A public liability insurance certificate is the document a client, council or licensing body asks for to see that your cover is in force. In Australia it is usually called a certificate of currency. This guide explains what it shows, who issues it, when you are asked for one and the mistakes that cause delays, using official pages we link on the words they support.
Quick answer
A certificate of currency confirms the entity covered, the type of cover and that the policy is valid on a date. Your broker or insurer issues it, often by email. Match the name to your contract.
Public Liability Insurance Certificate in Australia at a Glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | Proof that a policy is current. Business Queensland says it confirms the entity covered, the type or scope of cover and validity on a given date |
| Who issues it? | Your broker or provider, usually immediately by email |
| Who asks for one? | Clients, tenders, landlords and licensing bodies |
| Does it prove the policy covers a claim? | No. The policy wording decides that |
| Why do people ask again later? | To check the policy has not lapsed, which can happen with monthly payments |
| What goes wrong most often? | A name that does not match, or a document that is not a certificate |
| Is there one standard form? | We did not find one. Some regulators publish their own, such as the Electrical Safety Office |
| What does it cost? | We do not give a price. Ask your broker or insurer |
What a Certificate of Currency Shows
The certificate is a snapshot. It tells the person reading it that, on a given date, a named entity held a named type of cover. It does not repeat the full wording, so it cannot tell them what is excluded. That is why a client who needs more than proof of cover will also ask to see the policy.
The official pages describe the contents slightly differently, because different bodies need different things. The table separates them.
| Source | What it says the certificate shows |
|---|---|
| Business Queensland | The business entity covered, the type or scope of cover, and that the policy is valid on a given date |
| Tasmanian Government licensing page | The insured's name and address, policy number, policy type, start and end dates, sum insured and premium paid |
The Tasmanian page is a licensing requirement for trades contractors and building services providers, and it was last updated on 10 October 2023, so it is more than 2 years old and worth re-checking. It shows that a requester may want more than the minimum, such as policy dates and the amount covered. Ask the person who wants the certificate exactly what they need to see before you ask for one.
Who Issues It and How Quickly
Business Queensland says a broker or provider can issue the certificate, usually immediately by email. The Tasmanian page says it comes from your insurance provider and that many insurers let you log in to their website and download one. So the practical route is to ask your broker or insurer, or check your online account.
Speed matters when a deadline is near, which is why our providers guide suggests asking, before you buy, how quickly a certificate can be issued. A certificate is not the same as an invoice, a policy schedule or a letter of eligibility. The Tasmanian page warns that uploading those instead of a certificate may delay or lead to refusal of an application or renewal.
When Someone Asks for a Certificate
Requests come from four places:
- Clients and tenders. Business Queensland says certificates are typically requested in business to business tenders. The NSW fact sheet, which is undated, says tenders state the type and level of cover.
- Landlords and venues. The same fact sheet tells you to check lease terms.
- Licensing bodies. Queensland electrical contractors declare insurer, policy number and expiry date, and the Electrical Safety Office publishes its own certificate of currency form.
- Repeat checks. A customer may ask again later to confirm the policy has not lapsed.
Picture a caterer whose venue asks for a fresh certificate each time it books. Because the caterer pays monthly, the venue wants to see that no instalment has been missed. The caterer asks the broker for a new certificate on request and sets a reminder to check each payment. That habit costs little and avoids a last minute scramble.
Name Matching and Other Common Problems
The most common avoidable problem is a name mismatch. The Electrical Safety Office's eligibility guide, dated March 2021, requires the policy to name the legal entity applying for the licence. A policy in a trading name or a different company may not meet it even when the limit is right. The same logic applies to contracts: the certificate should name the entity that signs.
Other problems to check before you send a certificate:
- The policy dates have expired or will expire before the work ends.
- The type of cover is not public liability.
- The limit is below the contract minimum.
- The document is a schedule, invoice or letter, not a certificate.
Our Queensland guide explains the electrical contractor limit and name rule in context, and our sole trader guide explains why the entity name matters when you work for yourself.
A Certificate Is Not the Policy
A certificate shows that cover exists. It does not show that a particular claim would be paid. For that, read the exclusions, the limit and the excess in the policy. Business Queensland warns that a claim can be unsuccessful where a business is insufficiently insured. If a contract asks for specific wording, such as a named extension, ask your broker whether the certificate or the policy must carry it. Our what-it-covers guide explains how to read the wording.
Where to Go Next on Cairn Cover
The one thing to remember: a public liability insurance certificate proves that cover is current, not what it will pay, so match the name and dates to the request. Cairn Cover explains how cover works, links each source on the words it supports and does not sell insurance or give personal advice. Read the national guide, then the quotes guide and the cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a certificate of currency? It is a document that confirms a policy is active. Business Queensland says it shows the entity covered, the type or scope of cover and that the policy is valid on a given date. It is not the full policy.
Who can issue a public liability insurance certificate? Your broker or insurer. Business Queensland says a broker or provider can issue it, usually immediately by email, and some insurers let you download one from your online account.
Why does a client ask for a certificate more than once? To confirm the policy has not lapsed. Business Queensland notes that policies can lapse where premiums are paid monthly. Ask your broker how missed payments are handled and how you would be told.
What if the name on the certificate is wrong? Ask the broker or insurer to correct the policy and reissue it. A licence or contract can require the policy to name the exact legal entity, so check the name before you send it.
Does a certificate prove my claim will be paid? No. It shows that cover exists on a date. The policy wording, limit, excess and exclusions decide whether a claim is paid. Read them as well as the certificate.
How does Cairn Cover help? We explain the document in plain English, link our sources on the words they support and connect related guides. We do not issue certificates, sell insurance or give personal advice.