How to set up myID

Before you start

To set up your myID, you need:

• a smart device – the myID app is compatible with most smart devices, such as smart phones, and is only available from the Apple App Store or Google Play
• a personal email address – as it’s your personal Digital ID, your ID documents will be linked to the email you choose. It should not be a shared or work email address
• to be 15 years or older – age restrictions may also apply to use some government online services.

Three steps to set up myID

1. Download the myID app on your smart device

External Link External Link

Only download the myID app from the official app stores listed above.

If you:

• are setting up your myID for the first time, continue to step 2
• have set up your myID before, select ‘I am an existing user’ and follow the prompts. See Setting up your myID again.

2. Enter your details

Open the myID app on your smart device and follow the prompts to:

• enter your email address – choose a personal email you have ongoing access to
• create a password
• enter your full name and date of birth.

3. Choose your identity strength

You can set up a Basic, Standard or Strong myID. 

After entering your details you will have a Basic identity strength.

Increasing your identity strength will better protect your Digital ID and allow you to access more services.

Each online service has a minimum identity strength for access. Check the minimum identity strength needed for the online service you want to use.

The app may ask you to verify an Australian passport or other documents to increase your identity strength. You don’t need to do this if you’ve achieved the minimum identity strength for the online service you want to access.

Once set up, you can use myID as your Digital ID to prove who you are when accessing government online services.

Identity strength

A Basic myID allows access to limited participating government online services.

For a Basic identity strength you only need to enter your personal details. 

You will be prompted to verify your ID documents. If you choose not to verify your ID documents, or you verify only one document, your identity strength will remain at Basic.

A Standard myID allows access to most participating government online services.

For a Standard identity strength, you need to verify your ID with any 2 of the following Australian documents:

• passport (an Australian passport, either current or no more than 3 years expired)
• driver’s licence or learner’s permit
• birth certificate
• visa (using your foreign passport)
• ImmiCard
• citizenship certificate
• Medicare card (this option appears after you verify one of the above documents). 

Generally, your name must match on both documents. If you’ve changed your name, you may be able to verify this with a change of name certificate (ACT, NT, SA and Tas only) or marriage certificate.

You can find support:

• to help you verify your ID 
• if you’re unable to achieve a Standard myID.

A Strong myID allows access to all participating government online services.

For a Strong identity strength, you need to:

• verify your Australian passport (either current or no more than 3 years expired) 
• verify one of the following Australian documents 
  • citizenship certificate
  • driver’s licence or learner’s permit 
  • Medicare card (this option appears after you verify your passport)
• do a face verification check. This is like a selfie that’s compared to the photo on your passport. The app will prompt you on how to do it. It’s a one-off process to check that you’re a real person, the right person and verifying in real time. 

Generally, your name must match on both documents. If you’ve changed your name, you may be able to verify this with a change of name certificate (ACT, NT, SA and Tas only) or marriage certificate.

You can find support:

• to help you verify your ID
• if you’re unable to achieve a Strong myID.

Setting up myID for business

To access a government online service on behalf of a business, your myID generally needs to be linked to the business’s Australian business number (ABN). This is done in Relationship Authorisation Manager, which is a separate online service.

The principal authorityOpens in a new window (the person responsible for the business) has to be the first person to link their myID to the business’s ABN. They need to:

1. set up their myID with at least Standard identity strength
2. link their myID to the business’s ABN in Relationship Authorisation Manager.Opens in a new window

If you’re not the principal authority for the business, you need to:

1. set up your myID with an identity strength that’s high enough for the online service you want to access. Standard identity strength can access all government online services for business
2. be authorised by the business’s principal authority or authorisation administrator in Relationship Authorisation Manager.Opens in a new window

 

Trademarks and attributions

_{Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.}

^{myID is a trademark of the Commonwealth of Australia.}