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Accessing online services

What do I do if my Sign-In Partner was removed?

The process to change your sign-in information depends on the type of account or portal you have.

For an IRCC secure account

You have to create a new account and link your applications to it. You won’t lose any messages or updates related to applications you already submitted.

To set up your new account:

  1. Create a new account
  2. From your new account’s home page, choose “Add (link) your application to your account.”
  3. Answer the questions about your application.
    1. For the section, “Applicant’s personal information,” enter in the information as it appeared on the passport or travel document you used when you submitted your application. This may be different than your current passport or travel document.

You can try to link an application 5 times. If it doesn’t work after 5 tries, you’ll be locked out for 24 hours.

If you were working on an application that you didn’t submit

You need to restart it in your new account.

For an Authorized Representative Portal account

You need to enroll in the portal again.

  1. Create a new account using a new Sign-In Partner or GCKey.
  2. From the portal welcome page, under the section “What would you like to do today?” select “Authorized Paid Representative Enrolment Application”
  3. When asked if you’ve previously enrolled as an Authorized Paid Representative select “Yes.”
  4. Continue enrolling following the steps in our enrolment guide.

What are electronic credentials?

Electronic credentials are what you use to securely sign in to online accounts. They usually include a password and:

What services do I need Sign-In Partner or GCKey for?

You need to use Sign-In Partner or GCKey to access :

What do you mean by authentication?

It is a secure means to recognize a user when accessing government services online. The user remains anonymous, and the authentication process just confirms that the credential is valid and is in the hands of the owner of the credential. Credential authentication does not reveal or confirm identity to the government website. It receives only a message confirming that your credential (username/password) was successfully validated by your bank or by the government.

I had to switch my electronic log-in credentials not that long ago. Why are you changing it again?

The Government of Canada has been using a phased approach to authentication services. Access Key was an interim step while the Government of Canada was putting in place new, cost-effective solutions which would provide improved user choice and convenience, securely.

Can I still use my Access Key?

No. As of November 3, 2012, you will need to use either GCKey or Sign-In Partner (Interac® sign-in service) to access IRCC online services.

Who can I contact if I have questions about GCKey or Sign-In Partner?

For questions about GCKey, please call 1-855-438-1102. The GCKey help desk is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More information is available on the GCKey website.

For questions about Sign-In Partner (Interac® sign-in service), find out how to get help.

What is Sign-In Partner?

This is a secure way for you to sign into your online account using information you already have.

Sign-In Partners are groups like banks and credit unions that partner with Interac® sign-in service. If you’re their customer, you can use the same login that you use to sign in to your bank or credit union, to access Government of Canada services.

You can use Sign-In Partner (Interac® sign-in service) if you have an account with:

Which banks are participating in Sign-In Partner?

The following financial institutions have partnered with Sign-In Partner (Interac® sign-in service):

It is expected that other financial institutions will participate in Sign-In Partner in the future. Keep checking the Sign-In Partner list when you log in to access Government of Canada services.

Why is the Government of Canada offering users the option to use banking credentials?

By offering a choice of credentials, the government is making its online services more convenient for clients to access. Many individuals use their online banking credentials regularly, so being able to use the same credential to access government services online means that you will have one less User ID and password to remember.

What are the advantages of using my online banking credentials?

Your existing credentials, such as your online banking credentials, are familiar as you may already use them on a regular basis. Using your credential from one of the Sign-In Partners to access government services is convenient as you don’t have to remember a different user ID and password.

The safeguarding of Canadians’ information online is a priority for the Government of Canada and measures have been put in place to ensure secure online access which respects privacy.

Remember that when you use a Sign-In Partner, none of your banking or personally identifiable information is communicated to the government service you are trying to access and the Government of Canada does not know which Sign-In Partner (or financial institution) you have used. Similarly, no information about the government service being accessed by the user will be shared with the user's Sign-in Partner.

Is the banking credential (Sign-In Partner) as secure as the government credential (GCKey)?

Yes, the banking credential is just as secure as the government credential. The same authentication process and security requirements are used whether you use your banking credential through Sign-In Partner (Interac® sign-in service) or the government-issued credential service called GCKey.

The authentication process does not carry any personally identifiable information such as name or birth date. It relies on strong technology, built using industry best practices. By offering you the choice of using a banking credential, the Government of Canada is leveraging the investments made by financial institutions in secure online environments.

Will any of my banking information be shared if I use Sign-In Partner?

No, your banking information is not shared when you use a Sign-In Partner (Interac® sign-in service).

