Domain Name Standards

This document outlines the standards and procedures for requesting and managing domain names for all Cabinet Office digital services, websites, and campaigns. The goal is to ensure consistency, security, and clarity across all government digital platforms.

All requests should be initiated through the CO Digital Frontdoor unless otherwise specified.

Content & Service Domains

This section covers domains for websites and digital services aimed at the public, cross-government users, and civil servants.

GOV.UK Content Pages

Standard Format: gov.uk/(sub-directory)/(content-name)
Purpose: For official government information and content pages. All content must be hosted on the GOV.UK platform.
How to Apply: Contact the Government Digital Service (GDS) GOV.UK team. They will guide you through the content creation and publishing process.
Approval: GDS GOV.UK.

Citizen-Facing Digital Services

Standard Format: (service-name).service.gov.uk
Purpose: For digital services used by the public (citizens).
How to Apply: Follow the GDS guidance to request a domain. For temporary domains, contact the CO Digital Frontdoor.
Approval: GDS GOV.UK Exemption team and the CDDO domain team.

Cross-Government Digital Services

Standard Format: (service-name).service.gov.uk
Purpose: For digital services where the main users are from other government departments or the wider public sector.
How to Apply: Follow the GDS guidance. For temporary domains, contact the CO Digital Frontdoor.
Approval: GDS GOV.UK Exemption team and the CDDO domain team.

Civil Service Digital Services

Standard Format: (service-name).civilservice.gov.uk
Purpose: For digital services used primarily by civil servants.
How to Apply: Contact the CO Digital Frontdoor for a domain assessment.
Approval: Cabinet Office Digital.

Cabinet Office Internal Services

Standard Format: (service-name).cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Purpose: For services used only by Cabinet Office staff or protected by Cabinet Office IP addresses.
How to Apply: Contact the CO Digital Frontdoor for a domain assessment.
Approval: Cabinet Office Digital.

Organisation & Function Domains

This section covers domains for government departments, agencies, and official functions.

Departments, Agencies & Public Bodies

Standard Format: (department).gov.uk
Purpose: For central departments, executive agencies, and other government organisations.
How to Apply: Follow the GDS guidance and send your request to GDS.
Approval: GDS GOV.UK Exemption and the Naming and Approvals Committee (NAC).

Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs)

Standard Format: (public-body).org.uk
Purpose: For arm’s length bodies that are not government departments but have a role in national government.
How to Apply: First, apply for an exemption from using gov.uk. Once approved, contact the CO Digital Frontdoor to register the domain.
Approval: Cabinet Office Digital.

Specialist Use Case Domains

This section details the standards for specific, time-limited, or specialised use cases.

Public Inquiries

Standard Format: (inquiry-name).inquiry.org.uk or (enquiry-name).org.uk
Purpose: For public inquiries that need to be seen as independent from the government.
How to Apply: First, apply for a gov.uk exemption. Once approved, contact the CO Digital Frontdoor for registration.
Approval: Cabinet Office Digital and the Government Communication Team.

Campaigns

Standard Format: (campaign-name).campaign.gov.uk
Purpose: For planned government communication campaigns, which are typically time-limited (e.g., up to two years).
How to Apply: Contact Government Communication Services (GCS) to apply for a site on the GOV.UK campaign platform.
Approval: Government Communication Services (GCS).

Government Events

Standard Format: (event-name).org.uk (UK events) or (event-name).org (international events)
Purpose: For one-off, government-hosted events (e.g., COP26) that may need to appear independent.
How to Apply: Apply for a gov.uk exemption. After approval, contact the CO Digital Frontdoor to register the domain.
Approval: Cabinet Office Digital.

Experimental & Proof of Concept Applications

Standard Format: (service-name)-proof-of-concept.codatt.net or (service-name)-discovery.codatt.net
Purpose: For experimental applications and websites in a development or testing phase. No production data is allowed on these domains. These sites must not use GOV.UK or Cabinet Office branding.
How to Apply: Contact the CO Digital Frontdoor for an assessment.
Approval: Cabinet Office Digital.

Technical Subdomains

This section is for technical teams who have already secured a primary service domain.

APIs and Technical Documentation

Standard Format: api.(service-name).service.gov.uk or docs.(service-name).service.gov.uk
Purpose: For hosting APIs and technical documentation related to an existing service.
How to Apply: These are subdomains of an existing domain. No separate approval is required, but they must comply with GDS API technical and data standards.
Approval: None required if the parent domain is approved.

Getting Help

For any questions about these standards, or to start a new domain name request, please contact the CO Digital Frontdoor.

This page was last reviewed on 30 September 2025.