How to Become a LIR with the RIPE NCC
To open a local internet registry (LIR) account with the RIPE NCC, apply for membership, complete the registry’s identity and authority checks, sign the applicable agreement and pay the account charges. Activation gives you a registry account; IPv4 requests and transfer eligibility are assessed separately.
This procedure covers RIPE NCC membership. Other RIRs use different account, membership and resource-request models.
Before applying
Receiving an allocated block
Direct membership
A provider-aggregatable (PA) allocation requires the appropriate direct RIPE NCC member relationship. Prepare the legal applicant, signatory, billing and operational contacts.
Receiving an eligible independent resource
Consider sponsorship
Provider-independent (PI) space or an autonomous system number may use a sponsoring local registry. Confirm the resource and sponsoring responsibilities first.
Compare RIR and LIR responsibilities. The applicant still has to satisfy the registry’s eligibility and compliance checks.
1. Assemble one consistent identity record
| Item | What to supply or confirm |
|---|---|
| Legal applicant | Exact registered name, registration number and address |
| Legal evidence | Current official company extract, or identification for an eligible natural-person application |
| Authority | Signatory and evidence of authority if the registry requests it |
| Billing | Invoice address, finance mailbox and VAT details where applicable |
| Operations | Named administrative and technical contacts, and monitored abuse mailbox |
Use the same entity details in the application, registry agreement and intended resource-transfer documents. Explain a trading name or registered-address difference instead of silently substituting it.
2. Submit the membership application
Start from the official RIPE NCC membership application guidance. Use an organization-controlled identity and mailbox. Keep a record of the request reference and supply additional documents through the channel the registry specifies.
If a consultant prepares the request, keep account ownership and recovery under the applicant’s control. Never make an employee’s personal mailbox the only recovery path.
3. Complete agreement and billing
Follow the signing method specified in the application, then pay the registry invoice. Confirm the billing period; a new account’s annual contribution can be prorated.
New LIR; no extra assignments — 2026 rates, EUR
- New membership / LIR account One-off
- 1,000
- Each LIR account Annual
- 1,800
- First full year
- 2,800
This full-year example excludes extra billable independent assignments and AS numbers. Those can add annual charges; the RIPE NCC reference explains them. Account fees do not purchase an IPv4 block. See also the registry fee comparison.
4. Verify activation and access
Correct holder and account
The account shows the intended legal organization and local-registry identifier.
Working access and recovery
Authorized staff use their own identities and multi-factor authentication where available. An authorized backup can recover access.
Current contacts and inventory
Technical, billing and recovery contacts work. The resource view contains only the organization’s registered resources.
Renewal responsibility
Finance knows the invoice details and who owns renewal. An active account with no IPv4 allocation is still a valid outcome.
5. Start the appropriate resource request
Request a recovered /24
Direct registry supply
An eligible local-registry account that has never received a direct RIPE NCC IPv4 allocation may join the waiting list. Supply and delivery time are uncertain.
Receive an existing block
Separate transfer approval
Confirm the receiving account, resource status and exact block’s transfer restrictions before arranging an IPv4 acquisition.
Account activation, a waiting-list application and a completed transfer are three separate outcomes.