Help with your account
Errors and issues when you sign in
You can use the same GCKey username and password on different computers, phones and tablets.
If you're getting error messages:
- Use the most recent version of a supported web browser like
- Safari
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
If you're using Internet Explorer, update your browser to Microsoft Edge.
- Don't use a favourite link or bookmark to pages inside the account. You must sign in to see them.
- Use your browser's default settings. GCKey needs JavaScript and cookies enabled.
- Update your browser if you see one of these messages when you try to sign in:
- Page Can’t Be Displayed
- Cannot Establish a Secure Connection
- Page Not Available
You can usually find the option to update your browser in your browser menu's settings or preferences.
Other technical issues
- Too many attempts
You may get a failure message if you make too many unsuccessful attempts to sign in during the same session. Close your browser window or tab and try again.
- Experiencing technical difficulties
The site could be down for a number of reasons, including for system maintenance. We apologize for the inconvenience. Try again later.
- Session expired
For security, your session will be closed if it's inactive for a certain number of minutes. Sign in again.
Get more help with sign-in issues
You forgot your GCKey password or username
Read the instructions for your situation.
Forgot your username and password
- Follow the steps to recover your username first.
- Once you have your username, follow the steps to recover your password.
You lost or no longer use the email you registered with
- Sign up for a new GCKey username and password.
- Create a new account in the IRCC secure account.
You may not be able to find your application in your new account. You may need to link your application to your new account.
Forgot your username
If you have a recovery email address
- Select GCKey username and password.
- Select Forgot your username? on the Welcome to GCKey page.
- Enter your recovery email address on the Recover Username Step 1 of 2 page.
- You provided your recovery email address either when you signed up for a GCKey username and password or at a later time.
- Select Continue.
- You'll be brought to a page that explains where we’ll email your username and what to do if you don't receive the email.
- Select Continue again.
- Check your email. You should get an email from the Government of Canada with your GCKey username.
- Sign in with your username and password on the Welcome to GCKey page.
If you don’t have a recovery email address
- Select GCKey username and password.
- Select Sign up on the Welcome to GCKey page to create a new GCKey username and password.
- Create a new account in the IRCC secure account.
During this process, you may be able to:
- recover your account
- link your existing applications to your new account
Forgot your password
- Select GCKey username and password.
- Select Forgot your password? on the Welcome to GCKey page.
- Enter your GCKey username.
- Select Continue.
- If you used an email address when signing up for your GCKey username, reset your password with your email address.
- If you didn't use an email address to sign up, reset your password using recovery questions.
Password reset using an email address
- Enter your email address.
- Check your email account. You should get an email from the Government of Canada with a confirmation code.
- Enter the confirmation code on the Forgot Your Password Step 2 of 4 page.
- This page should load automatically after you enter your username and select Continue on the previous page.
- Select Continue.
- Enter the answer to the recovery question you’re prompted with in the My Recovery Answer field.
- Select Continue.
- Enter a new password in the New Password field.
- Re-enter that same password in the Confirm New Password field.
- Select Continue.
- Select Continue again on the Forget Your Password Complete page.
Password reset using recovery questions
- Select Recovery Q&A in the Recovery Questions and Answers box on the Forget Your Password Step 2 of 4 page.
- Enter your answers in the My Recovery Answer, My Memorable Person Answer and My Memorable Date fields.
- You should find the questions and hints above each field.
- Enter a new password in the Create Your New Password field.
- Enter the same password in the Confirm Your New Password field.
- Select Continue.
- Select Continue again on the Forget Your Password Complete page.
- If you correctly answered all the recovery questions, you'll automatically be brought to this page.
Get more help with GCKey
GCKey two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication protects your account. You need to choose a second authentication method (other than your username and password) to use each time you sign in.
Set up your two-factor authentication method
Change your two-factor authentication method
You need access to your existing email or authenticator app, or to your saved recovery codes.
If you have access to your two-factor authentication method
- Sign in to your account with your GCKey username and password.
