MyGovID is a single login for Irish public services, run by the Department of Social Protection. As a new parent you meet it early, because the online applications that matter, the benefits and the childcare scheme, ask you to sign in with it. There are two kinds of account, and the difference is the whole point of this guide.
The short version
- What it is
- One login for Irish government services, from the Department of Social Protection
- Basic account
- Email address only. Enough to book a PPS number appointment and a few other things
- Verified account
- The secure account the benefit and childcare applications use. This is the one to get
- Three ways to verify
- Online if you have a Public Services Card, the MyGovID app with a passport, or in person
- How long
- The app route is reviewed in about 10 working days, so start early
Basic versus verified
A basic account needs only an email address. It is enough to book an appointment to get a PPS number, request a record of your PRSI contributions, check Treatment Benefit eligibility, and apply for the Working Family Payment.
A verified account is the secure version: each time you log in you enter a code sent to your phone. It unlocks the full set of services, and it is the account the applications you care about as a new parent expect, including the National Childcare Scheme and the MyWelfare route used for Maternity, Paternity and Parent's Benefit. If you are going to need one thing, it is this.
This is the bottleneck, so start it first. The app verification is reviewed in around 10 working days, and the Public Services Card then arrives by post. Nothing else in your plan moves until this is done, so do it before you need it, not when a deadline is close.
Before you start: a PPS number
To verify you need a PPS number. Your baby is given one when you register the birth, but this is about your own PPS number, which you will already have if you have worked or claimed in Ireland. If you do not have one, that is the first step, and a basic MyGovID is enough to book the appointment to get it.
The three ways to get verified
You start from a basic account, then upgrade it one of three ways.
1. Online, if you already have a Public Services Card
If you already hold a Public Services Card and know your PPS number, you can upgrade to verified online, without an appointment or the app. This is the quickest route if the card is already in your wallet.
2. The MyGovID app, with your passport
The app verifies your identity from your phone. You can use it if you are resident in Ireland, hold a current Irish passport book (a passport card is not accepted), are 16 or over, have a basic account, and have not been through SAFE registration before.
You need a phone with a front camera and NFC, on at least iOS 15 or Android 10, with your app-store account set to Ireland. The app asks for your PPS number and then collects:
- a selfie photo,
- a photo of your passport details page,
- a scan of the chip inside your passport,
- your signature, and some further personal details.
If your address does not match the department's records, you upload a proof of address dated within the last 6 months: a utility bill, an insurance policy, a tax credit certificate, a Revenue statement of liability, or a bank statement showing your address. Once approved, you receive a Public Services Card in the post and a verified account. The department says a review takes about 10 working days.
3. In person at a PSC centre
If the app route does not fit, for example you do not have an Irish passport, you can verify in person at a Public Services Card centre through the SAFE registration process. If an online application cannot be completed, the department tells you what to bring to finish it in person.
Your selfie and signature go on the card. The photo and signature the app collects appear on your Public Services Card, so treat that step as you would a passport photo.
Who decides, and where to go
MyGovID, the Public Services Card and SAFE registration are all run by the Department of Social Protection. It reviews your application and issues the card; parentready does not, and cannot, verify anything for you. Start at the official MyGovID site linked below, and use the app or a PSC centre from there.
See where MyGovID fits in your plan
parentready turns the official rules into a personalised, ordered checklist for your situation, with the MyGovID step placed first where it belongs. Free, private, and on your device.
Official sources
- Citizens Information: MyGovID
- gov.ie: MyGovID app
- MyGovID: the official sign-up and services list
Facts checked against the official pages on 30 July 2026. This is general information, not legal advice, and it does not decide your application. The Department of Social Protection runs MyGovID, the Public Services Card and SAFE registration and makes every decision. Details can change; always confirm on the official pages linked above.