Guidance

Choose your .gov.uk domain name

Use this guidance to make sure that you choose an appropriate .gov.uk domain name.

From:
Central Digital and Data Office and Cabinet Office
Published
7 October 2019
Last updated
29 June 2022 — See all updates

When you choose your .gov.uk domain name you must make sure it is:

Choose a descriptive domain name

Your proposed domain name must clearly describe your organisation or government initiative you’re providing. Think about users of the domain name and make sure the name is not too long or complicated.

Your domain name must:

  • be between 3 and 63 characters long
  • contain only alphanumeric characters (0-9 and a-z) and the ‘-‘ (dash) symbol

Your domain name must not:

  • be the same or substantially similar to an existing .gov.uk domain name
  • use ‘&’ (ampersands) or ‘_’ (underscores)
  • include abbreviations like ltd, plc and gov
  • include a postcode

You must use the full name of your organisation, government initiative or an appropriate suffix or abbreviation.

If you apply for an acronym, initialism, or abbreviation this must be descriptive, unique and clear to avoid user confusion. Applications for these terms will need approval from the Naming and Approvals Committee. Commonly-used abbreviations like DWP, HMRC or DVLA are acceptable as are abbreviations that are well-known to your users.

Example

A central department can use hmrc.gov.uk.

A county council can use northamptonshire.gov.uk.

A town council can use biggleswadetowncouncil.gov.uk, biggleswadetown.gov.uk or biggleswade-tc.gov.uk

A parish council can use bonbyparishcouncil.gov.uk, bonbyparish.gov.uk or bonby-pc.gov.uk.

A geographical identifier your users will recognise.

Example

northyorks.gov.uk is acceptable.

Make your proposed domain name unique

If your proposed domain name is the same as another .gov.uk domain name you must choose another name.

If you apply for a generic word or combination of generic words for a .gov.uk domain name, the Domain Management team will refer this to the Naming and Approvals Committee. The committee may contact other government organisations who may have a claim on the generic words before they make their final decision.

Example

technology.gov.uk is generic and the Domain Management team would refer this request to the Naming and Approvals Committee.

Updates to this page

Published 7 October 2019
Last updated 29 June 2022 + show all updates

  1. Clarified naming criteria for town and parish councils.

  2. Clarifying that a domain name must use the full name of an organisation, government initiative, an appropriate suffix or abbreviation.

  3. Separated what you must and must not include in a domain name to make it clearer. Updated abbreviation example to beis.gov.uk as mhclg.gov.uk has been retired.

  4. 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).

  5. First published.

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Contents

Part of Apply for a .gov.uk domain name: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if your organisation can apply

    1. Benefits of getting a .gov.uk domain
    2. Check your organisation can get a .gov.uk domain name
    3. Get permission to apply

  2. Step 2 Identify a registrant for your .gov.uk domain name

    If your organisation is eligible for a .gov.uk domain name, you must identify a registrant who is going to be responsible for the domain and then choose a .gov.uk Approved Registrar.

    1. Identify a registrant for your .gov.uk domain name
    2. Choose a .gov.uk Approved Registrar

  3. Step 3 Choose your domain name

    1. You are currently viewing: Choose your .gov.uk domain name

  4. Step 4 Apply for your domain name

    1. Apply for your .gov.uk domain name

  5. Step 5 Appeal your rejected domain name application

    1. Appeal your rejected .gov.uk domain name application

  6. Step 6 Use your domain name

    Registrants must follow the Cabinet Office guidelines once their .gov.uk domain is live, or Cabinet Office will withdraw it. For example, registrants must keep contact details up to date.

    1. Get started with your .gov.uk domain name
    2. Keep your domain name secure

  7. Step 7 Manage your domain name

    Registrants or their Technical Points of Contact can make changes to a .gov.uk domain name.

    1. Renew your domain name
    2. Create and manage .gov.uk subdomains
    3. Modify or transfer your domain name

    If your organisation no longer needs a domain name, you must take steps to protect it.

    1. Stop using your domain name
    2. What to do if your domain is compromised