What to expect when using ID.me to access an organization – ID.me Help Center

An organization you need to access will soon require that you sign in with ID.me to verify your identity. Signing in with ID.me helps organizations ensure that the person logging in to your account is really you and not someone pretending to be you.

This article explains what to expect when an organization uses ID.me.

What to expect

You will know you can verify your identity or access an organization using ID.me when an ID.me button displays on an organization’s website. The ID.me button will say “Sign in with ID.me” or “Verify with ID.me”.

Illustration of person using a phone to sign in with ID.me

How you’ll verify your identity depends on whether you have an ID.me account or are verifying your identity for the first time.

Already have an account?
- If you have an ID.me account and have already verified your identity at the level required by your organization, you can prove your identity by signing in and consenting to share your identity information.
- If you have an ID.me account, but haven’t verified your identity, you will be prompted to complete the verification after you sign in.
Creating an account for the first time? If you have never created an ID.me account, you need to create an ID.me account using your personal email address, verify your identity, and consent to share your identity information with your organization.

To learn more about the identity verification process, visit Verifying with Self-Service.

Note: Some organizations require a certain email to be on your ID.me account. When ID.me is available at the organization you need to access, you will receive instructions on how to set up your ID.me account. These instructions will let you know if you need to have certain emails on your ID.me account.

What to do before ID.me is available

You may need to complete several steps before ID.me is available. The specific steps required depend on whether you already have an ID.me account or not.

Already have an ID.me account?

We recommend making sure you can sign in to your ID.me account and that your information is correct:

To confirm you can sign in, go to the ID.me sign-in page, enter your email address and password, and complete multi-factor authentication (MFA) if it’s set up. If you’re unable to sign in, visit I can’t sign in to my account.
To review your account information, sign in to your account and review the information in your “My Account” overview. Update your name or physical address if they aren’t correct. If you are accessing the organization for work, you should also add your work email address

Don’t have an ID.me account?

If you don’t have an account, we recommend waiting until ID.me launches for the organization you need to access. At that point, you can create an account by selecting the ID.me button.

FAQ

What if I can’t find the ID.me button?

The ID.me button will only display on the organization’s site after the partnership has officially started. If you still don’t see an ID.me button on their website:

Contact the organization or agency you are trying to access for steps to get started.
Visit ID.me Government or Help Center to find where to start.