Need help?

Yes. A desktop or browser-based authentication will not be supported and you will need your own compatible smart device to use myGovID. Your myGovID belongs to you and cannot be shared.

myGovID uses the security and identification features in your smart device, such as fingerprint or face verification, to protect your identity and help stop other people accessing your information.

The myGovID app is compatible with most smart devices using:

• iOS 10 or later
• Android 7.0 (Nougat) or later.

It’s important to understand that myGovID enables a user to log on to an online service from any browser and device that is supported by that online service (for example, Firefox, Chrome, PC, laptop or tablet). The smart device is only required for the log on step.

Yes, you can download the myGovID app and be logged in to your myGovID on more than one device.

You will need to verify your identity again with the same email address and identity documents when installing the myGovID app on another device.

For security purposes, you will receive an email letting you know your myGovID is active on another device.

No, you only need one myGovID. You can use your myGovID for personal or business matters, or both. 

You will need to install the myGovID app on your new device and prove your identity again with the same email address and identity documents.

The myGovID app is free to download from the App Store or Google Play.

Your myGovID is used to log in to selected government online services.

Once you are logged in, the timing of your session will depend on the service you are accessing and how long you remain active. Usually, if you are inactive for a certain amount of time you will automatically be asked to re-authenticate.  

For a list of participating government online services see What can I use it for?

The myGovID website has support materials to assist you. This information will be updated as myGovID extends to more government online services.

If you’ve encountered an error with your identity documents while setting up, see Proving your identity in the left hand menu on this page.

If you’ve encountered an error using myGovID, see Using myGovID in the left hand menu on this page.

If you still need to speak with us, you can phone our support line on 1300 287 539 (select option 2 for myGovID enquiries) between 8.00am and 6.00pm (AEST), Monday to Friday.

The identity documents you need will depend on which government online service you want to use your myGovID to access.

Currently, to set up a standard myGovID you will need two of the following Australian identity documents:

• driver’s licence
• Medicare card
• birth certificate
• passport

In the future, you will be able to use other identity documents.

If your Australian birth certificate details are not accepted, check:

• the details have been entered exactly as they appear
• your current name matches the name on your birth certificate
  • if you have had a change in name and have not updated your birth certificate enter your name as it is currently registered.
• you have included a space where your family name includes multiple upper case letters. For example, McGuire should be entered as Mc Guire.

If you are still experiencing issues, see Verifying your birth certificate for examples of Australian birth certificates and information specific to the state or territory that issued it.

If you’re unable to prove your identity you will not be able to use myGovID to access online services.

Depending on the government agency you're dealing with, the identity proofing requirements may be different. For a full list of services see What can I use it for?

If you are trying to access services offered by the Australian Taxation Office, see  Accessing online services with myGovID and RAM on the ATO website.

If you receive this message there is already an existing myGovID with the same email address.

If you share this email address (for example, because it is a family email address) confirm that it hasn’t already been used to set up a myGovID.

If the email address:

• has already been used, you need to use a different email address to create your myGovID
• hasn’t been used to set up a myGovID yet, phone our support line on 1300 287 539 (select option 2 for myGovID enquiries) between 8.00am and 6.00pm AEST, Monday to Friday.

Your name needs to match across all of your identity documents in order to set up a myGovID.

Contact your document providers to see if you can resolve the mismatch in name. For example, you may be able to update your Medicare card to reflect a change in name.

In the future, the myGovID app will support more complex identity verification. For example, by accepting a change of name document to allow for two last names. 

If you’re having trouble scanning your Australian identity documents, check:

• you’re using the latest version of the myGovID app
• all edges of your document are visible in the image
• there is no blur, shadow or glare.

If you continue to experience issues, try entering your document details manually.

If your Medicare card details are not accepted, check:

• you’re scanning your card with all edges visible in the image and there is no blur, shadow or glare
• your date of birth has been entered correctly
• your name has been entered exactly as it appears on your card – you can add an extra name field if required
• your expiry date has been entered correctly
• you're using the current version of your card, for example you may have received a new card because you have a new family member
• you have selected the correct Individual reference number, located next to your name on the card.

Your Medicare card cannot be verified online if it has been reported as lost or stolen.

If you continue to experience issues, phone our support line on 1300 287 539 (select option 2 for myGovID enquiries) between 8.00am and 6.00pm AEST, Monday to Friday.

