myGov is the Australian government's single sign-on portal connecting your account with Medicare, the ATO, Centrelink, NDIS, Disability Support, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and several other agencies. One login lets you manage tax returns, claim Medicare rebates, lodge Centrelink claims, update addresses, and access myHealthRecord.

Yes when you use it correctly. Always: enable 2-factor authentication via SMS code; only log in via my.gov.au (never from an email link); use a unique password not reused elsewhere. The Australian government has had no major breach of myGov as of 2026, but phishing scams targeting myGov users are common — never click "myGov" links in emails or SMS.

MyGov Setup: Linking Medicare, ATO, and Centrelink in 10 Minutes

Q: Do I need myGov to be a resident?

Not legally — but practically, yes. Most ATO services (lodging tax returns), Medicare claim refunds, and Centrelink updates can only be done online via myGov in 2026. You can still use phone or in-person, but expect 30-60 minute wait times for what would take 5 minutes via myGov.

Q: Can I have a myGov account if I'm on a temporary visa?

Yes. Anyone with an Australian residential address and at least one government service to link can have myGov. Even student or working holiday visa holders can link the ATO (they need to lodge tax returns) and Medicare if they have RHCA eligibility or have purchased OVHC that's covered.

Q: How long does it take to link Medicare to myGov?

About 2-3 minutes if you have your Medicare card, recent payment summary, or one of the verification documents. Linking is instant — you don't need to wait for any letters or codes if you have the documents on hand.

Q: What's a myGov ID and is it different from myGov?

myGov ID (now called Digital ID) is a separate app you install on your phone for higher-security verification — used mainly for business/ABN tax matters and for some government employee logins. Most personal users only need a myGov account, not a Digital ID. They work together but aren't the same thing.

Q: I forgot my myGov password — what do I do?

Click "Forgot password" on the myGov login page. You'll need your username and either your secret questions or a recovery email. If you can't pass the security questions, call the myGov helpdesk on 13 23 07 — they'll verify identity over the phone using your linked services data.

Q: Why won't my Centrelink linking code work?

Most common reasons: the code is older than 30 days (they expire), or you're not yet a Centrelink customer (you must have lodged at least one claim). If you're newly arrived and have no Centrelink history, visit a Service Centre with ID — they'll create your customer record and give you a fresh linking code on the spot.

8 min read June 2026

myGov is the central hub for all your dealings with the Australian government. Set up correctly and linked once, you save hours of phone queues every year. Here's how to do it in 10 minutes flat — and the 3 most common mistakes that lock people out.

What Is MyGov?

myGov (my.gov.au) is the Australian government's single sign-on portal. One account, one login, links to:

Medicare — claim rebates, view your card, add babies
Australian Taxation Office (ATO) — lodge tax returns, view PAYG summary, manage TFN, super accounts
Centrelink — apply for and manage payments (Family Tax Benefit, Parental Leave Pay, JobSeeker, etc.)
Department of Veterans' Affairs — for veterans
NDIS — for people with disability
Australian JobSearch — job seeker tools
HousingVic / state housing services — varies by state
myHealthRecord — access your medical records

Almost every government interaction in 2026 expects you to use myGov. You can still use phone or in-person, but expect long waits.

Create Your MyGov Account (5 mins)

Step 1: Go to my.gov.au and click 'Create account'

Open my.gov.au in your browser. Use the official URL — never click a myGov link from an email (most are phishing).

Step 2: Provide an email address

Use a personal email (Gmail, Outlook) you'll keep long-term — not a work email. myGov sends critical security notifications and you don't want to lose access if you change jobs.

Step 3: Verify the email + create a password

myGov sends a 6-digit code to your email. Enter it within 10 minutes, then set a strong password (12+ characters, mix of letters/numbers/symbols, NOT reused from any other site).

Step 4: Choose 3 secret questions

Pick questions whose answers don't change AND aren't easily guessable. “Mother's maiden name” and “city of birth” are weak (often discoverable on social media). Better: a custom question only you know the answer to.

Step 5: Add your phone number for 2-factor authentication

Critical — without 2FA, anyone who guesses your password can log in. With 2FA, they also need your phone. Use an Australian mobile number ideally; international numbers work but slow down code delivery.

Done — you have a myGov account. But it's empty until you link services. That's the next step.

A person using a smartphone to log in to a service, representing online account management

Photo by Matthew Fournier on Unsplash

Link Your Government Services

Each service is linked separately, in any order. The first time, you'll prove your identity to that specific agency. After that, future logins to that service are instant.

From your myGov dashboard click “Services” → “Link a service”. You'll see the list of available agencies. Click the one you want.

