Both ID.me and Login.gov are third-party identity verification services the VA uses to let you log into VA.gov and the VA mobile app, and both were built with the assumption that most users have a US phone number and address. That said, there are workarounds for veterans living abroad.
With ID.me, the most reliable option for someone without a US phone number is the video chat verification path. Instead of verifying through a text message or automated phone call, you can choose to speak with a live ID.me agent over video, upload your passport as your primary identity document, and answer some knowledge-based questions. This path does not require a US-based phone number, though you will need a working internet connection and a device with a camera. ID.me's help center has a specific workflow for users who select "I don't have a US phone number" during sign-up, which routes you toward video verification instead of SMS verification.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Does your rating decision hold up under a real audit?
Upload your decision letter and C&P exams — VetAid's analyzer reads the full file, checks every examiner statement word-for-word against your records, and shows which arguments for a higher rating actually hold. Free, and we never take a cut of your back pay.
Analyze my claim free →Login.gov is generally harder to complete without a US address, because one of its identity-proofing paths involves mailing a verification code to a US mailing address, and its phone verification step also expects a US-capable number in many cases. If you do not have access to either, ID.me is usually the more workable option for overseas verification.
If video verification still fails or you get stuck, you have a few other paths into your VA benefits without full online self-verification. You can call the VA directly and ask a representative to assist you, or work through a Veterans Service Organization (VSO), who can often help you access or submit claims information on your behalf without you needing a fully verified VA.gov account. You can also submit paper claims forms (such as VA Form 21-526EZ for compensation claims) by mail, which does not require identity verification through these apps at all.
Because identity-verification systems and their overseas workflows do change periodically, it's worth checking the current ID.me help documentation for the most up-to-date instructions before you start.
As a next step, go back into the ID.me sign-up flow, select the option indicating you do not have a US phone number, and choose the live video chat verification path using your passport as your ID document.
Need a deeper analysis?
Our AI checks your situation against outcome data from 1,300,000+ Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) decisions (2009–2025).
Analyze Your Claim Free