Forgot your MyGovID password

MyGovID password resets work most of the time. They fail in two specific scenarios: when the recovery email is unreachable, and when you've also lost the phone number on the account. Here's the working route for each case.

The working route (most people)

1. Open MyGovID's official login page

   Go to mygovid.ie/en-IE/Account/Login. Click Forgot password? on the login form.

2. Enter the email on the account

   This must be the email you used when you registered the account. Not a new email. Not your work email if you registered with a personal one.

3. Check inbox AND spam folder

   The reset email comes from a no-reply MyGovID address. If it isn't in your inbox within 5 minutes, check spam, then check any inbox filters that might be auto-archiving it.

4. Click the reset link in the email

   The link is single-use and time-limited. If it's been more than 24 hours, request a new one.

5. Choose a new password

   MyGovID requires at least 8 characters with a mix of letters, numbers and a special character. We recommend a password manager — never reuse the password from any other account.

If you can't access the email on the account

This is where the standard reset route stops working. Your options depend on whether you set up a recovery email when you registered.

You have a recovery email set up

Use it. The MyGovID reset flow will offer the recovery email as an alternative when the primary email is unreachable.

You do not have a recovery email

If you don't have a recovery email AND you can't access the primary email, you cannot recover the account through the normal flow. You'll need to contact MyGovID support directly via the official Help and Support page. Be prepared to verify your identity by other means (in-person at an Intreo Centre, typically).

If you've also lost the phone number

If you've forgotten your password and you've also changed/lost the phone number registered for 2FA, you will likely not be able to recover the account through MyGovID itself. The official guidance is to register a new MyGovID account using a current email and phone, and to verify the new account either with a Public Services Card or through the MyGovID app's identity-verification flow.

What does NOT work

• "Password recovery" services advertised on third-party sites — these are scams.
• Emailing your password to a "support" address — MyGovID will never ask you to email a password.
• Following a "reset your account" link sent via SMS — MyGovID does not send password resets via SMS.

FAQ

How long should the password-reset email take to arrive?

Usually less than 5 minutes. If it takes more than an hour, request a new one. The first request expires after 24 hours.

I'm getting "this email is not registered"

You either registered MyGovID with a different email, or you have no MyGovID account yet. Try variants of your email (work vs personal, with vs without dots in Gmail). If none work, see "register" rather than "reset".

Can MyID reset my password?

No. We are an independent editorial site. We have no access to anyone's MyGovID account.