Short answer
Since 5 October 2026, Google requires authorized (non-government) providers of government documents and services to meet three criteria: their domain must be linked from an official, publicly accessible government website that explicitly references it as authorized for the specific document or service; the domain must promote only that document or service; and ads must target only the authorized regions, except for three transnational categories.
Key takeaways
- Google announced the update on 4 August 2026 and enforced it from 5 October 2026.
- All three criteria must be met.
- Authorization must be specific to the document or service, not general.
- Contracts, licenses, registry entries and government blog posts do not count.
- Transnational exceptions: electronic travel visas and authorizations, border entrance travel documents, U.S.-based Trusted Traveler programs.
Criterion 1: Domain authorization
What Google says
Your domain must be linked from an official, publicly accessible government website and explicitly referenced as authorized by the relevant government entity for the specific document or service.
Google’s non-exhaustive examples of valid authorization are government-managed directories of accredited commercial partners vetted for application filing and document retrieval, and official regulatory portals identifying qualified, government-sanctioned specialists who handle administrative and compliance processes.
Self-check:
- Is the page on an official government website, not a private site about the government?
- Can anyone open it without logging in?
- Does it link to the exact domain used in your ads?
- Does it explicitly say you are authorized, accredited or approved for this document or service?
Criterion 2: Service scope
What Google says
Your domain must promote only the specific document or service corresponding to the government’s authorization(s).
Self-check: list every service on your domain. Remove or move to a separate, uncertified domain anything that the authorization does not cover. Note that this applies to the domain, not just to individual ads.
Our interpretation
A website that offers an authorized service alongside several unauthorized ones is unlikely to meet this criterion, even if the ads only mention the authorized service.
Criterion 3: Geographic targeting
What Google says
Ads must exclusively target the geographic region(s) matching the government’s authorization. Inherently transnational categories (electronic travel visas and authorizations, border entrance travel documents and U.S.-based Trusted Traveler programs) are exceptions.
Self-check: compare each campaign’s location targeting with the region named in your authorization. For transnational categories, users often apply from abroad, which is why Google treats them differently. Authorization is still required for them.
Evidence that does not count
Google lists these as examples of what is not valid authorization:
- commercial contracts;
- business or trade licenses;
- registrations or entries on business registries, whether government-managed or not;
- articles or blog posts, even on government-owned websites.
We look at borderline evidence in what counts as government authorization and compare website authorization with registration in this article.
Other requirements still apply
- Certification through Google’s form, choosing the authorized provider option.
- Advertiser verification, with details that match your application.
- All other Google Ads policies, including Misleading representation.
- The automatic “Not a government website” disclosure on Search ads.
Summary checklist
| Criterion | You meet it if… | Common gap |
|---|---|---|
| Domain authorization | An official, public government page links to your exact domain and names you as authorized for the service | Government page names the company but not the domain |
| Service scope | Your domain promotes only the authorized document or service | Extra services on the same domain |
| Geographic targeting | Campaigns target only the authorized regions (or the category is transnational) | Worldwide targeting by default |
Want an independent assessment against the three criteria?
Worked example
A fictional company provides background-check filing services. Its regulator publishes an official portal of approved specialists, which lists the company and links to its domain for criminal background checks in one country.
| Criterion | Finding | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Domain authorization | Portal links to the domain and lists the company as approved for background checks | Use the portal page URL in the certification form |
| Service scope | The domain also sells name-change services | Remove name-change services from this domain |
| Geographic targeting | Campaigns target three countries | Restrict targeting to the authorized country (background checks are not transnational) |
If you were certified before October 2026
Google enforced the criteria from 5 October 2026. Providers certified earlier should check their domain, services and targeting against them. Evidence that was accepted before may not meet the new standard, especially contracts, licenses or registry entries. Google can deny or revoke certification for policy violations, so it is safer to review now than to wait for enforcement.
Frequently asked questions
I was certified before October 2026. Am I affected?
The criteria apply from 5 October 2026. Check your domain, services and targeting against them; Google can deny or revoke certification for policy violations.
Does the government page need to use the word “authorized”?
Google says the domain must be explicitly referenced as authorized. Wording varies by government (“accredited”, “approved partner”). What matters is that the page clearly authorizes you for the specific service. Google decides whether it qualifies.
Are the examples of valid authorization the only options?
No. Google calls them non-exhaustive examples.
Related guides
Official sources
Google updates its policies and help pages. We last checked these sources on 7 October 2026. If this article and Google’s documentation differ, Google’s documentation applies.
