.GOV Domain Registration Services

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The .GOV Domain Registration program offers U.S. government organizations an online registry for the Internet’s .GOV namespace. GSA is responsible for the online registration, validation, processing, activation, administration, and maintenance of .GOV, second-level domain names.

The .GOV website has been enhanced over the past two years to provide easy Internet access for government organizations to register and modify their .GOV domain names.

On March 29, 2003, the GSA Administrator signed a new rule that permits state and local governments to obtain .GOV domain names.

Only U.S. federal departments, agencies, programs, and commissions; state and local governments; and Native Sovereign Nations are eligible to receive a .GOV domain name. Authorization to receive a .GOV second-level domain name can be granted only after an official request by the proper authority and verification of that authority's credentials.

1. Registrations that Qualify for a .GOV Domain

    The following entities currently qualify for a second-level .GOV domain:

  • At the federal level, U.S. governmental departments, agencies, programs, and commissions
  • Cross-agency collaborative organizations
  • Federally recognized Indian Tribes (for the -NSN.GOV domain)
  • State government entities and programs
  • Cities and townships represented by an elected body of officials
  • Counties and parishes represented by an elected body of officials
  • Some special exceptions and requests are permitted

2. Registrations that Do Not Qualify for a .GOV domain

    The following entities do not currently qualify for a second-level .GOV domain:

  • International organizations
  • Commercial firms
  • Privately owned organizations
  • Military entities (except in special cases because the military typically uses .MIL domain names)
  • Local (e.g., city, county, township, or parish) government programs and initiatives
  • Cities, townships, counties, parishes, and other local entities that are not represented by an elected body of officials

 

Last Reviewed 12/19/2008