in this guide
A Digital Identity is a way to prove who you are online. You can use your Digital Identity to link Centrelink to your myGov account.
To link Centrelink, you need to have a strong level Digital Identity. Go to the Digital Identity website for more information about Digital Identity and identity strength.
If you don’t have a Digital Identity, you can create one while you link Centrelink. You’ll need to:
- download an app
- enter details from some of your identity documents
- scan your face with your device.
If you link Centrelink with a Digital Identity, you won’t have to visit a service centre before you can claim a payment.
The screenshots in this guide are from a computer. The page layout will look different if you’re using a mobile device.
Step 1: sign in to myGov
Go to myGov and sign in.
Select either:
- Link a service
- View and link services.
From the list, select Link for the service you want to link.
If you agree to myGov storing your Given names, Family name and Date of birth in your myGov profile, select Continue.
This page will only show if you haven’t linked the Australian Taxation Office or Medicare to your myGov account first.
If you’ve already linked the Australian Taxation Office or Medicare to your myGov account, we’ll show your myGov profile details.
Select Continue to proceed.
Step 2: get started
Select Yes or No to Do you have or know your CRN?, then select Next.
If you told us you have a CRN, select Yes or No to Do you have a linking code?, then select Next.
Select Get started in the Digital Identity (Recommended) box.
If you:
- don’t have a Digital Identity, select Create a Digital Identity
- have a Digital Identity, select I have a Digital Identity.
Select your identity provider. At the moment, myGovID is the only identity provider.
If you:
Step 3: create your Digital Identity
Download the myGovID app from the App store or Google Play Store.
Open the app and follow the prompts to set up your Digital Identity. You’ll need to enter an email address, details from your identity documents and scan your face with your device.
Once you’ve set up your Digital Identity, come back to your browser and go to step 4. If you’ve timed out, go back to step 1.
Go to the myGovID website for help with the myGovID app.
Step 4: share your Digital Identity details to prove who you are
Enter the email you used to create your Digital Identity email address, then select Login.
The myGovID website will give you a 4 digit code. Open your myGovID app and enter the code.
We’ll ask you to consent to share your details with both:
- myGov, to connect your Digital Identity to your myGov account
- Centrelink, to prove who you are, and link Centrelink to your myGov account.
Make sure your details are correct, then select Consent.
Check your details are correct, then select Consent.
Step 5: enter other details about you
We’ll ask you to answer some questions specific to you. This is to make sure we match the correct record to your myGov account. We base the questions on information you’ve given to Centrelink in the past.
Answer the questions, then select Next.
We’ll ask you some further questions specific to you.
Answer the questions, then select Continue.
When you’ve answered all the questions, you’ve now linked Centrelink to your myGov account.
We’ll give you your Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN).
Select either of the following options:
- Continue to go to your Centrelink online account
- myGov to go back to your myGov account.
For your privacy and security, select My account, then Sign out when you’ve finished using your myGov account.
View other online account and Express Plus mobile app guides and video demonstrations about using your online account.