Verified U.S. government organizations at qualifying levels.
Restricted U.S. Government Namespace
Check .GOV Eligibility and Use the Official Registration Process
Only verified U.S. government organizations can request and operate a .GOV domain. CISA provides the domain at no cost through the official registrar at get.gov; commercial registrar registration and transfer are not available.
This page provides research and planning information. Submit eligible .GOV requests directly through get.gov.
Why .GOV is different
The extension is verified infrastructure, not an open commercial domain.
CISA reviews the government organization, requester identity, authorization, and proposed name before a .GOV domain can be approved.
Identity, authorization, organization, and requested name are checked.
Eligible organizations request domains through get.gov.
.GOV Namespace Intelligence · 2026 to date
.GOV provides a verified identity for U.S. government services.
DNS Coffee observed 16,636 .GOV zone-file domains on September 9, 2026. IANA lists CISA as the sponsoring organization and records the namespace from January 1, 1985.
DNS Coffee observation from September 9, 2026.
Official registration and management use get.gov.
IANA records January 1, 1985.
2026 TLD Market Context
This view places the current .GOV zone-file observation within the wider domain market while keeping its smaller scale visible.
.GOV zone-file domains16,636
ccTLDs146.3M
New gTLDs49.6M
Other Established TLDs196.6M
Source note: DNIB Q1 2026 provides the global market figures. DNS Coffee provides the September 9, 2026 .GOV zone-file observation. The .GOV figure is not an official registry-reported registration total, and its segment is visually enlarged for readability.
Why .GOV supports public trust
The namespace combines government-only eligibility with review of the organization, requester, authorization, and domain name.
Restricted eligibility
Only qualifying U.S. government organizations can request and operate a .GOV domain.
Verified request process
CISA reviews identity, senior-official authorization, organizational eligibility, and the proposed name.
Operational responsibility
Government organizations remain responsible for accurate content, secure administration, DNS, HTTPS, and current contacts.
.GOV Related Public-Sector TLD Zone-File Comparison — 2026 to date
This same-source snapshot compares .GOV with selected civic, legal, electoral, and public-service-related domain extensions.
Source note: DNS Coffee zone-file observations from September 9, 2026. Figures are domains observed in each TLD zone, not official registry-reported registration totals. The compared namespaces have different eligibility rules and are shown only for broad public-sector naming context.
Public .GOV Sales Data Availability
No domain-sale amounts are shown because .GOV is a restricted, no-fee government namespace rather than a commercial aftermarket extension.
CISA provides eligible .GOV domains through get.gov. Listings or asking prices elsewhere should not be treated as valid .GOV registration or completed-sale evidence.
Plan the official request
Different government organizations need clear ownership and approval.
The official request should match the organization, its jurisdiction, and the public service represented by the proposed name.
For federal agencies
Coordinate the request with authorized agency leadership and technical owners.
- Confirm organization authority
- Select an accurate agency name
- Assign accountable administrators
For states and territories
Use a name that clearly identifies the jurisdiction, agency, or public program.
- Document senior-official approval
- Separate agency responsibilities
- Plan secure public services
For local and tribal governments
Prepare evidence that establishes the government organization and its authority.
- Confirm eligibility category
- Choose a specific public name
- Keep official contacts current
For technical teams
Plan secure administration before moving public services to the new domain.
- Protect registrar accounts
- Configure DNS and HTTPS
- Maintain redirects and monitoring
Official .GOV workflow
Use get.gov from request through ongoing management.
Commercial registrar checkout, ordinary transfer, and aftermarket purchase workflows do not apply to .GOV.
1. Confirm eligibility
Match the organization to a qualifying federal, state, territorial, tribal, county, city, special-district, school-district, or interstate category.
2. Prepare authorization
Identify the requester, organization administrators, and senior official who can authorize the proposed domain.
3. Submit through get.gov
Request the domain through the official registrar and respond to any identity, eligibility, or naming follow-up from CISA.
Questions before requesting a .GOV domain?
Practical answers about eligibility, official registration, authorization, naming, security, and alternatives.
What is a .GOV domain and who manages it?
.GOV is the restricted top-level domain for verified U.S. government organizations. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, manages the namespace and its official registrar at get.gov.
Who is eligible for a .GOV domain?
Eligible organizations include U.S. federal, state, territorial, tribal, county, city, special-district, school-district, and qualifying interstate government organizations. CISA verifies every request.
Can a business, nonprofit, or individual register .GOV?
No. Businesses, nonprofits, political campaigns, and private individuals do not qualify merely because they work with government or provide public services.
Does a .GOV domain have a registration fee?
CISA states that .GOV domains are free for eligible U.S. government organizations. Eligibility and authorization checks still apply before a request is approved.
How does an eligible organization request a .GOV domain?
The requester creates an account at get.gov, submits the proposed name and organization details, provides senior-official authorization, completes identity verification, and responds to any CISA eligibility questions.
Can NiceNIC register or receive a transfer of .GOV?
No. New requests and management changes use the official get.gov registrar. This NiceNIC page is an informational guide and does not offer .GOV registration or transfer service.
How should a government organization choose its .GOV name?
Choose a name that clearly represents the organization, jurisdiction, or public service and follows get.gov naming requirements. CISA reviews requested names and may ask for a clearer or more specific option.
What operational requirements apply after approval?
The organization must keep contacts current, maintain secure DNS and HTTPS, protect registrar accounts, follow CISA requirements, and ensure the website accurately represents the government organization.
What can an ineligible organization use instead of .GOV?
Depending on its role and audience, an ineligible organization can consider an available .US, .ORG, .COM, or relevant descriptive extension without implying official government status.
