Resource
Google Ads Government Documents & Services Eligibility Checker
Answer up to eight multiple-choice questions for an educational screening of how Google’s Government Documents and Services policy may relate to your advertising.
This is an educational screening tool, not an official Google determination. Only Google can determine whether your account qualifies for certification or an exclusion.
Privacy: the checker only asks multiple-choice questions. Your answers stay in your browser and are not stored or sent anywhere. Never enter passwords, ID numbers or payment details on any website that is not Google’s own.
Screening result
Lower apparent policy risk Potential certification requirement Potential authorization issue Additional review recommended Insufficient information Outside current screening scope
Why this result appeared
- You indicated you are a government entity. Google's policy has a separate certification route for government providers.
- You selected "Government agency" but answered that you are not a government entity. Your status needs to be clarified first.
- You are not sure whether you are a government entity. The certification route depends on this.
- You are not sure which type of business or service you advertise.
- Your business type is not one of the categories this screener covers. Google's policy lists specific categories; check whether yours is one of them.
- You reported a Google verification or certification request, or a government-policy disapproval.
- You indicated you do not have explicit government authorization. Google's policy allows non-government providers only with explicit authorization or under a listed exclusion.
- You indicated your domain is not linked from an official government website. Since 5 October 2026, Google requires this for authorized providers.
- You indicated your website does not (only) promote the document or service you are authorized for.
- You indicated your ads target regions outside your authorization.
- Electronic travel visas and authorizations are treated by Google as inherently transnational, so the regional targeting limit has an exception for them.
- One or more of your answers about authorization, the government website link, service scope or targeting was "Not sure" or left blank.
- Your answers match the authorized-provider criteria in Google's current policy. Certification and advertiser verification are still required, and only Google decides.
- Google lists a business exclusion for driving schools, lessons and training providers, and regional exclusions for driver licenses in some countries.
- Google lists regional exclusions for business identifiers in some countries.
- Google lists regional exclusions for criminal background checks in some countries.
- Several key answers were "Not sure" or left blank, so the screener cannot give a meaningful indication.
- You have received a verification or certification request. Check its deadline in your Google Ads account: Google pauses accounts that miss advertiser verification deadlines.
- You reported a government-policy disapproval. Check which policy is named on the disapproved ad in your account.
This is an educational screening tool, not an official Google determination. Only Google can determine whether your account qualifies for certification or an exclusion.
More guidance for this result is shown below.
Lower apparent policy risk: questions to investigate
- Does the government web page name your exact domain and the specific document or service?
- Do your campaigns target only the regions your authorization covers (unless the service is transnational)?
- Does every page on your domain stay within the authorized service?
- Is your advertiser verification complete, or are your details ready and consistent?
Relevant official Google policy pages
- Government documents and services (Advertising Policies Help)
- Update to Government Documents and Services Policy (October 2026)
- Government documents and services: Apply for certification (form)
- Tasks required for advertiser verification
Recommended next step
Your answers match the authorized-provider criteria as you described them. Certification and advertiser verification are still required. Consider a pre-submission check of your website and information, then apply through Google’s certification form.
Potential certification requirement: questions to investigate
- Is the Google Ads account owned by the government body itself?
- Do your ads promote only your own documents and services?
- Have you checked the government provider option on Google’s certification form?
Relevant official Google policy pages
- Government documents and services (Advertising Policies Help)
- Government documents and services: Apply for certification (form)
Recommended next step
Government providers apply for certification as a government provider. Google states that advertiser verification is not required as Step 2 for this route. Read our certification guide, then apply through Google’s form.
Potential authorization issue: questions to investigate
- Do you have explicit authorization from a government body for this specific document or service?
- Is there an official, publicly accessible government page that links to your domain and names you as authorized?
- Does a regional or business exclusion apply to your category and country? Check the category table in our policy reference.
- Does your website promote services beyond the authorization?
Relevant official Google policy pages
- Government documents and services (Advertising Policies Help)
- Update to Government Documents and Services Policy (October 2026)
- Misleading representation (Advertising Policies Help)
Recommended next step
Do not apply as an authorized provider without the evidence Google requires. Check whether an exclusion applies to you, and review whether your ads and landing pages promote covered services. An independent review can help you understand your options.
Additional review recommended: questions to investigate
- What exactly do your ads and landing pages offer users?
- Are you a government body, an authorized provider, or neither?
- What evidence of authorization do you have, if any?
- Has Google sent any notice naming a specific policy?
Relevant official Google policy pages
- Government documents and services (Advertising Policies Help)
- Update to Government Documents and Services Policy (October 2026)
- Fix a disapproved ad or appeal a policy decision
Recommended next step
Some answers were unclear or conflicting. Read the main guide and policy reference to clarify your situation, or ask for an independent review.
Insufficient information: questions to investigate
- Which type of document or service do your ads promote?
- Who operates the website and the Google Ads account?
- Do you have any relationship with a government body for this service?
Relevant official Google policy pages
Recommended next step
There is not enough information for a meaningful screening. Start with the main guide, then try the checker again, or describe your situation to us.
Outside current screening scope: questions to investigate
- Is your document or service on Google’s covered list? See the category table in our policy reference.
- Do your ads offer to apply for, obtain, process or pay for an official document or service?
- Has Google flagged your ads under the Government documents and services policy?
Relevant official Google policy pages
- Government documents and services (Advertising Policies Help)
- Government documents and services: Apply for certification (form)
Recommended next step
This screener covers the most common categories only. If your service is not on Google’s list, this policy may not apply, but other Google Ads policies still do. If Google has flagged your ads, the certification form includes an option to say your ads should not be in scope.
How this checker works
The checker compares your answers with the main criteria in Google’s current policy: whether you are a government provider, and for private providers, the four authorized-provider conditions (explicit authorization, a link from an official government website, service scope and geographic targeting). It recognises Google’s transnational exception for electronic travel visas.
It cannot see your website, your ads or your account, and it does not check every Google policy. For background, read how government verification works and the policy reference.
Keep reading
Related guides
Government Verification
How certification and advertiser verification work together.
Government Documents & Services
The main guide: who the policy applies to and what it requires.
Verification Checklist
An interactive preparation checklist you can tick off and print.