Register or sign into the Rural Payments service

If you’re new to the Rural Payments service or already a customer this information will help you sign in.

If you’re a new customer

You must verify your identity before you can register with the Rural Payments service. You can do this in one of 2 ways.

1.Online with GOV.UK Verify – this gives you simple, trusted and secure access to an increasing number of public services on GOV.UK.

If you have difficulty verifying your identity with GOV.UK Verify or you are having problems with the Verify service, you should contact your identity provider.

2.Call the Rural Payments helpline on 03000 200 301 and we will help you – this will only give you access to the Rural Payments service, not other government services.

After you’ve verified your identity, you can sign in to the Rural Payments service and start to register. You will need to create a password. For security do not share your password with anyone.

If you’re an existing customer

Sign in to the Rural Payments service.

Or you can sign in using the link on the RPA page on GOV.UK and click ‘Sign in to the Rural Payments service’.

Depending how you registered for the service you’ll need your:

  • ‘Verify’ login details if you registered through GOV.UK ‘Verify’. Click the ‘Sign in if you registered online with GOV.UK Verify’ link and follow the onscreen instructions
  • customer reference number (CRN) and password, if you registered through RPA. Click ‘Sign in with your customer reference number and password’. For security do not share you password with anyone.

To open the service we recommend you use the latest version of Internet Explorer, Google, Chrome, Firefox or Safari.

The best screen resolution to view the service is 1024 x 768.

To view PDF files from the service (such as an application summary), we recommend you download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat.

Problems signing in to the Rural Payments service

If you make a mistake when signing in to the service you’ll see this message:

Diagram 1

  • Check that you’ve entered your CRN correctly.
  • Then make sure you’re using the correct password.

You have 3 attempts to sign in to the service. If you make a mistake at each attempt you won’t be able to access your account. You’ll need to change your password, read ‘Registered through RPA’ for more information.

If someone else makes a mistake when signing in to their account by accidentally using your customer reference number (CRN), they’ll also see this message but it will count towards failed attempts to access your account. If this happens, then the next time you try to sign in to your account you may not get 3 attempts and may need to follow the same instructions above to get access.

What to do if you still cannot access the Rural Payments service

Registered through GOV.UK Verify

If you registered through GOV.UK Verify and cannot access your account, you need to contact your chosen provider.

You can leave feedback on the issue using the link on the GOV.UK Verify screen.

The Government Digital Services (GDS) team will investigate your issue and reply to you if you requested a response.

Registered through RPA

You’ll need your CRN and the password you created when you activated your account. If you have forgotten your CRN, call us on 03000 200 301.

If you’ve forgotten your password or need to change it, click the ‘create a new one here’ link on the Sign in screen.

Diagram 2

Enter your CRN and email address, then click ‘Request security code’.

Diagram 3

You’ll receive a security code by email. You’ll need to enter the code on the next screen.

Diagram 4

You must use the security code within 12 hours. If you haven’t used it by then, you’ll have to request another one.

IMPORTANT: Keep the ‘Create new password’ screen open while you access your emails so that you can enter the security code.

The easiest way to do this is either:

  • open a ‘new tab’ by clicking the right button on your mouse or pad with the cursor over the existing tab at the top of the screen, and read your emails in the new tab
  • access your emails from another device, for example, your mobile phone.

If you close the ‘Create new password’ screen before you enter the security code, you can enter it from the Sign in screen. Click the ‘Started creating a new password and received the security code by email – enter it here’ link near the bottom of the screen. We’ve shown this link in the screenshot under ‘Registered through RPA’.

Then at the ‘Create new password’ screen you’ll need to enter your CRN, email address and the security code, then click ‘Continue’.

Diagram 5

After you’ve entered your security code you can create a new password. You must not use your email address as your password as it will not be accepted.

Use the new password when you want to Sign in to the Rural Payments service.

After you’ve successfully changed your password, if you still cannot sign in, call us on 03000 200 301.