By country
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Guides to how Google’s Government Documents and Services policy applies in 21 countries: the 20 it refers to (which documents it names as examples, which categories have regional exclusions) and the United Arab Emirates, which it does not name. Each guide explains what this means for certification, verification and authorization.
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How to use the country guides
Google’s policy applies worldwide. Countries appear in it in two ways: as examples of documents in a covered category (for example ESTA for the United States), and as regional exclusions for specific categories (for example business identifiers in India). No country “requires certification” across the board, and no country is exempt from the whole policy.
- Requirements depend on the document or service, the type of advertiser (government, authorized provider or neither) and the region you target.
- A regional exclusion applies only to its category. Advertisers covered by an exclusion still apply to Google to be excluded from the policy.
- Electronic travel visas and authorizations, border entrance travel documents and U.S.-based Trusted Traveler programs are transnational: the targeting rule for authorized providers does not apply, but authorization does.
For a side-by-side comparison of the 20 countries named in the policy, read our country-by-country overview. The full category list is in the policy reference.
North America
United States
Most named examples of any country: ESTA/EVUS, Trusted Traveler programs, SSN, EIN and the DV lottery. No regional exclusions.
Canada
eTA is a named example (transnational). Regional exclusions for road access fees and license plate numbers.
Europe
United Kingdom
Eight named examples, from DBS checks and deed polls to ULEZ, SORN and VED. Regional exclusion for license plate numbers only.
Germany
Führungszeugnis is a named example. Regional exclusions for health insurance, vehicle owner registration and license plates.
France
Carte d'identité, casier judiciaire, Crit'Air and carte grise are named examples. Exclusions for business identifiers and fishing licenses.
Italy
One reference: a regional exclusion for driver licenses. All other categories follow the general rules.
Belgium
Regional exclusions for vehicle owner registration and license plate numbers. No Belgian examples.
Spain
NIF/NIE and CIF are named examples. Regional exclusion for criminal background checks.
Netherlands
The VOG (certificate of conduct) is a named example of criminal background checks. No regional exclusions.
Norway
One reference: a regional exclusion for hunting or fishing licenses. No Norwegian examples.
Asia-Pacific
Australia
Proof of Age Card and ABN are named examples. Regional exclusion for road tolls and passes.
New Zealand
The Community Services Card is a named example of health and welfare programs. No regional exclusions.
Philippines
The eTravel Card is a named example of border entrance travel documents, a transnational category. No exclusions.
South Asia
India
Ration card is a named example. Regional exclusion for business identifiers. Google publishes an India document list for verification.
Pakistan
Regional exclusions for unclaimed tax rebates and license plate numbers. No Pakistani examples.
Bangladesh
One reference: a regional exclusion for public road access fees and passes. No Bangladeshi examples.
Middle East
Israel
Three regional exclusions: healthcare, driver licenses and public road access fees and passes.
United Arab Emirates
Not named in Google's policy: covered services such as visas, Emirates ID and driving licences follow the general rules. Dubai focus.
Latin America
Brazil
Regional exclusions for criminal background checks and public road access fees and passes. No Brazilian examples.
Colombia
Three regional exclusions: business identifiers, criminal background checks and road access fees. No examples.
Peru
Three regional exclusions: business identifiers, healthcare and health insurance, and road access fees and passes.
Not sure where to start?
Start with the main guides
Government Documents & Services
The main guide: who the policy applies to and what it requires.
Government Certification
The four certification options and how the process works.
Eligibility Checker
Three questions for general guidance on which requirements may apply.