How To Obtain an APHIS

eAuthentication Account

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal

and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is participating in a Departmentwide eAuthentication initiative. USDA eAuthentication is a system used by

USDA agencies to enable individuals to obtain

accounts that allow access to certain USDA Web

applications and services through the Internet.

Registering with USDA’s eAuthentication allows use

of services such as electronic permits (ePermits), the

National Animal Identification System, electronic surveys, and checking the status of USDA accounts.

The list of business applications requiring

eAuthentification will continue to grow. Customers

planning to utilize USDA’s electronic Web-based

business applications must create an eAuthentication

account as soon as possible to ensure that proper

access is granted when applications such as

ePermits become available. Certain business applications may require further authorization procedures.

The Web-based service identifies and validates

USDA customers before they can use participating

USDA Web-based business applications. It provides

a single credential that a USDA Web user can present to any participating USDA Web site, reducing the

burden on customers to register for and maintain

separate identities with every online system.

Users may apply for Level 1 or Level 2 Access

through the eAuthentication system. However, anyone wanting to browse the USDA Web site for general information on programs or regulations does not

need to register for Level 1 or 2 Access. An account

with Level 1 Access provides limited access to USDA

Web-site portals but does not allow users to conduct

official electronic business transactions with USDA.

Level 2 Access provides entry to a wide array of

USDA portals and applications and also provides the

ability to conduct official electronic business transactions with USDA. This includes such things as applying for permits, registering premises for the National

Animal Identification System, and checking the status

of documents. Users may apply directly for Level 2

status without having to first apply for Level 1 status.

Creating an Account for Level 1 Access

To begin the eAuthentication process, go to the

eAuthentication Web site at

<http://www.eauth.egov.usda.gov>.

1. From the eAuthentication page, click on “Create 

An Account.”

2. Click on Level 1 Access.

3. Create your brief customer profile.

4. Respond to the confirmation e-mail within 7 days.

Creating an Account for Level 2 Access

To begin the eAuthentication process, go to the

eAuthentication Web site at

<http://www.eauth.egov.usda.gov>.

1. From the eAuthentication page, click on “Create

An Account.”

2. Click on Level 2 Access.

3. Enter user information. You must have a valid 

e-mail address to register for an account with Level 2

Access. Create a customer profile, User ID, and

password that you will need to remember. Within 7

days, respond to a confirmation e-mail.

4. Verify user information and click on “Submit.”

5. Check e-mail for verification. Open verification 

e-mail and click on “Activate My Account.”

6. Make an appointment to visit a USDA Service

Center and provide your photo identification to a

Local Registration Authority (LRA). LRAs are USDA

employees who are trained to act as “trusted entities”

that validate the identities of customers in

eAuthentication. The role of the LRA is similar to that

of a Notary Public, who ensures the identity of individuals conducting business transactions. To find a

USDA Service Center near you, please visit

<http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app>.

7. Check e-mail for verification of enrollment.

After the eAuthentication process is complete, a

user with Level 2 Access has the ability to conduct

official electronic business transactions with USDA

via the Internet.

For More Information on USDA’s

eAuthentication

You can learn more at

<http://www.eauth.egov.usda.gov> on the Web.

Factsheet

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service December 2005

APHIS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination

in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national

origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status,

familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic

information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an

individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program.

(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office

of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C.

20250–9410, or call (800) 795–3272 (voice) or (202) 720–6382

(TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture