ID.me – Quick Start Guide

Thank you for your interest in the CERTS Grant Program. To access the CERTS Portal and 

submit an application to the Treasury Department, a company representative first must 

be registered with a username and password through the ID.me identity service. The 

company representative that registers with ID.me will be the point of contact to access 

the CERTS Portal to answer application questions, upload required documents, and 

perform other administrative functions in the portal. The company representative that 

registers with ID.me does not need to be a corporate officer.

What is ID.me?

ID.me is a certified commercial identity provider offering Identity Assurance Level (IAL) 

2 and Authentication Assurance Level (AAL) 2 credentials. The requirements for 

credentials to access the CERTS Portal are defined by NIST SP 800-63 v3 (Digital Identity 

Guidelines). 

No personally identifiable information will be retained by ID.me. Throughout the

process, your information will remain completely secure. The process does not require 

a credit check.

How do I get an ID.me Username and Password?

Follow the steps below to receive a verified username and password. The entire 

process should take 5-10 minutes. 

To get started, visit the Treasury’s ID.me Enrollment Page. 

Step 1: Enter your email

and select a password

We recommend using the email address you will use in 

your CERTS application for the CERTS “point of contact” 

at your company.

Step 2: Set up two-factor 

authentication

We recommend using a cell phone, however other 

options are available.

Step 3: Verify your identity Submit a picture of a government-issued photo ID. 

(If needed, you can call to verify your identity instead.)

When finished, you will receive a confirmation email allowing you to log in to Treasury’s 

CERTS Portal with your new ID.me username and password. 

What if I have questions? 

Detailed enrollment instructions can be found in the following pages. For questions, 

please refer to the ID.me + Treasury Help Page or email CERTS@treasury.gov.
CERTS Portal

Detailed Instructions to Create an 

ID.me Account 

June 2021
Step 1: Launch Website & Sign Up 

for ID.me

1

This document outlines the process for obtaining an ID.me credential to verify your identify, as

defined by NIST SP 800-63 v3, Digital Identity Guidelines. ID.me is a certified commercial identity 

provider offering Identity Assurance Level (IAL) 2 and Authentication Assurance Level (AAL) 2

credential.

To access the CERTS Portal, all companies must have a representative registered with credentials 

issued through ID.me. The role of the ID.me registrant is to complete the CERTS application, 

upload required documents, and perform other administrative functions in the portal as part of 

the grant process. The ID.me registrant does not need to be a corporate officer, but can be a 

corporate officer. ID.me ensures Treasury knows the person accessing a government system.

Contents: 

 Four-step process to register for an ID.me credential:

1. Launch Website & Sign Up (Slide 2)

2. Email Verification (Slide 3)

3. Two Factor Authentication Verification (Slides 4-5)

4. Identity Verification (Slides 6-28)

▪ Option 1: Upload photos of your license or State ID (Slides 8-15)

▪ Option 2: Virtual in-person identity proofing (Slides 16-28)

 Logging on to CERTS Portal once ID.me registration is complete (Slide 29)
Step 1: Launch Website & Sign Up 

for ID.me

2

► Click the following link: https://portal.treasury.gov/cares/s/certs

▪ We recommend using Google Chrome for the best site performance

► Select Create an ID.me Account

► Input your email address and create a password

▪ Check box to accept terms of service and privacy policy

▪ Select Create an ID.me Account
Step 2: Email Verification

3

► ID.me will send a verification emailwith a 6-digit code

▪ Note that the confirmation code will expire after 15 minutes

► Select Confirm Your Email in the email message, and you will see a confirmation notice
Step 3: Two-Factor Authentication

4

► Select one of the options toset up twofactor authentication:

▪ Text Message or Phone Call (Preferred)

▪ Push Notification

▪ Code GeneratorApplication

▪ FIDO U2F Security Key

▪ Mobile Yubikey

► This document will walk through the first

option: Text Message or Phone Call
Step 3: Two-Factor Authentication

5

► Provide your information

▪ Enter your phone number

▪ Select Text message

▪ Select Continue

- You will receive a text message with a verification code

► Verify phone number

▪ Enter the 6-digit verification codefrom the text message sent to your phone

▪ Select Continue
Step 4: Identify Verification

6

► Congratulations! You have enabled two factor

authentication for your account.

