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

Identify a registrant for your .gov.uk domain name

Every .gov.uk domain needs a registrant. Find out what they do and who can be a registrant.

Updates to this page

From:
Government Digital Service, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Central Digital and Data Office
Published:
6 March 2024
Last updated:
6 March 2024
Show all updates

  1. This page is a revised version of the "Identify a .gov.uk domain name administrator" page, which has been unpublished and redirected to this page. We have replaced the term "domain name administrator" with "registrant to align with standard industry terminology. We have simplified the page to make it clear what the role of a registrant is and who can be a registrant.

  2. First published.

The role of a registrant

The registrant is the person or team responsible for managing, renewing, authorising changes and protecting the domain on behalf of their public sector organisation. 

To set up a .gov.uk domain, the registrant must:

  1. Get permission to apply for the .gov.uk domain name from the person who is accountable for it.

  2. Choose a .gov.uk Approved Registrar, who applies for the .gov.uk domain name on their behalf.

  3. Choose a Technical Point of Contact for the .gov.uk domain name. The registrant can be the Technical Point of Contact or can choose to delegate this to their registrar.

  4. Protect the domain by following guidance on getting started using your .gov.uk domain name.

Who can be a registrant

The registrant must be one of the following:

  • a civil servant

  • a public servant

  • a named team 

The registrant must be responsible for a service that depends on the domain name, whether it is an individual or a team. The registrant could be responsible for the organisation’s IT, service delivery, communications or marketing function.

In parish councils, the parish clerk is the registrant.

When you apply we will need a work email address we can identify you from like ‘jane.smith@department.gov.uk’. You will also need to provide a role-based email for publication in the registry like ‘clerk@[your-organisation].gov.uk’ or ‘IThelpdesk@[your-organisation].gov.uk’

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Contents

This page is 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. You are currently viewing: Identify a registrant for your .gov.uk domain name
    2. Choose a .gov.uk Approved Registrar

  3. Step 3 Choose your domain name

    1. 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