Domain Restrictions
Public Interest Registry has worked closely with the global NGO community to develop a validation process for NGOs and ONGs seeking to register .ngo domains. Seven criterias are used to define an NGO or ONG for the purpose of validation:
- Focused on acting in the public interest. Whether in support of education or health, the environment or human rights, members of the .ngo community work for the good of humankind and/or the preservation of the planet and do not promote discrimination or bigotry.
- Non-profit making/non-profit-focused entities. While many NGOs and ONGs engage in commercial activities or generate revenue in support of theirs missions, members of the .ngo community do not recognize profits or retain earnings.
- Limited government influence. Recognizing that many .ngo organisations have important interactions with government, not least for reasons of funding (which may include receipt of some government funding in support of their programs,) members of the .ngo community decide their own policies, direct their own activities and are independent of direct government or political control.
- Independent actors. Members of the .ngo community should not be political parties nor should be a part of any government. Participation in the work of a .ngo is voluntary.
- Active Organisations. Members of the .ngo community are actively pursuing their missions on a regular basis.
- Structured. Members of the .ngo community, whether large or small, operate in a structured manner (e.g., under bylaws, codes of conduct, organizational standards, or other governancestructures.)
- Lawful. Members of the .ngo community act with integrity within the bounds of law. NGOs and ONGs participating as members in the .ngo community must certify that they adhere to the above .ngo Eligibility Criteria.
VALIDATION:
.ngo: Changes to the Registration Validation Process
PIR implemented changes to the registration process for .ngo domains that allow registrants to complete registration using self-certification instead of the former pre-validation process. Registrants must no longer leave the check-out flow to activate their domains.
Here are the changes:
- The domain name is live once registration is completed.
- The mandatory 2-year re-validation is no longer required.
- Resellers must add a checkbox for the self-certification during their checkout process with a link to the .ngo Registration Policies:
I, the registrant, understand and agree to the .NGO Registration policies and certify that my organization meets the eligibility requirements therein.
Please note that it is not the responsibility of the registrar to store the self-certification information. It is the registrant's responsibility to determine whether the domain name registration infringes or violates someone else's rights. It is also the registrant's responsibility to determine whether the domain name registration complies with the .ngo registration policies.
PIR conducts random audits of .ngo domain registrations and reserves the right to cancel, transfer or modify a domain name in accordance with their policies.
BUNDLED REGISTRATION:
- Please note that the TLDs .ONG and .NGO are no longer included in one registration. On June 1st 2022, the responsible registry has separated .NGO and .ONG domains. Since then, registrants are able to register .NGO and .ONG domains separately.
In addition, the registry has allocate new .ONG domains for all registrants of the .NGO and .ONG bundles which existed at that time.
After a successful registration of the domain, it will be transfer locked from the registry for a period of 60 days.
There is no contact validation, but all registrants of .NGO domains must meet the registrant eligibility requirements.
Please be aware that .NGO domains are subject to audits for compliance with the Registration Policy. If a domain is selected for an audit, the Registrant will be required to provide documentation that establishes their .NGO status.