Obtaining a .GOV Domain

Step-by-step guide for guide for Streamline customers who want a .GOV domain

January 31, 2024 - U.S.-based government organizations can once again request .gov domains

Start by confirming that your current domain is available as a .gov at the following link:
https://get.gov/#domain-input
Find out who your authorizing official is and make sure they approve your request.
Gather all the information you’ll need to complete your domain request.
Create a Login.gov account. You’ll need a Login.gov account to request a .gov domain. Login.gov provides a simple and secure process for signing in to many government services with one account.

*If at any time during this process you need assistance, reach out to support@getstreamline.com and kindly request assistance in obtaining your .gov domain.*

Verify your identity with Login.gov (required for first-time domain requestors)

Before you can request your first .gov domain, they’ll require you to verify your identity with Login.gov. This is a necessary layer of security that requires you to prove you are you, and not someone pretending to be you. You’ll need a state-issued ID, a Social Security number, and a phone number for identity verification. You’ll be prompted to verify your identity when you begin the domain request process.

Completing the request form might take 15 minutes

If you have your Login.gov account and have gathered all the information you need, completing your domain request might take around 15 minutes.

You can request one domain per online service

For non-federal agencies, they generally approve one domain per online service per government organization. They'll evaluate additional requests on a case-by-case basis.

You don’t need to defensively register variations of your domain name. While this practice may be common when registering domains open to the general public, the .gov domain space is not first come, first serve. They'll only assign a domain to the organization whose real name or services actually correspond to the domain name.

Information you’ll need to complete the domain request form

They’ll ask you questions about your organization and the domain you want. Here’s what you’ll need to know to complete the form. There’s more information about each of these sections below.

Type of government organization you represent
Organization name and mailing address
Your authorizing official
Current websites for your organization (if you have one)
.Gov domain you want
Purpose of your domain
Your contact information
Other employees from your organization

Type of government organization you represent

If you’re eligible to have a .gov domain, you should get one. You’ll likely choose Special district from the list of government organizations eligible for .gov domains.

Organization name and mailing address

They’ll ask you the name and mailing address for the organization you represent. Your organization might be part of a larger entity. If so, enter the name of your part of the larger entity.

If your domain request is approved, the name of your organization and your city/state will be listed in .gov’s public data.

Your authorizing official

Your authorizing official is a person within your organization who can authorize your domain request. This person must be in a role of significant, executive responsibility within the organization. Read more about who can serve as an authorizing official.

What they’ll need to know about your authorizing official:

Name
Role in your organization
Email address

They typically don’t reach out to the authorizing official, but if contact is necessary, our practice is to coordinate with you, the requestor, first.

Current websites for your organization

They’ll ask about your organization’s current public websites. They can better evaluate your domain request if they know about domains you’re already using. If you already have a .gov domain, include that in your list.

.Gov domain you want

Here’s the part where you’ll tell them the .gov domain you want. They’ll try to give you your preferred domain, but they first need to make sure it meets our requirements. They’ll work with you to find the best domain for your organization.

Your domain name must:

Be available (Check availability)
Relate to your organization’s name, location, and/or services
Be clear to the general public. Your domain name must not be easily confused with other organizations.

Names that uniquely apply to your organization are likely to be approved over names that could also apply to other organizations. In most instances, this requires including your state’s two-letter abbreviation.

Requests for your organization’s initials or an abbreviated name might not be approved, but they encourage you to request the name you want.

Read more about our domain name requirements.

Purpose of your domain

They’ll ask you to explain how you plan to use your .gov domain. Will you use it for a website and/or email? Read about activities that are prohibited on a .gov domain.

Your contact information

They’ll ask you to provide your contact information. While reviewing your domain request, they may need to reach out with questions. They’ll also email you when they complete our review.

Your contact information won’t be made public and will be used only for .gov purposes.

Other employees from your organization

To help them determine your organization’s eligibility for a .gov domain, it’s helpful to have contact information for other employees from your organization.

They should be clearly and publicly affiliated with your organization and familiar with your domain request.
They don’t need to be involved with the technical management of your domain (although they can be).
They typically don’t reach out to these employees, but if contact is necessary, our practice is to coordinate with you first.

What happens after you request your .gov domain

They’ll review your request. This usually takes 20 business days. During this review they’ll verify that:

Your organization is eligible for a .gov domain
You work at the organization and/or can make requests on its behalf
Your requested domain meets our naming requirements

After your domain is approved, they’ll ask you to provide the following information:

Domain name server information (required) (Streamline will provide this for you)
Additional domain managers
Security email for public use

Before your approved .gov domain can be used, you’ll need to connect it to your DNS hosting service. At this time, they don’t provide DNS hosting services, Streamline does.