MyGovID app

The MyGovID app allows you to verify your identity using your smartphone.

You can download the My GovIDonto your Apple or Android smartphone.

This new service is available if you:

• are resident in Ireland
• hold a current Irish passport
• are aged 16 years and over
• have a basic MyGovID account
• have not gone through the SAFE Registration process previously

Once your online application has been approved, users of the app will receive:

• a Public Services Card (PSC) in the post
• a verified MyGovID account

If we are unable to process your online application, you will be notified of what information you need to bring with you to complete the process at a Public Services Card/SAFE Registration centre.

You will need to have a basic MyGovID account and to have downloaded the MyGovID app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your smartphone.

You will need to accept the Terms and Conditions when using the app. If you do not wish to accept these, you can choose to verify your identity at one of the department’s Public Services Card (PSC) Centres.

Mobile Phone

You need a mobile phone with a front facing camera, Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, and a minimum specification of:

• Apple iOS version 15

or

• Android version 10

Your Apple or Google user account needs to have Ireland set as a location.

Passport

You need a valid Irish passport book to use the app. Passport cards are not accepted.

MyGovID Basic Account

See how to create a basic MyGovID accountfor more information.

When you log into your basic MyGovID account through the app, you will be asked to provide your PPS Number to begin verifying your identity.

To verify your identity the following information is collected:

• a 'selfie' photograph*
• an image of your passport details page
• a scan of the chip contained in your passport
• your signature*
• additional personal information

Your selfie and signature will appear on your Public Services Card*.

All information collected is held by the department. See our privacy statementfor more information.

If your address is different to records held by the department, you will be asked to upload a photo of proof of your current address dated within the last 6 months. The following list gives examples of acceptable proofs of address:

• utility bill (for example a gas or electricity bill)
• car or home insurance policy
• tax credit certificate
• statement of liability from the Revenue Commissioners
• bank statement showing your address

If you do not have proof of address in your own name, the householder must sign the utility bill confirming you are resident at that address.

The department will delete any proof of address uploaded when your application has been processed.

You can download the MyGovID app onto your Apple or Android smartphone.

What is SAFE registration?

SAFE stands for Standard Authentication Framework Environment - the process the Department of Social Protection uses to establish and verify a person’s identity. This is to make sure that:

• the person is the who they say they are
• nobody else is using that person’s identity to claim a payment or service
• the person is not claiming another payment or using another service under a different identity
• people do not have to provide the same information again and again when accessing different services.

What is the legal basis for SAFE registration?

The Minister for Social Protection is responsible for authenticating identity under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act (SWCA) 2005.

The Social Welfare Consolidation Act (SWCA) 2005 provides the legal basis for the in-person SAFE registration process, and the online service, where the applicant provides the required identity information to the Department through the app to be processed.

How can I get SAFE registered?

You can become SAFE registered by:

• attending an in-person meeting at a Public Services Card (PSC) Centres.
• applying online through the MyGovID app.

Am I eligible to use the online SAFE registration service?

To be eligible you need to:

• have a PPS Number
• be 16 years of age or older
• have a basic MyGovID account
• have a valid Irish passport
• have access to a smartphone
• be able to download the MyGovID app from the Apple or Google Play stores
• have evidence of your address in Ireland
• have a Google or Apple account (with your location set to Ireland).

You are not eligible to use the app if you have previously completed, or started, your SAFE registration in one of the Department’s offices.

How can I access the online SAFE registration service?

You can download the MyGovID app, which is available free of charge from the Google Play or Apple app Store.

What data will I need to provide?

You will be asked to provide your:

• email address
• PPS Number
• birth surname
• mother’s birth surname
• address
• answers to two security questions
• mobile phone number
• signature.

In addition to:

• take a selfie photograph
• upload a photograph of the information page of your passport

Who is the data controller for online SAFE registration?

The Department of Social Protection is the data controller for online SAFE registration.

How will my data be processed?

The app processes your personal data to verify details of the passport to compare the photograph stored on that passport with the selfie you take during your online SAFE registration.

How exactly is my data processed by the app?

• your ‘selfie’ is used to complete a liveness check and matched against the photographs stored on the passport presented
• data from the passport is processed to ensure it is a valid passport
• the identity data, including the photograph, is read from the chip on the passport
• the personal information on the passport, such as full name, date of birth, and nationality, is also processed

Does online SAFE registration involve the processing of biometric data?

Yes, the service creates and processes biometric data in the app.

Three photographs are compared using biometric data to make sure the applicant is a ‘living’ person and prevent the creation of fraudulent identities.

Will my personal data be secure during the online SAFE registration process?

Yes. Appropriate measures are in place to ensure your information is held securely at all stages of the application process.

How is my data stored if I use the online SAFE registration process?

Your data will be temporarily held by the app during the application process until transmitted to the department and then stored securely by the department.

No data will be stored on the smartphone used.

What happens if I start but decide not to proceed with my online SAFE registration application?

If you do not complete and submit your application in full for any reason, your application data is deleted from the app after 1 hour.

Can I change my mind and get SAFE registered in person instead?

Yes. The online SAFE registration service is entirely a voluntary option. You may, at any time, contact the Department to arrange an in-person SAFE registration appointment at one of the Department’s PSC centres.

Why am I not permitted to complete my online application ?

You will not be allowed to proceed with you application if:

• you have already been SAFE registered, or have previously commenced the process in an office of the Department
• if the date of birth on your passport does not match the date of birth already held by the department
• the selfie does not match the photo on the passport, or the photo on the chip on the passport.

If you receive a message that you are not allowed to proceed and do not already have a Public Services Card (PSC), you should contact the department to arrange an in-person appointment to complete your SAFE registration process.

What happens to my data when I submit my completed online SAFE registration application?

When you have completed the application, your information is stored securely on the department’s computer system and reviewed by an officer of the department.

How is the decision on my online SAFE registration application made?

An officer will review all the information submitted and decide if your SAFE registration application is approved or not.

If approved you will receive your verified MyGovID account and your Public Services Card will be posted to your address.

If your SAFE registration application is not approved, you will be contacted by the department and notified what to do to complete your SAFE registration. This may involve attending an office of the department to complete the process, for example you may have to have your photograph taken at one of the department’s offices if the quality of the selfie submitted is not suitable to appear on your PSC.

What happens to my personal data after my application is approved?

After your application is approved, you will receive your verified MyGovID account and your PSC will be posted to your address.

Your personal data will be retained securely on the our servers in line with our retention policy. In general, this means your personal data will be retained by the department for the duration of your lifetime plus an additional period of 10 years.

Who can I contact about any data protection concerns I may have?

We take our responsibilities in relation to data protection very seriously. Every effort is made to ensure that personal customer data is used solely for business purposes and that it is not compromised in any way. The department has data protection and information security policies, standards, procedures and guidelines in place governing the use of its computer systems and customer data.

The department’s Privacy Statement is available here.

In accordance with Article 37 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we have appointed a Data Protection Officer, who can be contacted at: