Identity assurance

Creating a nidirect account

You can create a nidirect account to access a number of government applications online. 

Your account is unique to you and is trusted by services you need to use.

You can use your account for the following:

• COVID Certificate Scheme
• DAERA online applications
• apply for a taxi licence
• apply for legal aid
• claim for compensation for criminal injury
• apply for a basic disclosure certificate
• buy rod licences, permits and River Bush day tickets
• view or share your driving licence service 
• apply for a provisional driving licence

More DVA services 

Once you have created an account you can also use the following Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) Northern Ireland services: 

• renew your car/motorcycle and lorry/bus licence online
• apply for a replacement licence
• notify a change of address

The benefit is that your details will already be on the online application form and you can track the progress of your application, so you will know when your licence has been processed. 

Choose the service you want to use

To create an account, you first need to choose the service you want to use. You can search nidirect to find the application and when you click on the 'green button' you will be directed to either sign-in or create a new account.

You will need to give an email address and some personal details. You will also be asked to set up a password which you will use each time you sign-in. The password should be known only to you and kept securely.

This will create a new, basic account.    

Some services need more information about you and will check your details in order to verify your account.

This means you need to give evidence that connects you as a person to the online account you create.

nidirect account verification process

When accessing a service that needs a verified identity, you will need to upload documents and take a selfie (a self portrait photograph taken of yourself, typically using the camera on your phone, tablet or desk camera).

You should take a photo of either your driving licence or passport – these can be uploaded to your account. The software will then try to capture your selfie image.

If the selfie capture doesn’t work, after two attempts you can upload a selfie image instead.

To capture the images you must position your photo-ID within the frame displayed - likewise with your selfie. You should make sure you are in a well-lit, but not overly bright area. 

Also make sure that all the details on your photo ID are clear and all are within the frame. The screens you will see will give you clear instructions, for example: 

• open your passport to the page that contains your photo
• hold that page up to your device camera
• a scan of your passport will be automatically taken when the page fills the area inside the white box
• for the purposes of taking a selfie, make sure your face is clearly visible
• adjust lighting if necessary to lessen shadows
• your picture will be taken automatically when your face fills the area inside the green oval

When all checks are done your account will be verified and you can continue to use the service you need. The new process will take a few minutes.

Sometimes these automated checks will fail and you will be asked to give more information.  

More information

If you need to give more information you should upload documents as instructed. 

You must make sure the information you created on your account exactly matches the details on your documents. For example, if the first name on your driving licence is ‘James’, the first name on your account must be ‘James’ and not ‘Jim’.   

You must send three documents, which are a mix of one document from Group one and two documents from Group two.

One document must be a photo ID - acceptable photo IDs are:

• passport - any nationality
• biometric residence permit (UK)  
• driving licence (UK, NI, ROI, Isle of Man, Channel Islands or any EU country)
• HM Forces ID card (UK Only)
• Electoral ID card (NI only)

If you can't give a document from Group one, you must send four documents from Group two. One document must show date of birth and one must be a photo ID (as above).

You will need to upload documents from the Group one and Group two lists below.

If you are under 18 and do not have a photo ID, you can give one document from Group one and two from Group two. For example your birth certificate, a letter from your school principal and a YLink Card or bank statement.

Group one documents

• passport - any nationality
• biometric residence permit (UK)  
• driving licence (UK, NI, ROI, Isle of Man, Channel Islands or any EU country)
• original birth certificate (UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands) - issued at time of birth
• original long form Irish birth certificate - issued at time of registration of birth
• original adoption certificate (UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands)

Group two documents

• work permit or visa (UK) (UK residence permit)
• UK driving licence
• certified copy of a birth or adoption certificate (UK, ROI, Isle of Man or Channel Islands)  - full or short certificate acceptable
• marriage or civil partnership certificate (UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands)
• UK firearms licence
• HM Forces ID card (UK Only)
• TV licence
• Electoral ID card (NI only)
• EU national ID card
• cards carrying PASS accreditation logo (UK and Channel Islands)
• Senior SmartPass issued by Translink (NI only)
• YLink Card issued by Translink (NI only)
• letter from Head Teacher or Further Education College Principal
• letter of sponsorship from future employer or voluntary organisation
• examination certificates (16 to 18 year olds only)

