From 26 May 2020 Google Will No Longer Allow Ads for Documents And/or Services That Can Be Obtained Directly from a Government or a Delegated Provider

Google Ads ins introducing a New Government Services Policy in May 2020. Google will no longer allow ads for documents and/or services that can be obtained directly from a government or a delegated provider. This includes offers of assistance to obtain these products or services. Promotions from authorized providers or resellers will be prohibited.

This new policy will prohibit the promotions for documents or services that facilitate the acquisition, renewal, replacement, or lookup of official documents or information that is available directly from a government or government delegated provider.

Examples (non-exhaustive): passports and other forms of national ID; proof of permanent residency; proof of immigration status/registration; driving licenses; travel documents like visas and Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs); social security cards; hunting or fishing licenses; gun licenses or registration; and documents or information derived from official registries like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and military records.

This policy will also prohibit promotions for assistance with applying or paying for official or public services that are directly available via a government or delegated provider.

Examples (non-exhaustive): assistance with applying for government appointments or benefits; assistance with requesting an official change of address, an official name change, unclaimed money, or a mail hold; and assistance with paying transportation fees, such as bridge tolls or congestion charges.

The following professional services are not restricted by this policy: tax preparation services, legal services, business-to-business (B2B) / enterprise services, immigration lawyers or immigration consultants where the focus is on consultation and not mere assistance acquiring particular travel documents.