Creating an ID.me account and verifying your identity ensures you–and only you–can access the benefits and services that are meant for you. Each person can have only one ID.me account– it’s tied to you as an individual, similar to having one driver's license or Social Security number. You’ll upload a government-issued photo ID, take a selfie, and provide other personal information during this process.
This article explains how to create your ID.me account and verify your identity using Self-Service.
Get started
How you begin depends on whether you already have an ID.me account or need to create an ID.me account for the first time. Select the appropriate tab below for step-by-step instructions.
Do not create another account if you already have one. Instead, sign in with your existing ID.me account and follow the prompts to connect your ID.me account to the organization. Keep in mind ID.me offers several different levels of identity verification and community verification. Organizations that partner with ID.me choose the type of identity verification and level of assurance they require.
If you have a verification on your ID.me account that meets the requirements of the organization you want to access, you will be able to verify your identity by signing in and providing consent.
If you do not have the required verification on your ID.me account, you will be prompted to verify your identity after you sign in.
If you have an ID.me account, but haven’t verified your identity, you will be prompted to verify after you sign in.
You can find links and organization specific steps by searching for your organization’s name or acronym in the Search bar. You can also browse the following categories to search for your ID.me partner:
If the organization you are trying to access is not included in these articles, please contact the organization you are trying to access.
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 with a driver’s license, state ID, passport or passport card
- Consent to share your identity information with your ID.me partner
You only need to verify your identity once—then you can use your ID.me log in anywhere else ID.me is accepted.
Create my ID.me account
To create an ID.me account:
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Go to your partner’s website and when prompted, select Sign in with ID.me or Verify with ID.me.
Note: Some ID.me partners will prompt you to verify by email. Check your spam folders for emails from ID.me or your ID.me partner. - Select Create an ID.me account, enter your personal email address and a strong password. Learn how to create a strong password.
- Follow the prompts to finish setting up your ID.me account and to confirm ownership of your email.
Verify with Self-Service
To verify, you’ll need:
- A mobile phone that has a camera
- Government-issued photo ID (U.S. driver's license or state ID, U.S. passport, or U.S. passport card)
- Social Security number
How to verify
To verify your identity using Self-Service:
- Go to your partner’s website and select Sign in with ID.me or Verify with ID.me when prompted.
- Sign in with your ID.me account, and select Self-Service (if prompted).
- Follow the prompts to upload your US driver’s license or state photo ID, or select Change document to upload a passport or passport card. Learn how to take photos of your documents.
- Take and submit a video selfie. Your selfie will only be used to confirm that the person in the selfie matches your government ID.
Note: If selfie verification doesn’t work, keep trying. If you are unable to capture a selfie, you’ll be prompted to join a short video call with Video Chat Agent. - When prompted, enter your phone number and Social Security number. Learn why ID.me asks for your Social Security number.
- Enter your US address, if prompted.
- Review your information, then select Yes to confirm it is accurate.
- Finally, from the Authorize screen, review the information that the partner will receive and then select Allow to consent to share that information with them.
You’re verified! Your ID.me Wallet now holds a Verified Identity card that you can use to prove and share your identity anywhere that accepts ID.me. You can also use your ID.me Login to securely sign in to any website that displays the ID.me login button.
Troubleshooting
Don’t have a smartphone
If you don’t have a smartphone with internet access and a working camera, you can complete your verification by uploading additional documents and joining an extended video call.
Documents weren’t approved
If your documents weren’t approved, you will have another opportunity to upload your documents. For tips to ensure your documents are approved, visit How to fix rejected documents.
Duplicate account
When verifying your identity, you may see a “Duplicate Account” message that asks you to sign in with the original email address you verified with. This means you already verified under a different ID.me account. To learn more, visit What to do if you have a duplicate account.
Video Chat Agent
If there is an issue verifying your identity using self-service, you may need to complete your verification by uploading additional documents and joining a video call. Wait times can vary, but you can schedule a video call appointment at a time that’s convenient for you.
You will need to have two primary documents or one primary document and one secondary document to complete the process.
You may need to provide additional documentation:
- To prove your Social Security number
- To prove your current address
- If your name has changed
You’ll need to present your physical documents on the video call.