If your Australian driver's licence details are not accepted, check:

• you’re scanning your licence with all edges visible in the image and there is no blur, shadow or glare
• you've entered your middle name correctly. It should be entered in full unless your:
  • middle name is not on your licence, leave the Middle name field blank
  • licence has an initial for your middle name, you may only need to enter this in the Middle name field (excludes Victorian licences)
  • licence has two initials for your middle name, only enter the full name of the first initial on the Middle name field
• if you have a single name, you've entered it in either the First name or Family name field and entered a full stop in the other field
• you're entering your name as it appears on your licence, up to the name character limits (First name – 20 characters, Middle name – 20 characters, Family name – 40 characters). This includes if you’re using a licence with a truncated name (indicated with a ‘TN’ on the licence for some states or territories).

Your driver’s licence cannot be verified online if:

• it has been cancelled, refused or is no longer active. A driver’s licence is no longer active if it is held in another state or territory or has expired in ACT, TAS or SA
• you’re using a WA extraordinary licence issued by a magistrate to allow limited use of your vehicle
• you had a change of name (resulting in marriage) in NSW before 2006.

In these cases, you’ll need to use the alternative identity documents to set up your myGovID or contact your document provider. In the future, you’ll be able to use other types of identity documents.

If you continue to experience issues, phone our support line on 1300 287 539 (select option 2 for myGovID enquiries) between 8.00am and 6.00pm AEST, Monday to Friday.

Check you have entered your name exactly as it appears on the passport.

If you have:

• two given names on your passport, enter both in the Given names field
• only one name on your passport, enter the name in the Family name field and leave the Given names field blank
• more than 31 characters in your given name or family name, enter as many full names as fit into the the character limit and then use initials for those that can't be included in their entirety.

If you continue to experience issues, phone our support line on 1300 287 539 (select option 2 for myGovID enquiries) between 8.00am and 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.

You can’t use your passport if it has been cancelled (replaced, reported lost or stolen) or expired for more than three years. In the future, you will be able to use other types of identity documents.

If your error message code is:

• 45047 – your identity documents have already been used to set up a myGovID using a different email address. Uninstall and reinstall the app and prove your identity again using the same email address and identity documents you used previously. If you are no longer able to access your email address you can’t set up your myGovID at this time.
• 45052 – there has been an issue verifying your documents online. Check you have entered the details of your identity documents correctly and try again.

If you are sure you have not previously set up a myGovID, phone our support line on 1300 287 539 (select option 2 for myGovID enquiries) between 8.00am and 6.00pm AEST, Monday to Friday.

If your error message code is:

• 45048 – check you have entered the details of your identity document correctly as this means the details provided do not match the record for your identity document
• 45050 – check you have entered the details of your identity document correctly and your name matches across your documents
• 31277 – check the name you entered matches the name on the identity documents you have previously verified or the name used to set up your myGovID.

See also:

• What if my Medicare card details are not accepted?
• What if my Australian driver’s licence details are not accepted?
• What if my Australian passport details are not accepted?
• What if my Australian birth certificate details are not accepted?
• What if my name doesn’t match on my identity documents?

Note: After five unsuccessful attempts you will receive the error message ‘Max attempts reached’ and you will need to wait 24 hours before trying again. If you continue to experience issues, contact your document provider or use an alternative identity document to set up your myGovID.

If you receive either of these messages close, and reopen the app and try again.

If this does not work, uninstall and reinstall the app and prove your identity again using the same email address and identity documents you used previously.

If you continue to experience issues, make a note of the exact error message and phone our support line on 1300 287 539 (select option 2 for myGovID enquiries) between 8.00am and 6.00pm AEST, Monday to Friday.

You don’t require mobile phone coverage, however you do require an internet connection. Your myGovID needs an internet connection just like when accessing other government online services.
If you don’t have internet coverage to your smart device but you do have access to internet to interact online, connect your smart device to that same internet to use your myGovID.

Click I forgot my password on the myGovID app login screen. You will need to prove your identity again using the same email address and identity documents.

You can enable the security features in your device such as fingerprint or face, which can be used as an alternative to your password.

However, you will still need a password in case your fingerprint or face security features are not working or if you choose not to enable this feature.

Currently, only one email can be associated with the documents you used to set up your myGovID.