► ID.me will send you an email notification that you

enabled two-factor authentication.
Step 4: Identify Verification

7

► Choose a method to verify your identity

▪ Option 1:

- Upload photos of your license or state ID

(Preferred)

- Upload a photo of your passport

- Upload a photo of your passport card

- *Note – you must use an active and valid

license, state ID, or passport

▪ Option 2:

- Go directly to Slide 16 if you don’t live in

the United States (International) to use

the virtual in-person option
Option 1: Upload Photos of Your License or State ID

8

► Step 1

▪ Check the box acknowledging Biometric Consent 

and press Continue

▪ Choose how you would like to submit photos:

- Take a photo with my device

- Upload a photo
Option 1: Upload Photos of Your License or State ID

9

► Step 1 (continued)

▪ Enter your phone number 

▪ Select Continue – a text message will be sent to your phone 
Option 1: Upload Photos of Your License or State ID

10

► Step 2

▪ Select the link that was sent via text

▪ NOTE: This link expires after 5 minutes

▪ Upload a picture of the front and back of your photo ID
Option 1: Upload Photos of Your License or State ID

11

► Step 3

▪ Upload a selfie or face scan using the camera on your mobile device

▪ Once uploaded, ID.me will verify your identity automatically

- If ID.me cannot verify your information 

from your license, you will need to input 

your data manually
Option 1: Upload Photos of Your License or State ID

12

► Step 3 (continued)

▪ Once you have uploaded your ID photos 

and completed your face scan, you will see 

the “images submitted” message.

▪ Next, return to the browser where you 

started creating your ID.me account.
Option 1: Upload Photos of Your License or State ID

13

► Step 4

▪ Enter your most recent home address and press Continue.

▪ Enter your Social Security Number and press Continue. 

 

 
Option 1: Upload Photos of Your License or State ID

14

► Step 5

▪ Verify all information

▪ Check box – Accept the use of Fair Credit Reporting Act

▪ Select Continue
Option 1: Upload Photos of Your License or State ID

15

► Step 5 (continued)

▪ You will see a message that the system is 

in the process of verifying youridentity. 

This may take up to 10 seconds.

▪ When your identify is verified, ID.me will 

send you a congratulations email. 

► If ID.me completed your identify verification, go to Slide 29.

► If ID.me could not complete your identify verification, follow the steps below for a virtual in-person 

proofing.
Option 2: Virtual In-Person Identity Proofing

16

Follow these instructions if ID.me could not verify your identity or if you do not live in the U.S. 

► Select Verify Identify via Video Call or Get Started (for whichever screen you see)

Unable to Verify International
Option 2: Virtual In-Person Identity Proofing

17

► When you are ready to begin, select Get Started

► Confirm that your personal information shown on the screen is accurate and select Continue
Option 2: Virtual In-Person Identity Proofing

18

► Confirm that the address shown on thescreen is your current or most recent address and select 

Continue

► If requested, enter and confirm your Social Security number 

► Click Continue
Option 2: Virtual In-Person Identity Proofing

19

► Upload:

o Two primary IDs 

OR

o One primary and two secondary IDs

► For a list of Primary and Secondary ID types, select

What is a Primary or Secondary Document?

► Use the drop-down menus to select the ID types you 

are using
Option 2: Virtual In-Person Identity Proofing

20

► Upload photos of your documents from your computer or by taking pictures withyour mobile

phone, then select Continue
Option 2: Virtual In-Person Identity Proofing

21

► Enter your mobile phone number and 

select Continue

► You will be texted a link to capture a 

photo of yourself (selfie capture)
Option 2: Virtual In-Person Identity Proofing

22

► Select the link that was sent via text

► Upload a selfie or face scan using the camera on your mobile device

▪ Once uploaded, ID.me will verify your identity automatically

- If ID.me cannot verify your information, 

you will need to input your data manually
Option 2: Virtual In-Person Identity Proofing

23

► Next, return to the browser where you started creating your ID.me account.

► Verify your personal information, then select Continue

► If not prompted for a video call, proceed to slide 29
Option 2: Virtual In-Person Identity Proofing

24

► At the bottom of the Confirm Your Information page (seen on slide 23), you will see Common

 rejection reasons and a checkbox indicating you have your physical documents ready for the call

► Once you have your documents, check the

 box and then select Continue
Option 2: Virtual In-Person Identity Proofing

25

► If ready for submission, click Submit Documents

► If you want to review your submission, change uploaded documents, or update information, 

click Close. Verify your personal information, then select Continue
Option 2: Virtual In-Person Identity Proofing

26

► After submitting your documents, you will be directed to a virtual waiting room to meet with an 

ID.me Trusted Referee

► Check the box that you have your original documents to show the Referee on camera

► Click Continue
Option 2: Virtual In-Person Identity Proofing

27

► You will be placed in a waiting room and will see a pop-up with estimated wait time

► You will be automatically redirected to the meeting page to begin the video call

► Click Start Video Call
Option 2: Virtual In-Person Identity Proofing

28

► The Trusted Referee will ask you to do the follow:

▪ Verbally approve call to be recorded for quality assurance

▪ Confirm information (name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number)

▪ Show your documents through the camera

▪ Allow the Trusted Referee to take a screenshot of you for selfie matching 
Log on to CERTS Portal

29

► Once ID.me identity verification is complete, you will receive a confirmation email and will be 

redirected to the CERTS Portal.

▪ Sign in to the CERTS Portal with your ID.me email and password

► You will be prompted to complete dual-authentication

▪ Receive authentication code via phone 

▪ Select Continue on the next two screens