General

• What is My VAC Account?

  My VAC Account is a simple and secure way to do business online with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC).

  To register for My VAC Account, go to veterans.gc.ca/myVACaccount.

• With My VAC Account, you can:

  • learn about VAC benefits and services
  • apply online for VAC benefits and services
  • upload documents to support your applications
  • track the status of your applications
  • view a summary of your benefits
  • sign up for direct deposit or change your banking information
  • connect directly with VAC staff through secure messaging
  • update your personal information
• You can register for My VAC Account if you are a:

  • Veteran
  • Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) or Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) member
  • Family member directly in receipt of benefits from VAC
• Who do I contact if I need help?

  If you have any questions or comments about My VAC Account, your applications or about our services and benefits please send us a secure message or contact us.

Your online credentials

• How do I get a username and password for My VAC Account?

  The first step is choosing how you want to sign in to your My VAC Account. There are two ways you can sign in.

  You can:

  1. Use your online banking login (Sign-In Partner); or
  2. Create a username and password (GCKey).

  If you use the Sign-In Partner credential, none of your personal or banking information is shared with My VAC Account by your financial institution.  In fact, the Sign-In Partner doesn’t even share which financial institution you are using to access My VAC Account. It simply confirms your identity with us. If you choose to use a GCKey, you will need to set up an account by answering a series of questions to create a unique username and password.

• What is GCKey?

  The GCKey is a unique electronic credential that allows you to communicate securely with any of the Government of Canada’s services i.e. Service Canada (SC) and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). You can create one GCKey and use it to access multiple services.

  Your GCKey can expire. The system requires you to use your GCKey at least once every two years, otherwise it will expire. If your GCKey expires, you will have to register for a new one; you will also need to re-register with any service you were previously using.

• What is Sign-In Partner?

  Sign-In Partner is a third-party commercial credential service provider, which allows you to use an existing online credential to register for My VAC Account. The available commercial credential services are BMO Financial Group, CHOICE REWARDS MasterCard, CIBC Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Desjardins Group, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank, Tangerine, National Bank of Canada, Affinity Credit Union and TD Bank Group.

  Using Sign-In Partner to register for My VAC Account is easy. Your online banking information is familiar: you may already be using it on a regular basis. Why?

  • It’s convenient: since you don’t have to remember a different username and password.
  • It’s safe: financial institutions are committed to security and privacy in line with regulatory and industry best practices.

  If you use the Sign-In Partner credential, none of your personal or banking information is shared with My VAC Account by your financial institution.  In fact, the Sign-In Partner doesn’t even share which financial institution you are using to access My VAC Account. It simply confirms your identity with us.

• What is the difference between GCKey and Sign-In Partner?

  Both services allow you to login to My VAC Account and there is no difference in the level of security. The difference is GCKey requires you to create a username and password, whereas with Sign-In Partner you log in to My VAC Account using your online banking information. You must have an account with BMO Financial Group, CHOICE REWARDS MasterCard, CIBC Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Desjardins Group, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank, Tangerine, National Bank of Canada, Affinity Credit Union and TD Bank Group. If you use the Sign-In Partner credential, none of your personal or banking information is shared with My VAC Account by your financial institution.

• Why do I need a GCKey or Sign-In Partner for My VAC Account?

  To ensure security and privacy for our registered users we have two convenient choices to create a GCKey or use a Sign-In Partner. This unique credential will ensure you are the only person accessing your account.

• Why isn’t my bank or credit card company on your list?

  We are expecting that other financial institutions will be added in the future. In the meantime, you can still access My VAC Account by creating a username and password using GCKey.

• I have an account or credit card with one of these financial institutions but I’m not set up for online banking. Can I still use the Sign-In Partner credential?

  You must be registered for online banking to register for a Sign-In partner credential. Please contact your bank to request their online banking service if you wish to use the partner sign-in. Otherwise, you can still access My VAC Account by creating a username and password using GCKey.

  If you use the Sign-In Partner credential, none of your personal or banking information is shared with My VAC Account by your financial institution.  In fact, the Sign-In Partner doesn’t even share which financial institution you are using to access My VAC Account.

Verify your Identity

• I already have a unique username and password through GCKey or Sign-In Partner. Why do I still need to verify my identity to register for My VAC Account?

  If you’ve applied with VAC in the past, this step ensures the protection of your online security. Given the sensitivity of the information on My VAC Account, an added layer of security is standard.

  The Sign-In Partner doesn’t provide any identity information to the Government of Canada, it simply validates your username or card number and password. Each government service requires your personal information based on their specific needs 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.

• Do I have a choice regarding how I want to prove my identity?

  Yes, you have three choices. You can choose to verify your identity:

  • online by answering a series of security questions;
  • in person or via telephone (once VAC has verified your identity, you will receive an enrolment code); or
  • through the CRA’s process which involves registering for a CRA My Account.
• If I prefer to verify my identity online, what will I be asked?

  You will be asked a series of five security questions that only you and Veterans Affairs will know.

• Am I required to have an enrolment code and also answer the security questions?

  If you choose to use an enrolment code, you will be asked to enter personal information during the My VAC Account application process as a means of confirming your identity. To get your enrollment code call the National Contact Centre Network (NCCN) at 1-866-522-2122.

• Will I be required to verify my identity each time I login to My VAC Account?

  Once you register for My VAC Account, you will only be required to enter your secure online credential using either GCKey or Sign-In Partner.

Temporary Address

• My postal code is generating an error. What should I do?

  Canada Post updates its postal code database frequently. If your postal code is not yet available, you will not be able to update your address using My VAC Account. Please contact us and we can manually update your address information for you.

• When should I add a temporary address?

  Providing a temporary address is helpful if you plan to be away from your home for 3 months or longer. The temporary address feature is for VAC’s information only and does not change your home or mailing addresses. If you would like your mail re-routed to a temporary address, please contact us.