The Federal Employment Agency provides you with several secure login options.
For private individuals, companies and partners
• User name / e-mail address in combination with a password and the BA-Secure app
• User name / e-mail address in combination with a password and a second factor (TOTP)
• Passkey
For private individuals
• BundID
For companies
• Mein Unternehmenskonto
On the registration page, under ‘Finding the right account’, there is also a selection assistant to help you make your decision.
There are two three ways to log in with the ‘Federal Employment Agency’ option. You can set up both all of them and use any either one as you prefer.
The BA-Secure app is an application developed by the Federal Employment Agency to enhance account security. You can use the app to authorise your login. The app utilises the same technology you use to unlock your smartphone – for example, a facial scan, your fingerprint, or your smartphone PIN.
For more information about logging in with the BA-Secure app, please visit the page ‘Logging in with the BA-Secure app’
If you want to use your user name / e-mail address and password to log in, a second security factor in the form of a numeric code is also required. The This procedure is known as ‘TOTP’ procedure; it means that is used: instead of entering only a password, you will also need a time-limited code from a separate authenticator app. This is usually linked to your device.
For more information on how to log in with a second security factor, please visit the page TOTP: Second factor for increased security
With a passkey, we offer you another login option that is usually linked to a device such as your smartphone. When you set up a passkey, you can, for example, use your fingerprint or a face scan as a digital key to log in. The requirement is that you have a compatible device.
You can find more information about Passkey passkeys on the Secure account login using a passkey page.
The ‘BundID’ is the federal government’s central user account for private individuals. An increasing number of authorities are offering it as a login option for administrative services, replacing a large number of individual logins that would otherwise be necessary.
Logging in with the ‘BundID’ is particularly secure as it uses an ELSTER certificate or an electronicID (eID) with two factors.
Depending on which online service you wish to use from the Federal Employment Agency (Job Centre or Family Benefits Office), the online service may require you to log in with BundID. This is the case, for example, if you wish to change your bank details or address.
You can find more information on the page ’BundID’: Secure access to all online services
A trust level indicates the degree of trustworthiness of an identification method. The higher the trust level, the higher the trustworthiness. Trust levels can only be achieved by logging in with BundID. You can complete the basic registration with a passkey and TOTP.
The trust level influences which online offers and services you can use. The online portal will show you which trust level is required.
The topic of trust levels is currently relevant only for private individuals.
The trust level you achieve when logging in with BundID depends on the chosen authentication method based on the selected identification method within BundID. An identification method refers to the way in which your personal data is verified. This could be an ELSTER certificate, an online ID (e.g. identity card) or your EU identity.
Logging in with your user name /e-mail address in combination with your password and the BA-Secure app, TOTP or a passkey grants you access to basic functions of the online portal, but is limited to certain functions.
You can achieve this trust level by using the ‘ELSTER certificate’ access method and certain EU identities.
You can achieve this trust level by using the ‘online ID’ access method and certain ‘EU identities’. The ‘online ID’ category includes the identity card with online function, the eID, the electronic residence permit and the EU citizen card.
Sessions are time-limited depending on the trust level and require a new login once they expire. The session duration with the trust level ‘high’ is 30 minutes, with the trust level ‘substantial’ 120 minutes and with basic registration 720 minutes. A session in the app can last up to 30 days. You can see whether you are logged in to a session – and with which trust level – in the new profile bar. You will also always receive a notification 30 minutes before your session expires.
Depending on which account (Federal Employment Agency or BundID) and identification method (ELSTER certificate, online ID or EU identity) you have used to log in, you may not be able to access certain information because a higher trust level is required. The relevant information is marked with a shield symbol. After clicking on the corresponding shield symbol, you will be guided through a short process that establishes the required level of trust.
‘Mein Unternehmenskonto’ (= My company account) is a digital access account for businesses based on ELSTER with an ELSTER organisation certificate. You can also set up additional login methods, such as ElsterSecure.
Further information on setting up and logging in with ‘Mein Unternehmenskonto’ can be found on the page Mein Unternehmenskonto: Login option for companies (the page is currently only available in German).
Information from the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) on two-factor authentication:
The BSI also provides reliable information on the topic of two-factor authentication. On the page BSI – Two-factor authentication for greater data security you will find an informative video explaining its advantages and how it works.