In future, you will be able to change or update the email address associated with your myGovID.

If you no longer have access to your email address, you can continue to use your myGovID to login to government online services if you still have access to your myGovID app.

If you no longer have the myGovID app installed on your smart device you will be unable to recover your identity. This means you will no longer be able to use your myGovID to log in to a government online service.

Note: You should not delete your myGovID app if you have changed your email address since setting up your myGovID.

In future, you will be able to change or update the email address associated with your myGovID.

If you have bookmarked the myGovID login page, delete the bookmark and close the browser. Open a new browser and begin at the service you were trying to access.

Each time you log in to a government online service using your myGovID you are provided with a four digit code that you will need to enter and accept in your myGovID app.

When using the same browser, a ‘Remember me’ option is available which means you don’t need to enter your email address and the four digit code will be automatically pre-filled in your app for you to accept.

Make sure your email address is entered correctly and matches the one you used to set up your myGovID.

If you continue to experience issues phone our support line on 1300 287 539 (select option 2 for myGovID enquiries) between 8.00am and 6.00pm AEST, Monday to Friday.

It may be that your login has timed out in your internet browser. Decline any existing code request screens in the myGovID app.

You can delete the myGovID app from your device. This prevents access to your digital identity on your device, while your information remains safe and secure.

The information you provided when setting up your myGovID remains active after you delete the app, so you can reinstall and use your myGovID again.

If you would like to discuss deactivating your myGovID so it can't be used, phone the ATO on 1300 287 539 and select option 2.

For more information about how your information is collected, stored and used refer to the:

• myGovID privacy notice
• myGovID privacy policy

There is no time limit to the life of your myGovID. In future, you may be required to verify your identity again if your myGovID has not been used for an extended period of time.

The myGovID app works the same regardless of the device you are using, for example Android or Apple. However, the security features available on your device may be different. myGovID uses the security features in your device, such as fingerprint or face, to protect your identity and stop other people accessing your information.

AUSkey and Manage ABN Connections (your ABN connected to your myGov) will be replaced by myGovID and Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM) at the end of March 2020.

myGovID and RAM will be progressively rolled out to a number of government online services. There may be a period of time where you use AUSkey for some services and myGovID and RAM for others.

myGovID is currently only supported on a compatible smart device and will be required to access online services. Businesses may need to adjust workplace policies to enable use of the smart device to log on to an online service.

It is important to note that myGovID enables a user to log on to an online service from any browser and device that is supported by that online service (for example, Firefox, Chrome, PC, laptop or tablet). The smart device is only required for the log on step.

For information on this question see Claiming mobile phone, internet and home phone expenses on the ATO website.

Setting up your myGovID on multiple devices does not affect the authorisations you have been assigned in RAM.

myGovID and RAM will be progressively rolled out to existing government agency services where AUSkey is used to log in. The timing of this will depend on the agency service you are accessing as each agency will make this option available at different times. There may be a period of time where you use your existing AUSkey for some services and myGovID/RAM for others leading up to the decommissioning of AUSkey in March 2020.

Currently, myGovID is only available to Australian business owners.

Find out more about simplified GST registration.

myGovID is accredited under the:

• Australian Trusted Digital Identity Framework which strictly controls how your identity data is collected, stored and used.
• Gatekeeper Public Key Infrastructure Framework which governs how the Australian Government uses digital keys and certificates to assure the identity of subscribers to authentication services. 

myGovID uses encryption and cryptographic technology as well as the security features in your device – such as fingerprint, face or password. This is to protect your identity and help stop other people accessing your information.

For more information see How secure is it?

Your myGovID belongs to you – don’t share it with others.

Sharing your myGovID will enable others to access to your personal data across services such as tax and health.

To ensure the security of your identity it is your responsibility to protect your details.

myGovID offers a greater level of security with identity document verification, compared to username and password credentials and SMS verification codes.

However, if you suspect someone has inappropriately accessed your personal information in myGovID, you need to report this immediately. Contact our support line on 1300 287 539 (select option 2 for myGovID enquiries) between 8.00am and 6.00pm AEST, Monday to Friday.

International callers can contact the ATO by phoning + 61 2 6216 1111 (switchboard) between 8.00am to 5.00pm AEST and request for your call to be transferred to the myGovID support line.

For more info and tips about myGovID security and staying safe online security read How secure is it?