The following group two documents must be dated within the last three months:

• bank or building society statement (UK or EEA)
• credit card statement
• utility bill (UK or EEA) – not mobile phone
• benefit statement (UK only)
• addressed pay slip

The following Group Two documents must be dated within the last 12 months:

• mortgage statement (UK or EEA)
• financial statement – for example savings account (UK)
• P45 or P60 statement (UK and Channel Islands)

• HMRC Self-Assessment statement

• Land & Property Services rates demand (NI only)

You can find a list of EEA countries at this link:

• Countries in the EU and EEA 

If you have any problems you can contact nidirect account support 

Customer guidance on nidirect Account Verification Process

Some help to get you through the process:

1. Personal details

Your account must have your own personal details recorded against it.   

A nidirect account is for a single person and cannot be used for someone else, for example another family member. The details on your account must be the same as the information on your documents.      

You should avoid using name abbreviations, for example, Sue rather than Suzanne. You can give a middle name, but it is optional.

Check and make sure that your date of birth is correct on your account, but also on the documents you are providing using. If these are different, your details cannot be verified.

2. Device

The device you use will define how easily you can finish this process. More modern (especially recent) smart phones and tablets, will have a higher success rate than older devices.

3. Browser

If your browser is not up-to-date, you should install the most recent version – this will also greatly increase your chance of getting verified first time.

4. Phones and tablets

These tend to be more successful than laptops or desktops/webcams. You will be prompted to take a photo of your passport or driving licence using the camera on your phone. It is important you follow the guidance on screen: 

• place document on a plain dark background
• make sure image is clear and of good quality
• make sure all of the document is visible, particularly the edges
• make sure there is not glare or reflected light or shadow

When you are ready, take the photo.

When taking the selfie, make sure your camera is not still in use. If it is you will receive a SDK 120 error. Switch your camera off and then continue to take the selfie.   

5. Laptop/desktop

It can be more difficult to capture an image of enough quality on a webcam.     You should take a photo of the passport or licence using a quality camera (such as on a phone) and upload to your laptop/desktop. 

The software will know that you are using a laptop and will direct you to upload a photo of your ID. When you click on Upload Photo, you should choose the image from your laptop and this will be uploaded for the identity check.

You will need to take a selfie also – guidance as above. 

Logging in to a service using your nidirect account

You will start by signing in with your username and password. For some services this is all you need. 

If you are signing into a service which needs a verified account you will be guided through the verification process. 

On your first login, you will be asked how you want to receive your 'security code'.  You can set your preference to:

• email
• SMS/text Message
• authenticator App (Google Authenticator, for example)

You can change your preference at any time through Identity assurance - manage your account

When you enter your security code the login process will be finished. This improved login process gives your account a higher level of security, keeping your information safe and secure.

• if you have used email as your choice to receive your security code and it has not come through, check your junk or spam folders on your mailbox or search for “nidirect”
• if after five minutes you have not received your security code, choose ‘Resend Security Code’
• if you still do not receive a security code through your preferred method you can then select ‘Did not receive a text message.’  - a security code will be sent to the email address registered against your account
• check that the code has not gone to your junk folder - if for whatever reason you still don’t receive a security code, contact nidirect account support 

Forgotten password

You must keep your password safe at all times. You should use a word or phrase which is easy to remember but not easy for others to guess. It may be easier to use a short sentence of phrase rather than a single word. Your password needs to be:

• at least eight characters in length
• include one capital, one numerical and one special character
• cannot be the same as a previous password
• cannot include your name

If you have forgotten your password, do a  password reset by using the 'I’ve forgot my password' function on the login page. 

Managing your account

You can manage your existing nidirect account, including making changes, at this link:

• Identity assurance - manage your account

nidirect account support

Your nidirect account is needed to access certain online government services. If you have problems registering for or signing in to an nidirect account, contact account support using the details below.

If you are registering an account for COVID Certificate Scheme:

• phone: 0300 200 7814

The support centre hours are:

• Monday to Friday – 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

If you have an issue with Identity Assurance get help at the following link: 

• COVIDCert information and support

If you are registering to use any other nidirect service:

• phone: 0300 200 7868 (Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm)
• email: nida@nidirect.gov.uk
• Contacting 08 and 03 numbers