Introducing the QBCC's photo licence cards

Improving safeguards for consumers and licensees against unlicensed operators is a primary focus for the QBCC.

Photo licences will improve verification of QBCC licensed individuals, helping to reduce unlicensed and defective work while also providing increased anti-fraud protections for licensees.

We understand that requiring photos on QBCC licences is a change for licensees. It is also a change for the QBCC as a business and we are considering how to deliver these photo requirements in the most cost-effective way.

To enable the provision of your photo licence card, we need you to submit certified photo identification and two certified passport photos.

We have created a webpage that details what is happening for QBCC licences now and into the future. Visit: Transition to digital licensing.

No, unfortunately you can’t have your photo taken at a QBCC Customer Service Centre.

Similar to passports and driver's licences, the QBCC requires a clear image to issue a photo ID. However, we do not have the equipment needed to take passport grade photos and support the digital verification of images. The easiest way is to get your photo taken by a professional passport photo provider, such as Australia Post.

Please refer to our website to understand the photo size and quality requirements that apply.  

As part of this ongoing work to deliver new photo licence cards, we are conducting a small-scale trial with selected licensees by requesting certified proof of photo identification and two certified passport photos. Licensees who participate in the trial will be issued with a new photo licence card.

You are one of the licensees we have invited to submit photos in order to obtain a photo licence card at this time.

Once your photos have been submitted to the QBCC, we will work to process and manufacture your photo licence card as soon as possible. Your current licence without a photo will remain valid in line with its existing expiry date.

If you do not provide photos by the due date, your QBCC licence will remain active but you will miss this initial opportunity to benefit from the added security protections that photo licence cards offer.

For more information about what is happening with QBCC licensing from now into the future. Visit: Transition to digital licensing.  

We are calling for new photo submissions to ensure we meet all requirements, including for certification and for the photos supplied to be less than six months old.

Please refer to our website to understand the photo requirements that apply.

Your passport photos must be certified by a qualified witness—a Lawyer, Justice of Peace, Commissioner of Declarations, Notary Public or QBCC staff member. This is a legislative requirement.

Additionally, the QBCC needs your photo identification to be certified (by one of the same qualified witnesses listed above). 

The QBCC can only accept submissions in their entirety and as outlined by the criteria on the form —all sections of the form must be complete, and the accompanying documents (certified photo identification and certified passport photos) must be supplied according to the photo requirements stated.

If you have not met the criteria, the QBCC will work closely with you to rectify the issue on a case-by-case basis—we will immediately notify you at one of our Customer Service Centres for submissions made in person, or alternatively respond to you directly via email for submissions lodged via mail. We will clearly explain why the submission cannot be accepted and guide you through the process so we can issue your new photo licence card promptly.

We encourage you to read the photo collection form closely prior to lodging your submission to avoid any delay.

Your passport photos must be less than six months old at the time of completing your submission. Please refer to our website to understand the photo requirements that apply.  

If you aren’t able to submit your photos by the deadline, your licence renewal will still be processed as normal and you will receive a non-photo licence card.

If you do not provide photos by the due date, your QBCC licence will remain active but you will miss this initial opportunity to benefit from the added security protections that photo licence cards offer.

Licensees have two options to submit their form and supporting documentation (including certified photos):

1. In person at any of the QBCC’s Customer Service Centres
2. By post to GPO Box 5099, Brisbane QLD 4001 

The QBCC will send your new photo licence card to your nominated postal address. Please allow up to six weeks for the new photo licence card to arrive after completing your submission.

The QBCC is committed to keeping your personal data safe. To learn more about how we safeguard your privacy and manage your information securely, please refer to the privacy page on our website. 

Yes, the QBCC is moving towards digital.

Foundation work for this milestone has already started, including updates to the QBCC's processes and systems to support these changes.

The QBCC will keep licensees and industry across important developments as they happen. In the meantime, we have created a webpage to share the latest project updates and answer commonly asked questions at: Transition to digital licensing.

We are moving towards digital and foundation work for this milestone has already started, including updates to the QBCC's processes and systems to support these changes. 

In a future state, this involves the delivery of secure and contemporary photo identification options for the QBCC's licences, which may include a digital licence credential in the Queensland Government Digital Licence app.

We will keep licensees and industry across important developments as they happen. In the meantime, we have created a webpage to share the latest project updates and answer commonly asked questions at: Transition to digital licensing.

No. Licensees with a suspended or cancelled licence have been excluded from our target audiences and will not receive any correspondence asking them to participate in the trial.

The roll out of new Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (QBCC Act) licence application forms in August 2024 triggered the delivery of new QBCC photo licence cards in physical formats.

In line with the photo requirement updates made to QBCC Act licence application forms, we are now completing work to deliver photo licence cards to customers who hold an existing QBCC Act licence.

To do so in the most cost-effective way and to minimise disruption, new photo licence cards are being rolled out to existing licensees in a phased approach.  

If you have been invited to participate in this trial and asked to provide photos for only one of multiple active licences you hold, we’ll re-use the same photo for inclusion across all other applicable QBCC Act licences.We understand that requiring photos on QBCC licences is a change, for licensees. It is also a change for the QBCC as a business and we are thankful for our licensees’ patience while we work through these changes. 

Please submit the photo collection form as requested. If your non-photo licence card is issued prior to your photo collection form being processed, you will receive a new photo licence card to supersede the old version free of charge. 

If you are applying for a new licence under the apply and surrender application process after 27 August 2024, the new photo requirements do apply.

Unfortunately, there is no scope for licensees to opt into this program at the moment.

This activity, as well as learnings from the issuing of photo licence cards for new applications, will inform the process for larger scale delivery to all licensees in future. Further information will be provided as the project progresses throughout 2025. 

We are introducing new photo licence cards to improve safeguards against unlicensed operators and defective work.  

As we transition to photo licences for all licensees, you will continue to see valid, non-photo card designs for licensees who perform different types of building work.  

We have created a webpage with all the current valid QBCC licence cards designs. This includes tips for understanding information presented on the cards and how to conduct further searches via our free online QBCC licence search tool. 

There is no legislative requirement to display a licensee’s photo identification on the public QBCC licence search, in the same way this is not required for people who hold a valid driver’s licence.  

For reassurance, home owners can take extra steps to verify the photo identification of a licensee on their QBCC photo licence card. You can ask to compare the QBCC photo licence card against another form of identification, such as a valid driver’s licence or passport, which also have stringent assurance checks. 

Home owners should also be aware that while the QBCC has begun the process of issuing photo licences to all QBCC licensees, many licensees are yet to be issued a licence that includes their photo.

We encourage you to visit our webpage providing an overview of all QBCC licence designs. You will find information about our free licence check, as well as useful tips to help you find a QBCC licensed contractor for your next building project. 

The QBCC has begun the process of issuing photo licences to all QBCC licensees, however you may still see licence cards without photo ID. These versions are still legitimate as we work through the phased delivery of photo licence cards for all licensees.

We encourage you to visit our webpage providing an overview of all QBCC licence designs. You will find information about our free licence check, as well as useful tips to help you find a QBCC licensed contractor for your next building project.