Linking Medicare

Easiest one to link first. You'll need your Medicare card and proof of identity:

Click “Medicare” in the link-a-service list
Enter your Medicare card number, individual reference number (the 1-9 digit on your line of the card), and your date of birth
Verify your identity using ONE of: a recent Medicare benefit statement, a recent letter from Medicare, a bank account or credit card linked to Medicare, or details from a recent Medicare claim
Confirm — Medicare appears in your services list immediately

If you don't yet have a Medicare card, see our how to apply for a Medicare card guide first — you must have the card before you can link.

Linking the ATO

A bit more involved than Medicare because the ATO uses extra security. Two paths:

Path A: If you've lodged at least one tax return

In myGov click Services → Link a service → ATO. Enter your TFN and answer questions about your most recent payment summary or notice of assessment. Linked instantly.

Path B: If you haven't lodged yet (most new migrants)

Same starting point but you'll be told you need a “linking code”. Call the ATO on 13 28 61, verify identity over the phone (passport, visa, address), and they'll give you a 6-digit linking code. Enter it in myGov within 30 days. Linked.

Once ATO is linked you can lodge tax returns via myTax (see how to lodge your first Australian tax return), check super balances (also see superannuation for new migrants), and update your TFN-linked details.

Linking Centrelink

Centrelink linking is different — it requires a one-time linking code from a Centrelink office or a recent Centrelink letter:

If you've been a Centrelink customer before: any letter from Centrelink in the last 12 months has a Customer Reference Number (CRN) and a linking code at the bottom — use those
If new to Centrelink: visit a Service Centre in person with passport + visa + Australian address. They create a Customer Reference Number for you and print a linking code on the spot
In myGov, click Services → Link a service → Centrelink → enter your CRN + linking code (codes expire after 30 days)

For partner-visa holders waiting out the NARWP, see our guides on Centrelink on the 820 Partner Visa and Centrelink on the 309 Partner Visa for what payments you might eventually be eligible for.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem	Cause	Fix
“We can't verify your details” on Medicare link	Name spelling differs between myGov and Medicare	Update myGov name to match Medicare exactly (call 13 23 07)
ATO linking code expired	Codes expire after 30 days	Call ATO 13 28 61 for a fresh code
Centrelink linking code says invalid	Either code expired (30 days) or you're not yet a Centrelink customer	Visit a Service Centre to register + get fresh code
Locked out of account	Too many wrong password attempts	Wait 30 minutes, then use “Forgot password”
Can't receive 2FA SMS code	Phone number not verified, or wrong country code	Update phone in myGov settings; use Australian mobile
Suspect a phishing email	Scammers spoof myGov branding	Forward to phishing@mygov.gov.au and delete

A phone scanning a QR code on a screen, representing digital identity verification

Photo by Zulfugar Karimov on Unsplash

Setting up myGov fits into the wider settling-in checklist alongside your TFN, Medicare, and bank account — see our first 30 days in Australia checklist for the order to do everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is myGov?

Australia's single sign-on portal connecting your account with Medicare, ATO, Centrelink, NDIS, DVA, and other agencies. One login manages tax returns, Medicare claims, Centrelink payments, and more.

Do I need myGov to be a resident?

Not legally required, but practically yes. Most ATO, Medicare, and Centrelink services in 2026 are designed online-first via myGov. Phone and in-person still work but with long wait times.

Can I have a myGov account if I'm on a temporary visa?

Yes — anyone with an Australian residential address and a service to link can have one. Student and working holiday visa holders typically link the ATO and (if eligible) Medicare via RHCA or OVHC.

How long does it take to link Medicare to myGov?

2-3 minutes if you have your Medicare card and a verification document (recent claim, bank linked to Medicare, etc.). Linking is instant — no waiting for letters.

What's a myGov ID and is it different from myGov?

Yes, different. myGov ID (now called Digital ID) is a separate phone app for higher-security verification used for business/ABN tax matters. Most personal users only need a myGov account.

I forgot my myGov password — what do I do?

Click “Forgot password” on the login page. Use your username + secret questions. If those fail, call myGov helpdesk on 13 23 07 — they verify identity over the phone using your linked services.

Why won't my Centrelink linking code work?

Either the code is older than 30 days, or you're not yet a Centrelink customer. New migrants without history need to visit a Service Centre with ID — they create a Customer Reference Number and give you a fresh code on the spot.

Is myGov safe?

Yes when you use 2FA, log in only via my.gov.au (never email links), and use a unique password. No major myGov breach as of 2026, but phishing scams targeting users are common — never click myGov links in emails or SMS.

Official Resources

For more on the services you'll be linking, see how to apply for a TFN, how to apply for a Medicare card, and how to lodge your first Australian tax return.

Bottom line:

Set up myGov as soon as you have your Medicare card. Always use 2FA. Always log in via my.gov.au directly, never from email links. Once Medicare, ATO, and Centrelink (if applicable) are linked, you can manage almost every Australian government interaction from your phone in under a minute.