How to verify your identity for your Login.gov account

Section 1 of 4: Prepare

1. Gather what you’ll need to complete the process.

   Here’s what you must have:

   • Your Login.gov username (your email address) and password, and
   • Your current, valid driver’s license or other state-issued ID, and 
   • Your Social Security number

   Here’s what you’ll also need to complete the process online:

   • A U.S. phone number, and
   • A smartphone with a camera or a computer where you’ve saved images of your ID, and
   • Access to the method you set up for MFA, like your mobile or landline phone, authentication app, security key, or backup codes

   Note: If you don’t have a U.S. phone number, Login.gov may be able to send a letter to your mailing address instead. If you don’t have a smartphone with a camera or a computer with images of your ID, you can choose to verify your identity in person at a participating U.S. post office near you.

   Don’t have a Login.gov account? You’ll need to create one and set up multifactor authentication (MFA) to help protect your account first.  Learn how to create a Login.gov account

2. Take photos of the front and back of your driver’s license or other state-issued ID and save the photos to your mobile phone or private computer.

   You’ll need to upload these photos as part of the process. And it’s often easier to take the photos ahead of time. Follow these tips to help take photos that Login.gov will accept:

   • Make sure your ID—especially the barcode—is clean and undamaged.
   • Prop your ID up against a solid, dark background. Avoid white or textured backgrounds.
   • Turn off your camera’s flash and live photos functions.
   • Make sure the area is well lit with indirect light. View the ID through your phone’s camera and make sure there are no glares or shadows. Adjust the ID placement and light until you get a clear, full image of your ID.
   • Hold your phone as still as you can. Try to hold it with both hands, with your elbows at your sides, and your legs or hips braced against a door or wall. Or, prop the phone on a steady base, like a table, wall, or the ground.
   • Make sure your camera view includes the entire ID and no part is cut off.
   • Try to hold your breath for the moment when you take the photo. 

   Note: If you’re using a public computer, don’t save any photos of your ID to the computer. 

Step 2 of 4: Get started on VA.gov

1. Sign in to VA.gov with your Login.gov account. You’ll be prompted to confirm it’s you with the MFA you set up when you created your account.

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2. On your My VA dashboard, you’ll find an alert telling you to verify your identity for your account.

   Select Verify your identity.

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3. The screen will change to confirm that you signed in with Login.gov and will prompt you to verify your identity with Login.gov.

   Select Verify with Login.gov.

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4. We’ll take you back to the Login.gov sign-in screen. You’ll need to sign in again to start the identity verification process for VA. 

   Enter your email and password to sign in to Login.gov through VA again.

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5. You’ll get a screen with the message Let’s verify your identity for VA.

   Select Continue.

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6. Read the requirements. 

   If you agree, check the box next to the Login.gov consent statement. Then select Continue.

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7. Choose if you want to verify online or in person at a participating U.S. post office near you.

   We encourage you to try to verify online first. If it doesn’t work, you’ll still have the option to verify in person. Select Continue online.

   Note: The instructions on this page are for verifying your identity online. If you choose to verify in person, Login.gov will take you through that process step by step. 

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Section 3 of 4: Upload photos of your ID from your mobile phone

1. Choose how you’d like to upload your state-issued ID, depending on whether you saved the photos of your ID on your phone or computer. If you didn’t save the photos ahead of time, choose the phone option. You can take the photos now.
   
   Note: The instructions on this page focus on the mobile phone process. If you started the process on your computer, you have the option to switch and use your phone to take images or you can upload them from your computer.

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2. Check your mobile phone text messages.

   You’ll find a text from Login.gov. Select the link in the message. This will take you to Login.gov to upload photos of your ID.

   To help make sure you can upload your photos, use the best browser for your device:

   • If you’re using an iPhone or iOS tablet, use the Safari web browser.
   • If you’re using an Android phone or tablet, use the Google Chrome web browser.
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3. Enter your mobile phone number.

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4. Select Upload photo for the first box labeled FRONT. Upload the photo you took of the front of your ID.

   Then select Upload photo for the second box labeled BACK. Upload the photo you took of the back of your ID.

   Note: If you didn’t save these photos to your phone first, you can select Take photo and take them now.

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5. Check the photos on the upload screen.

   If one or both are blurry, select Retake and try to take the photos again until you have 2 clear photos. Then select Submit.

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6. Login.gov will take a minute to process the images you uploaded of your ID. After your images successfully upload, you’ll go to the next step automatically.

   Note: If your photos fail to upload, you can read Login.gov troubleshooting tips and try again. Or, you can choose to verify your identity in person at a participating U.S. post office.

   Read Login.gov troubleshooting tips

   Learn about how to verify your identity in person with Login.gov

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Section 4 of 4: Complete the verification process

1. Enter your Social Security number. Then select Continue.

   Verify the information you’ve entered so far is correct. Then select Continue again.

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2. Enter your primary U.S. phone number. 

   • In some cases, you may be able to select Verify your address by mail instead. You will have to wait 5 to 10 days to receive a letter in the mail and then follow the instructions to enter a verification code.
   • If Login.gov doesn’t give you the option to verify by mail, you must verify by phone to successfully verify your identity.
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3. Re-enter your Login.gov password. Then select Continue.

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4. You’ll get a confirmation that you’ve verified your identity and that Login.gov will now share your information with VA. Click Agree and continue.

   Your Login.gov account is now identity-verified for VA. You can sign in with this account to manage your VA benefits and health care online.

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5. As the last step, Login.gov will share with you your personal key code. Select Download, Print, or Copy to save a copy of your key.

   Note: You’ll need this personal key in case you ever forget your password. If you reset your password and don’t have this key, you’ll have to verify your identity again.

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6. Login.gov should send you back to VA.gov or the VA website you started from (such as the My HealtheVet website). Here's what to know:

   • If you get an error message, don't worry. Close the tab. Open a new tab and sign in to the VA website again with your Login.gov account. 
   • If Login.gov doesn't send you back to the VA website you started from, don't worry. Open a new tab and sign in to the VA website again with your Login.gov account.
   • If you get new VA terms of use to accept, read the terms and accept them if you agree. You must agree to our terms of use to manage your benefits and health care online.
   • If you get a message that you need to register for My HealtheVet, you can register now. This process will connect your verified Login.gov account to your health data. Answer the questions and review the personal information shown to you.

   Note: We encourage you to now delete any photos of your ID documents from your phone or computer.