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Help using Your Defra account

How to register for Defra online services

To register for a Defra online service for the first time, you need to create a Defra account. Your Defra account lets you register with a range of online services from Defra and related organisations.

Here’s the process:

  1. Sign in using your own Government Gateway username and password. If you do not have your own Government Gateway account, we’ll help you to create one. Do not use a shared account.
  2. Tell us some information about you and your organisation (if relevant).
  3. Complete your registration with the relevant service.

Before you start

You’ll need:

  • your email address, phone number and postal address
  • your Government Gateway user ID and password. If you do not have a Government Gateway account, we’ll help you to create one.

If you’re registering on behalf of a business or organisation, you'll also need:

  • the main contact details for your business or organisation (for example, head office contact details)
  • the Companies House number if the business or organisation is a limited company

Trouble signing in?

If you cannot sign into your Defra account or service, please contact the relevant service using the telephone numbers below.

Contact Defra services
Service Phone number
IPAFFS +443300 416 999
Exporter Service +44 3000 200 301
Fish Exports Service +44330 159 1989
Comply with UK REACH 0330 159 1985
Apply for Plant Export Certificates and Inspections 0300 1000 313
Certifier Service +44 3000 200 301
Apply for and manage environmental permissions +44 3708 506 506
Waste Tracking Service 0800 876 6458
Biodiversity Net Gain 0300 060 3900
Apply for a CITES Permit 0117 372 3700
MERMAN+ +44 (0)151 795 4955
Annual health and welfare review of livestock 03000 200 301
Taking a pet from Great Britain to Northern Ireland 03000 200 301

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Change your associated phone number

If you do not have access to the phone number associated with your Government Gateway ID, you’ll need to reset it by following these steps:

  1. Sign into the service you used to set up your Government Gateway ID.
  2. Follow the links to change your access code settings.

This was last updated on 21 April 2023