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Help

How to verify my identity

If a government application requires identity verification, login.gov will ask you to verify your identity the first time you sign in to it. You will need to have your state-issued ID (like your driver’s license) or a picture of the front and the back of it. Use the following steps to verify your identity on login.gov:

  1. When you are signing in or creating an account, you will see the “We need to verify your identity” page. Click on “Get started”.
  2. On the “How would you like to upload your state issued ID?” page, choose to upload images of your ID from your computer or from your phone (take a picture with your phone’s camera or upload an image from your phone’s photo library).

    Use your computer
    • Upload an image of the front of your state-issued ID by clicking on “Choose File”, selecting the file from your computer, and clicking on “Continue”
    • Upload an image of the back of your state-issued ID by clicking on “Choose File”, selecting the file from your computer, and clicking on “Continue”
      Use your phone
    • Enter your phone number and click “Continue”
    • Go to your phone
    • You will receive a text message with a link. Click on the link.
    • Upload or take an image of the front of your state-issued ID by clicking on “Choose File”, taking a picture or uploading one from your photo library, and clicking on “Continue”
    • Upload or take an image of the back of your state-issued ID by clicking on “Choose File”, taking a picture or uploading one from your photo library, and clicking on “Continue”
    • Go back to your computer and click “Continue”
  3. Enter your social security number and click “Continue”
  4. Make sure your information is correct and click “Continue”
  5. Enter a phone number to verify your identity. If you do not have a phone plan with your name on it or a U.S. phone number, click on “Get a code via mail instead”. You will have to wait to receive a letter in the mail and then follow the instructions to enter the code.
  6. Re-enter your login.gov password

If we are able to verify your identity, you will see a confirmation page and be able to enter the government application.