Short answer
For Google Ads, government authorization counts when an official, publicly accessible government website links to your domain and explicitly references you as authorized for the specific document or service. Google gives government-managed partner directories and official regulatory portals as examples. Contracts, business licenses, business registry entries and articles or blog posts do not count, even when they come from a government.
Key takeaways
- The test is about where and how the authorization is published, not only whether it exists.
- “Government-issued” is not the same as “authorization for this service”.
- Specific beats general: the reference must match the document or service you advertise.
Google’s examples
| Evidence | Google’s position |
|---|---|
| Government-managed directory of accredited commercial partners vetted for application filing and document retrieval | Example of valid authorization |
| Official regulatory portal identifying qualified, government-sanctioned specialists for administrative and compliance processes | Example of valid authorization |
| Commercial contracts | Not valid |
| Business or trade licenses | Not valid |
| Registrations or entries on business registries (government-managed or otherwise) | Not valid |
| Articles or blog posts, even on government-owned websites | Not valid |
Google describes both lists as non-exhaustive.
A practical evidence test
In our interpretation, strong evidence passes all five of these questions:
- Official source: is it on a government website, under the government’s own domain?
- Public: can anyone see it without logging in?
- Linked: does it link to your domain, not just mention your company name?
- Explicit: does it say you are authorized, accredited or approved, rather than merely listed?
- Specific: does it name the document or service you advertise?
Borderline cases
| Evidence | Our assessment |
|---|---|
| Government directory listing that names your company but has no link | Weak: Google’s criterion requires the domain to be linked |
| Government press release announcing a partnership | Risky: may be treated like an article; strongest if a permanent partner page also exists |
| Accreditation certificate (PDF) issued by a government agency | Supporting evidence, but Google looks for publication on an official website |
| Listing on an industry association website | Not a government website, so it does not meet the criterion |
| Government procurement record of a contract with you | Similar to a commercial contract or registry entry; not valid on its own |
Our interpretation
These assessments are our interpretation of Google’s criteria. Google makes the final decision on each application.
If your evidence does not qualify
- Ask the government body whether it maintains an official public list of authorized partners and how to be included.
- Check whether a regional or business exclusion applies to your category.
- Review whether your offer can be changed so that it is out of scope, for example advice instead of acquisition.
- Do not run ads for covered services until you have valid certification.
Want an independent view on your authorization evidence?
How to ask a government body about a listing
If you believe you are genuinely authorized but no qualifying page exists, you can ask the authority whether it publishes an official list of authorized partners. A short, factual request works best:
- state which document or service you provide and under which program or agreement;
- ask whether the authority publishes a public list of authorized or accredited providers;
- ask whether the listing can include a link to your website.
Our interpretation
Governments decide whether to publish such lists. Google’s criteria cannot be met by creating your own “authorized” pages or badges.
Frequently asked questions
Does a government email confirming our partnership count?
Google’s criterion is a link and explicit reference on an official, publicly accessible government website. A private email is not public. It may support your application, but on its own it does not meet the criterion.
What if the government page is in another language?
Google’s update does not mention language. Provide the URL and, where helpful, a translation in your documentation.
Does the listing need to name our exact domain?
The criterion requires the domain to be linked from the government website and explicitly referenced as authorized.
Related guides
- Authorized provider requirements
- Website authorization vs business registration
- Google Ads government certification
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.
