Guidance

Check if your organisation can get a .gov.uk domain name

Find out if your organisation is eligible for a .gov.uk domain name and what to do if it’s not.

• From: Central Digital and Data Office and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
• Published: 7 October 2019
• Last updated: 14 June 2024 — See all updates

Domain names are a valuable asset and require a long-term financial and operational commitment. The Protecting Public Sector Domains Team at the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) assigns approved .gov.uk domain names on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Most public sector organisations must use a .gov.uk or other government domain name for their websites, emails and services. But there are circumstances when your organisation can get non-government domain names.

Your organisation must have a valid reason for applying for a .gov.uk domain name even if it meets the eligibility criteria. 

Check if your organisation needs a .gov.uk domain 

Before you apply for a .gov.uk domain name you follow these steps:

1. Check if your organisation is eligible for a .gov.uk domain name.

2. Check if you should use an existing .gov.uk subdomain from the Government Digital Service (GDS).

3. Find out if you need an exemption from GDS to use the domain you want.

4. Justify why you need a new.gov.uk if your organisation already has a third-level .gov.uk domain.

Organisations eligible for a .gov.uk domain name

Only the following organisations can apply for a .gov.uk domain name:

• central government departments or agencies

• non-departmental bodies - also known as an arm’s length body

• parish, town or community councils

• district, borough, city or county councils

• fire services

• combined or unitary authorities

• police and crime commissioners

• joint authorities

• joint committees

• partnership bodies

• organisations representing a group of public sector bodies

• organisations representing a profession across public sector bodies

If you’re a parish council, you can ask for support getting a .gov.uk domain name by emailing [email protected] for more information.

If your organisation is not on this list and you think you may be eligible to apply, email [email protected].

Some public sector organisations have a specific domain name that must be used.

Organisation type or location	Domains you must use
Northern Ireland	gov.uk
Scotland	gov.scot
Wales	llyw.cymru or gov.wales
UK Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence	Use mod.uk and mil.uk Email [email protected] Call 01225 81 3657
NHS	nhs.uk, nhs.wales or nhs.scot
Judiciary	judiciary.uk Email [email protected]
Police forces	police.uk Email [email protected] Call 0800 496 3322
Schools or universities	sch.uk or ac.uk
UK Parliament, Devolved National Parliaments and assemblies	.parliament.uk Email [email protected] Call 0207 219 0277

Geographic and geopolitical areas that have their own country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) must not use the .gov.uk domain. For example, you should use .im for the Isle of Man or .gi for Gibraltar.

When to use an existing GDS sub-domain of .gov.uk 

Before applying a .gov.uk domain name, you should check if there is a sub-domain already available to suit your needs.

For example, you must use:

• service.gov.uk - for government services

• campaign.gov.uk - for government campaigns

• api.gov.uk - for government APIs

• blog.gov.uk - for government blogs

• data.gov.uk - for publishing government data sets

• independent.gov.uk - for independent inquiries set up by the government

When you might need an exemption before applying for a .gov.uk domain

If you’re from a central government organisation or Arms Length Body (ALB) and you plan to build a website using your .gov.uk domain name, you must first get an exemption from using the GOV.UK website. 

If your organisation already has a third-level .gov.uk domain

If your organisation already has one or more third-level .gov.uk domains you must:

• provide a business justification for having another third-level .gov.uk domain

• demonstrate that another third-level .gov.uk domain will not cause confusion to users

The Domains Team will work constructively with applicants to find the most appropriate type of domain name for their needs. In many cases it’s better to create a subdomain of an existing .gov.uk domain.

Published 7 October 2019
Last updated 14 June 2024 + show all updates

1. 14 June 2024

   Updated the list of eligible organisations - removing metropolitan, neighbourhood and village as these are already covered by other eligible organisations

2. 6 March 2024

   Change note: We have added 2 more organisation types that are eligible for domains: 1\. Organisations representing a group of public sector bodies 2\. Organisations representing a profession across public sector bodies. We have also added more detail about when it’s appropriate to use an existing .gov.uk subdomain managed by GDS, when you might need an exemption from publishing on GOV.UK and what to consider if your organisation already has third level .gov.uk domains.

3. 30 June 2022

   The section 'Why use a .gov.uk domain' has been moved to its separate page titled 'Benefits of getting a .gov.uk domain'. We have also updated contact details for NHS and added domains that schools, universities and organisations in Northern Ireland should use into the table.

4. 31 December 2021

   Adding the benefits of getting a .gov.uk domain

5. 2 December 2021

   Updated to include advantages of using a .gov.uk domain

6. 5 May 2021

   The Domain Management team has now moved to the Central Digital and Data Office. This update removes any references to the Government Digital Service (GDS).

7. 19 December 2019

   Adding information about government organisations that must use specific domain names

8. 7 October 2019

   First published.