The technology is designed in such a way that the Government of Canada will not know which Sign-In Partner (or financial institution) you have used. Similarly, the bank will not know which government department or agency its customer contacted. Also, the credential broker who facilitates this interaction will not know the identity of the individual or business. The participating financial institutions and departments and agencies will not share any information that identifies individuals, as directed under privacy legislation.

I don’t bank with any of the financial institutions listed. What alternative do I have when I want to access government services online?

If you don’t have a credential with one of the Sign-In Partners, you can use the government-issued credential, GCKey.

It is expected that other Sign-In Partners will be added in the future, so keep checking the list of Sign-In Partners when you log in to access Government of Canada services.

My bank is on your list, but I don’t have online banking. How do I access the IRCC secure account using Sign-In Partner?

To use Sign-In Partner (Interac® sign-in service), you must be registered for online banking with your financial institution. Your bank can assist you with online banking.

I would rather not use Sign-In Partner to access the IRCC secure account. What are my options?

You can use GCKey, a government-issued credential, to access Government of Canada online services.

Will the bank charge me for using my banking credential to access government services?

No. This is part of the service your bank offers its customers.

Will I still be able to use GCKey even if I decided to use my online banking credentials once?

Yes, if you wish to do so, you can use a different credential to access different Government of Canada services. However, you will need to remember which credential you used with each of those services. For example, if you use GCKey to register for an account with IRCC, you must always use GCKey to access your account.

What are electronic credentials?

Electronic credentials are what you use to securely sign in to online accounts. They usually include a password and:

What services do I need Sign-In Partner or GCKey for?

You need to use Sign-In Partner or GCKey to access :

What do you mean by authentication?

It is a secure means to recognize a user when accessing government services online. The user remains anonymous, and the authentication process just confirms that the credential is valid and is in the hands of the owner of the credential. Credential authentication does not reveal or confirm identity to the government website. It receives only a message confirming that your credential (username/password) was successfully validated by your bank or by the government.

I had to switch my electronic log-in credentials not that long ago. Why are you changing it again?

The Government of Canada has been using a phased approach to authentication services. Access Key was an interim step while the Government of Canada was putting in place new, cost-effective solutions which would provide improved user choice and convenience, securely.

Can I still use my Access Key?

No. As of November 3, 2012, you will need to use either GCKey or Sign-In Partner (Interac® sign-in service) to access IRCC online services.

Who can I contact if I have questions about GCKey or Sign-In Partner?

For questions about GCKey, please call 1-855-438-1102. The GCKey help desk is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More information is available on the GCKey website.

For questions about Sign-In Partner (Interac® sign-in service), find out how to get help.

What is GCKey?

A GCKey lets you securely access the Government of Canada’s online services.

It includes a username and password that you choose. You also must create security questions. This keeps your data secure and lets you recover your account.

Why has the Government of Canada introduced GCKey?

The GCKey service was introduced as 1 of 2 options to replace the Access Key service. GCKey is a service managed by the Government of Canada that uses electronic credentials (usernames and passwords) so you can access federal government services online. The GCKey service can be used for those who do not have online banking credentials or choose not to use them with Sign-In Partner (Interac® sign-in service).

How do I get a GCKey credential?

To register for a GCKey, go to the sign in page and click the “Continue to GCKey” button.

Then, choose a user name and a password. It’ll ask you to create security questions. Keep a copy of this in a safe place in case you forget.

Who has access to the information I submit when I register for a GCKey?

The GCKey service does not share your registration information with any third party. The information you provide is held by the Government of Canada and is protected under the Federal Privacy Act.

What do I do if I lost my GCKey username or password?

If you lost your GCKey password, you can create a new one.

If you lost your GCKey username, you can recover it.

If you lost your email, you have to create a new GCKey. If you create a new GCKey, you can access an application by linking the application to your new account.

See also: I recently reset my account, but I don’t see my application. How can I get it back?

How do I change my GCKey password?

You can change your password after you sign in using GCKey. To change your password, you need to enter your current password and then create and confirm a new password.

Your password must:

You can also change your password if you forgot it.

What are the rules for creating a username or password?

Your username must:

Your password must:

What if I no longer want to use my GCKey?

If you no longer want to use your GCKey, you can revoke it:

  1. Sign into your account
  2. Choose the “Revoke your GCKey” button in the options menu
  3. Enter your current password to confirm that you want to revoke your GCKey

Remember: When you revoke your GCKey, you will not be able to use it for any Government of Canada service.

Why did the action button in my GCKey account disappear?

The action button will disappear

The button disappears to prevent you from paying for the same application more than once, but it should reappear after 48 hours.

If your action button has been gone for more than 48 hours, please submit a webform, selecting “Technical difficulties” in the first drop-down menu.

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