How to access the British gov.uk website as a French resident

A British Connexion reader shares how he was able to create a Government Gateway account

Problems accessing gov.uk prompted a Connexion reader to write a letter of complaint to HMRC

chrisdorney / Shutterstock

Published Friday 02 June 2023 - 12:23 Modified Friday 02 June 2023 - 12:23

Your January/February issue highlighted problems for non-UK residents accessing the gov.uk Government Gateway website if they do not have a UK address, driving licence, etc.

Following a letter of complaint to HMRC, I was told it is still possible to create a Government Gateway account as long as you have a biometric UK passport, National Insurance number, and access to a smartphone and UK telephone number.

Download the gov.uk ‘ID Check’ app and, at the appropriate stage in the account creation, take a picture of both the photo page in your passport and a ‘selfie’, then allow your phone to scan the microchip on the front page of your passport.

This verifies your identity and a Government Gateway account can then be created.

Connexion reader Gary Grant, by email

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How to access the British gov.uk website as a French resident

A British Connexion reader shares how he was able to create a Government Gateway account

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