- SelectContinue on the Welcome page.
- Use your current two-factor method.
- On the Authentication success page, select Change your two-factor authentication.
- On the Two-factor authentication page, follow the prompts to set up two-factor authentication again.
- Save your new recovery codes somewhere safe. Your old codes will no longer work.
If you don't have access to your two-factor authentication method
You have recovery codes:
- Sign in to your account with your GCKey username and password.
- Select Recover account on the two-factor authentication page.
- Enter one of the recovery codes you saved when you first set up two-factor authentication.
- Select Change your two-factor authentication on the authentication success page.
- Follow the prompts to set up two-factor authentication again.
- Save your new recovery codes somewhere safe. Your old codes will no longer work.
You don’t have recovery codes:
- Sign up for a new GCKey username and password.
- Create a new account in the IRCC secure account.
- Follow the prompts to set up two-factor authentication again.
- Save your new recovery codes somewhere safe. Your old codes will no longer work.
During this process, you may be able to:
- recover your account
- link your existing applications to your new account
Contact the GCKey Service Desk
GCKey representatives can only help with GCKey issues (including two-factor authentication). They don’t have access to any Government of Canada account or application information.
- Canada and the United States: 1-855-438-1102
- Text telephone (TTY/TDD): 1-855-438-1103
- Outside Canada and the United States: 1-800-2318-6290
GCKey representatives are available to assist you by phone year round, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Get more help with two-factor authentication
GCKey revoked
You can’t recover your GCKey username and password if they were revoked. They can be revoked if:
- your username and password are compromised
- you haven’t used GCKey in the last 2 years
- Don’t use the same username and password you use for GCKey for any other online accounts.
If your GCKey username and password were revoked, you can choose a different Sign-In method or sign up for a GCKey username and password again.
To sign up for a new GCKey username and password:
- Select GCKey username and password.
- Select Sign up on the Welcome to GCKey page to create a new GCKey username and password.
- Create a new account in the IRCC secure account.
During this process, you may be able to:
- recover your account
- link your existing applications to your new account
Change your Sign-In Partner
If you moved to a new bank or credit union, you may be able to switch your Sign-In Partner:
- Select Canadian Interac® Sign-In Partner.
- Select Switch My Sign-In Partner from the menu on the Select a Sign-In Partner page.
- Follow the steps to change your Sign-In Partner.
If you don’t find your application in your account
This can happen if you:
- created a new GCKey username and password
- switched to a different Sign-In Partner
To fix this, you need to link the application to your account.
If your personal reference code doesn’t work
You may have a personal reference code (from the Come to Canada tool) for these applications:
- Express Entry (to immigrate as a skilled worker)
- International Experience Canada (IEC)
- study permits (and extensions)
- work permits (and extensions)
- visitor visas and visitor records
Make sure you enter the code correctly in your account. Your personal reference code will expire 60 days after you get it.
You don’t need a personal reference code to start an application in the IRCC secure account.
Express Entry and International Experience Canada
The code won’t work if you created a profile in the account before using the Come to Canada tool. You can still continue your profile without the code, but you will need to enter your information again.
More help options
Help Centre
Find answers to questions about
- common technical issues
- GCKey and Sign-In Partner
- other topics
GCKey
For more information and help:
- read
- the GCKey help page
- our answers to common GCKey questions
- review the help options in the menu after you select GCKey username and password
Contact the GCKey Service Desk
GCKey representatives can only help with GCKey issues (including two-factor authentication). They don’t have access to any Government of Canada account or application information.
- Canada and the United States: 1-855-438-1102
- Text telephone (TTY/TDD): 1-855-438-1103
- Outside Canada and the United States: 1-800-2318-6290
GCKey representatives are available to assist you by phone year round, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Sign-In Partner
Find help and frequently asked questions in the Sign-In Partner menu after you select Interac® Sign-In Partner.
You can also read our answers to common Sign-In Partner questions.
