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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • Registering for Government Gateway (GG) and NIDA Accounts

    Topics:
    • Grants and Funding, 
    • Sustainable Agriculture Programme, 
    • Agricultural & Environmental Schemes

    All you need to know about registering for online services.

    DAERA must maintain a record of the identity of anyone who submits an application to receive Area- based Schemes payments. Each business must be registered with us and have a unique business identification (business ID) number. We cannot pay you unless you are registered with us as a farm business and have been issued with a business ID.

    If you are a new farm business and want to register with DAERA, you must complete an ‘FB1’ form. A copy of this form and other new farm business guidance can be found at the New Farm Business page

    A list of DAERA Direct Offices can be found below here. Most applications for Area-based Schemes must be submitted online at DAERA Online Services. To access DAERA Online Services you will need to register for either an ‘nidirect’ or ‘Government Gateway’ account.

    How to Access DAERA Online Services via nidirect

    To access DAERA Online services via nidirect you must complete the following 3 steps:

    1. Create an nidirect account online

    2. Verify your identity at a DAERA Direct office

    3. Log in to verified nidirect account

    Creating & Verifying your nidirect Account to Access Online Services

    The video below details all necessary action required;

    Verify your Identity at a DAERA Direct Office

    • bring your nidirect verification code and 3 acceptable forms of ID to a DAERA Direct office
    • at the DAERA Direct office your nidirect account information (name, address etc) will be checked against your 3 forms of ID, so it is important you ensure they match.
    • once matched the DAERA Direct officer will verify your account and you can access your DAERA online services.

    Log in to Verified nidirect Account

    • Return to login with the nidirect account details
    • enter your DAERA Customer ID (on first login only)

    You will then be able to view all DAERA Online Services available to you and select the service you wish to use.

    Contact Details for nidirect

    If you have any queries regarding a nidirect account you can contact them:

    • By email at nida@nidirect.gov.uk
    • By telephone on 0300 200 7868

    How to Create a Government Gateway Account Online

    • create your Government Gateway account
    • enter and verify your email address
    • generate your user ID for Government Gateway
    • enter your personal details
    • make note of your Identity verification code as you will need this for step 2 ‘Verify your identity at a DAERA Direct office’

    Verify your Identity at a DAERA Direct Office

    • bring your Identity verification code and 3 acceptable forms of ID to a DAERA Direct office.
    • at the DAERA Direct office your Government Gateway account information (name, address etc) will be checked against your 3 forms of ID, so it is important you ensure they match.
    • once matched the DAERA Direct officer will verify your account and you can access your DAERA online services.

    Log in to verified Government Gateway account

    • Return to login with the Government Gateway account details
    • enter your DAERA Customer ID (on first login only)

    You will then be able to view all DAERA Online Services available to you and select the service you wish to use.

    Contact Details for Government Gateway

    If you have any queries regarding a Government Gateway account you can contact your local DAERA Direct office:

    • By telephone on 0300 200 7840

    DAERA Online Services can be accessed at DAERA Online Services.

    Acceptable forms of ID can be found at How to access DAERA online services via Government Gateway.

    Related content

    • About the Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP)
    • Agricultural & Environmental Scheme Details
    • Agricultural Census in Northern Ireland
    • Am I Eligible for BCR?
    • Am I eligible for SC Scheme
    • Am I eligible for the FwNT Scheme?
    • BCR Payments
    • Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme
    • Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme - Terms and Conditions
    • Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme Retention Period Examples
    • Beef Sustainability Package
    • Business Changes
    • Checks that we will carry out if you opt in for the SC Scheme
    • Checks That We Will Carry Out If You Opt-in For BCR
    • Cross Compliance 2025
    • DAERA Customer Portal
    • DAERA Messaging Service
    • DAERA Online Services
    • Eligible Beef breeds
    • Entitlements and Transfers
    • Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) - Higher Level
    • Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) general information and guidance
    • Environmental Farming Scheme Training Videos (Higher NPIs)
    • Environmental Farming Scheme Training Videos (Wider Options)
    • Farm Business Management
    • Farm Sustainability Payment (FSP)
    • Farm Sustainability Standards (FSS)
    • Farming with Nature Package
    • Farming with Nature Transition Scheme
    • Farming with Nature Transition Scheme - Year 2
    • FwNT Claim Submission
    • FwNT Claim Submission How To Videos
    • FwNT Contact Details
    • FwNT Scheme Checks and Inspections
    • FwNT Scheme Conditions
    • FwNT Scheme Payments
    • How do I apply for the FwNT Scheme?
    • How Do I Carry Out the FwNT Scheme Actions?
    • How do I opt in for the SC Scheme?
    • How Do I Opt-in for BCR?
    • How to access DAERA online services via Government Gateway
    • How to Videos Library
    • New Farm Business
    • Northern Ireland Agricultural Census 2026
    • Online Agent Nomination
    • Online Agent Nomination Process How To Videos
    • Other Useful Information
    • Registering for GG or NIDA and Online services
    • Review of Decisions
    • Rural Business Development Grant Scheme (RBDGS) general guidance notes
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