Password support

Your Census number and temporary password need to be entered exactly as they appear on your letter. Passwords are case sensitive:

• Check caps lock isn’t on.
• Do not put a space at the end of your password. This will prevent your password from being accepted.
• Check you’re using correct upper case (e.g. A) and lower case (e.g. a) letters.
• Check the first letter has not been automatically changed to upper case.

You can select 'Show' to check your password while you type it.

Remember that passwords are case sensitive. Make sure caps lock isn't on.

Once you’ve entered your Census number and temporary password, for security reasons and to protect your privacy, you’ll then be asked to set a new password.

The new password you choose must meet all the following requirements:

• contain at least one lower case letter (a-z)
• contain at least one upper case letter (A-Z)
• contain at least one number (0-9)
• be a minimum of 9 characters.

Your new password must not have more than three consecutive or repeated numbers or letters (e.g. 1234, ABCD, 1111, AAAA).

Passwords must not contain spaces, the Census number, or your temporary password.

You can choose a way to recover your password in case you forget it and need to reset by selecting either: 

• ‘use my email address’
• ‘use my mobile number’.

We’ll only use your email or mobile number for password recovery, to send a one-time PIN and to send a receipt once you’ve completed your form.

If you prefer, you can choose not to select a password recovery option, by selecting ‘I do not want to provide a recovery option’.

However, if you forget your password and didn't provide a recovery option, you'll need to start a new Census form.

If you’ve set your own password and recovery option, you can reset your password. If you don't have a recovery option, or have forgotten your Census number, you cannot reset your password and will need to start a new form.

To start a new form, go to census.abs.gov.au, select ‘Continue to Census form’ and select ‘Get a Census number’.

The Census online form uses a two-factor verification process to set up password recovery, start the form without a Census number, report no one is at your address and get a paper form. It sends a one-time PIN (OTP) to your mobile number or email address.

It may take up to 5 mins to get your OTP. Your OTP will expire after 20 minutes.

To get an OTP to your mobile, your phone number must:

• be an Australian or Norfolk Island mobile number
• start with, +614, 614 or 04
• be 12, 10 or 9 digits in length
• be entered without spaces.

You won’t be allowed to proceed if more than 12 digits are entered.

To get an OTP to your email, make sure your email address includes:

• a @
• at least one full stop followed by a character after the @.

Please check your junk or spam folder if the OTP email doesn’t appear in your inbox.

If you’re still having problems logging into your form, you can also complete a technical enquiry form or get in touch with us.