GOV.UK One Login: A Plain English Guide

If you have tried to sign in to GOV.UK recently and been asked to create a "GOV.UK One Login", you are not alone in finding it confusing. Many people search for it as "GOV.UK one account" or "one account login". It is the same thing: a single sign-in that is gradually replacing the old Government Gateway and other ways of signing in to GOV.UK services. Most people meet it for the first time in the middle of trying to do something else. 💚

This guide explains what GOV.UK One Login is, how to create an account, how to prove your identity, and what to do if you hit a problem along the way.

1. What is GOV.UK One Login?

GOV.UK One Login is the government's new single sign-in system for services on GOV.UK. The idea is one account and one set of sign-in details for all government services, rather than a separate username and password for HMRC, the DVLA and every other department.

It is still rolling out. Not every service uses it yet, and some well-known services such as Universal Credit still use their own separate login. But over time, GOV.UK One Login will replace all other ways of signing in to services on GOV.UK, including the Government Gateway.

If a service you are trying to use requires a GOV.UK One Login account and you do not have one yet, you will be prompted to create one at that point. You do not need to set one up in advance.

2. Which services use it now?

The list of services that have moved to GOV.UK One Login is growing. You can see the current list of services using GOV.UK One Login on GOV.UK.

Services already using it include a range of HMRC and DWP tools, as well as services for checking your State Pension, applying for certain licences, and more. If you have already used one of these services and proved your identity, that identity check is saved to your account, so you will not need to repeat it for other services that require the same level of verification.

Simple action: If you are not sure whether a service you use has moved to GOV.UK One Login, visit the service as normal. It will tell you if a One Login account is needed.

3. How to create your account

Creating the account takes a few minutes. Go to the GOV.UK One Login page and select "Create a GOV.UK One Login". If you arrived from a service, such as checking your State Pension, you can create the account from that service's sign-in screen instead.

You will need:

• An email address you can access
• A way to receive a security code (by text message or an authenticator app)

Enter your email, choose a password, and set up your second factor for security. That is the basic account. You can sign in to some services with just this.

Some services also need to confirm who you are. For those, you will need to prove your identity as well. This is a separate step, explained below.

💡 Tip: Use an email address you check regularly and that you will still have access to in years to come. Avoid using a work email address if you are setting this up for personal government services.

4. Proving your identity

Some services require you to prove your identity before you can use them. Once you have done this once, the result is saved to your GOV.UK One Login, so you will not need to go through it again for other services.

There are three ways to do it:

Using the GOV.UK One Login app

Download the app on your phone, then use it to scan your photo ID and take a short video of your face. You will need a phone with a working camera: an iPhone 8 or newer running iOS 16.7 or higher, or an Android phone running Android 10 or higher.

Accepted photo ID for the app: UK passport, UK photocard driving licence, non-UK passport with a biometric chip, UK Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), Biometric Residence Card (BRC), or UK Frontier Worker permit.

You cannot use an expired passport in the app. You can use a DVLA driving licence that expired in the last 90 days, and a BRP, BRC or Frontier Worker permit that expired in the last 24 months.

Answering security questions online

If you would rather not use the app, you can answer security questions on the GOV.UK website instead. These cover financial details such as bank accounts, credit cards, loans, mortgages or mobile phone contracts. If you get Personal Independence Payment (PIP), you can answer questions about your PIP instead. You will also need to enter details from a UK passport, UK photocard driving licence, or a current account with a UK bank or building society.

At a Post Office

If you prefer to verify in person, you can visit a Post Office that offers in-branch verification. You enter your photo ID details on GOV.UK first, then visit the Post Office where they scan your ID and take a photo. You usually receive the result by email within a day.

Accepted photo ID at a Post Office includes UK and non-UK passports, UK and EU photocard driving licences, and national identity photocards from EU countries, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

5. What if you do not have a smartphone?

The Post Office route is designed for people who do not have a smartphone or do not feel comfortable using an app. You can complete the online part of the process on a desktop or laptop computer, then visit your local Post Office with your photo ID.

The security questions route also works on a desktop computer without needing a smartphone, as long as you have the required financial or ID details to hand.

Simple action: Find your nearest participating branch on the Post Office website before you start the process, so you know where to go.

6. Getting help if you get stuck

If something goes wrong during sign-in or the identity check, you can contact the GOV.UK One Login team directly.

You are also allowed to ask someone you know and trust to help you set up and use GOV.UK One Login. GOV.UK sets out what a helper can and cannot do on your behalf.

The most common problems people run into are using an expired document that is no longer accepted, receiving a security code on an old phone number, or not having the right type of photo ID for the method they chose. All of these have workarounds. The contact page above is the best starting point.

7. Quick answers

Is GOV.UK One Login the same as "GOV.UK one account"?

Yes. People often call it "one account" or "one account login", but the official name is GOV.UK One Login.

Is it the same as Government Gateway?

No. They are separate sign-ins. GOV.UK One Login will replace Government Gateway over time, but until a service has moved over, you may still need your Government Gateway user ID for it.

How do I sign in to GOV.UK?

There is no single page that signs you in to everything yet. Start from the service you want to use. If it has moved to GOV.UK One Login, it will ask you to sign in or create an account there. You can also sign in on the GOV.UK One Login page to change your email, password or security codes and see the services you have used.

Does it work for Universal Credit?

Not yet. Universal Credit still uses its own sign-in.

Can I delete my GOV.UK One Login?

Yes. Sign in to your account and you will find the option to delete it.

GOV.UK One Login can feel like an obstacle when you first come across it, but once the account and identity check are set up, using government services online becomes much easier. You do the work once and it carries through. 💛

Get started on the GOV.UK One Login page, or contact the support team if you need help. If you are based in Ireland and looking for the equivalent, our guide to MyGovID covers the Irish system. If you are in the Netherlands, our guide to DigiD explains how that works. Browse more Una guides for plain English help with digital tools and government services.