- Why we ask for this
- We ask only what we need to choose fairly between applications and to register the domain in your name. We do not ask for income details, bank statements, or identity documents.
- How applications are assessed
- Reviewers consider whether the program is a good fit for what you are building, whether cost or complexity is in your way, and the funding available at the time. The Sponsorship and Eligibility Policy sets out the details.
- Approval is required
- Every sponsored registration is reviewed by a person. Submitting an application does not reserve the domain, and approval is not guaranteed.
- How long it takes
- Review times depend on the number of applications we receive and the funding available. You can follow every step from your dashboard, and we will email you whenever your status changes.
- After approval
- We request the registration from our registrar. Your dashboard shows it as Active only once the registrar confirms it, along with setup guidance for your website and email.
- Who pays
- For approved applications, the program pays the registration cost for the sponsorship term stated in your approval. Renewal support is reviewed before each renewal and depends on funding; we will always tell you well before a renewal is due.
- Your rights over the domain
- Sponsored independent domains are registered for your use, and you can ask to transfer a domain to a registrar of your choice in line with registry rules and our Domain Registration Policy.
