASIC: Steps to register a company (updated 2 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- business.gov.au: Register for an Australian Business Number (ABN) (12 Jun 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.