Gov.uk domain names can only be registered by UK Government departments and agencies, local government bodies (including town and parish councils), and other associated and non-departmental
public sector organisations and projects.

The  Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is responsible for the policy governing the gov.uk domain, and for its rules and guidelines. UKERNA administers the gov.uk domain on behalf of OGC, in providing the name submission, approval and registration systems for the domain.

 

All requests for gov.uk domain names must be submitted by a UKERNA Approved ISP
 (Internet Service Provider), so your first task is to find an ISP in a position to make the application
 on your behalf. 

Helpful hint:  Unfortunately UKERNA does not issue a list of its approved ISPs so applicants have to contact individual ISPs themselves and ask whether they have an account with UKERNA.

 

Gov.uk domains are relatively expensive to set up. UKERNA charges the ISP £94 (including VAT) for the
creation and maintenance of the domain name for the first 2 years. The ISP will add its own charges
to the customer.

Helpful hint: Many of the larger ISPs like Demon and UUnet have approval but it pays to contact  as many ISPs as possible and negotiate a price – the charges vary considerably.  Nicnames  (www.nicnames.net) has  provided the service to us for  £180 + VAT.

 

After the first 2 years, the maintenance charge set by UKERNA drops to £47 (including VAT)

Helpful hint:  Make sure the ISP is aware of this and reduces its charges to you accordingly!

 

Full details of the procedure can be found at
www.ja.net/documents/naming/gov.uk-naming-procedure.html

 

 

Website design and maintenance is one of the services offered by Solution Provider. To contact us please email clairbell@solutionprovider.co.uk