My ISED Account / My Canada Business Account

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Access the following FAQs pages for information specific to new login procedures for:

My ISED Account / My Canada Business Account

  • What is a My ISED Account / My Canada Business Account?

    The My ISED Account provides a single secure, digital service window, based on your online profile, to access all of ISED's online services, using one set of login credentials:

    • your GCKey, or
    • your Sign-in Partner (online banking login).

    Note: A My ISED Account is the same account as a My Canada Business Account. These names are interchangeable.

  • What's the difference between a My ISED Account and a My Canada Business Account

    The My ISED Account is going through a transitional rebranding phase. Some applications may refer to it as My ISED Account while some applications will refer to it as My Canada Business Account.

  • What is a GCKey?

    A GCKey is an official, unique electronic credential. See the GCKey section.

  • What is a Sign-in Partner?

    A sign-in partner can be a banking or a financial institution used to log into your My ISED Account. See the Sign-in-Partner section.

  • How do I recover my account when I've forgotten my login credentials and have created a new GC Key?

    The My ISED Account / My Canada Business Account recovery process allows you to use a new set of login credentials (GCKey or Sign-in Partner) with your existing My Account, ensuring that you maintain access to ISED online services. You must:

    Important: You will be asked to link your new credential to a My ISED Account. Ensure you provide the email address that is in your existing My ISED Account. If you do not provide a matching address, a NEW My ISED Account will be created but it will not have access to your ISED services. You will need to contact ISED Support to rectify this issue.

    1. Go to the My ISED Account Profile login page
    2. Choose the login method you want to use/switch to
    3. Login with your new credential.
    4. Click the send me a verification email.  See the following:

    5. Check your email.
    6. Click the "Allow access to My ISED Account" link in the email.
  • How can I delete My ISED Account?

    You cannot delete your My ISED Account, but it will be deactivated if it has not been accessed in over 24 months.

  • Can I update someone else's My ISED Account?

    No, only the owner of a My ISED Account can update their credentials.

  • Why can't I change my name in the account profile?

    The information that you can modify in your My ISED Account profile will depend on the services that you have signed-up for and the secure login provider you signed in with.

    If you do not have the option to modify your name and need assistance, please contact the ISED Citizen Services Centre, or the team responsible for the service that is associated with your My ISED Account.

  • Why would I want to browse through other ISED services?

    ISED provides many services, some of which you might not know we offer. The Discovery page allows you to see other services that may be of interest to you.

2-Step Verification

  • What is 2-Step verification?

    2-Step verification is a process that involves two authentication methods, performed one after the other, to verify that you are who you declare.

    In your case, to access the ISED application:

    1. The first step is to enter your username and a password of your choice, on the login page of the ISED application you are accessing.
    2. The second step is to input a one-time code to verify that you are the account user.

    Both steps must be completed correctly to gain access to any ISED application.

  • What is a one-time code?

    This is a code that is sent to you to log into the ISED application. This is a code that is autogenerated and different each time you log in.

  • How do we receive our one-time code?

    When prompted to enroll in 2-Step Verification, users can select a method to receive their verification code:

    1. Automated phone call
    2. Text message
    3. Email message
    4. Authenticator application

    Access the 2-Step Verification FAQs page for more information.

  • My authenticator application needs configuration values. What does that mean?

    If your authenticator application allows for configuration values or is asking for them, use the following:

    • Type: totp
    • Algorithm: HmacSHA1
    • Digits: 6p
    • Interval: 30

Login providers and credentials

  • What is a login provider?

    A login provider issues a unique electronic credential (username and password) that allows you to access and communicate securely with online government services.

  • What is a credential?

    Login credentials enable users to log in and verify their identities, most often used to access online accounts on the internet. It is a unique physical or electronic identifier issued to, or associated with, an individual, organization or device. Credentials are typically a username and password combination used for logging in to online accounts. They can also be key cards and other items with electronics embedded that will permit access or log on.

  • Why is the Government of Canada offering users a choice of login provider credentials?

    By offering a choice of credentials, the government is making its online services more convenient for clients to access. Many individuals regularly use their online credentials for banking or paying bills, so being able to use the same credential from a known provider to access government services online means one less user name and password for clients to remember. At no time is information passed from a Secure Provider (e.g. bank) to the government.

  • I am already enrolled with one Government of Canada service, why do I have to provide basic identity information again to enroll in services with other departments?

    Each government service or program requests your personal information based on their specific requirements and to determine eligibility or entitlement. The Government of Canada must adhere to the Privacy Act, which restricts the information that can be shared between departments and agencies.

  • Who sees my credential information?

    No one. A credential is an electronic object and not information. No information is shared.

  • I forgot which credential that I used the last time I signed-in?

    Only you have this information. If you forgot which credential was used the last time you accessed an ISED service, then sign-up to access the service using any credential. When you enter your email you will receive a message letting you know that the email is already associated with an ISED Account. You will then be presented with the option to recover your ISED Account via the credential of your choice.

Sign-in Partner / Financial Partner Credentials

  • What is a financial or sign-in partner?

    A sign-in partner is a bank or financial institution whose online login credentials you can use to log into your My ISED Account.

  • What are the advantages of using my financial partner credentials?

    Your existing credentials, such as your online banking credential, are familiar as you may already use them on a regular basis to login to your online bank or financial accounts. Using your credential from one of your financial partners to access government services is convenient. You don't have to remember a different User ID and password.

  • Is any of my banking information shared if I use a financial partner?

    No. Your personal information, such as name, address, etc. is not shared when you use a financial partner. 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 financial partner, none of your banking or personally identifiable information is communicated to the government service you are accessing and the Government of Canada does not know which financial partner you have used. Similarly, no information about the government service being accessed by the user is shared with the user's financial partner.

  • Are the financial partner credentials as secure as those issued by the Government of Canada?

    Yes. The same authentication (or log in) process and security requirements are used for the financial partner credentials and the government-branded credential called GCKey. Your privacy is respected in that no personally identifiable information such as name, birth date etc. is exchanged during the authentication process.

  • The financial institution I do business with is not on the list of financial partners. What alternative do I have to access government services online?

    Individuals, who do not have a credential (e.g. username and password) with one of the financial partners, can use the government-issued credential, GCKey. To access the CRA's services you will need to register for a CRA user ID and password. It is expected that other financial partners will be added in the future, so keep checking the list of financial partners when you log in to access Government of Canada services.

  • I bank with one of the financial partners on your list, but I'm not registered to bank online. Am I still able to access my Government of Canada account using my financial partner?

    To log in using a financial partner that is a financial institution or bank, you must be registered for online banking access. Contact your bank for assistance.

  • My financial partner knows who I am, why do I still have to provide my basic identity information to enroll in a Government of Canada service.

    The financial partner does not provide any identity information to the Government and simply validates your user name or card number and password. Each government service requires your personal information based on their specific needs and to determine eligibility or entitlement.

GCKey

GCKey FAQ web site

  • What is a GCKey?

    A GCKey is an official, unique electronic credential that allows you to communicate securely with online enabled Government programs and services.

  • Why has the Government of Canada introduced GCKey?

    The Government of Canada, as the service provider, issues these unique credentials to individuals for use with Enabled Services. An Enabled Service is an online Government service that uses the security measures provided by your GCKey.

  • Can I use the same GCKey to access several services?

    Yes. You can use the same GCKey credential to access all available online services, with the exception of the CRA services. Using the same credential to access many services is convenient, as you don't have to remember several username and passwords.

  • 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

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