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Guidelines - Initial IPv4 Allocation from ARIN

This is an overview of how to request and manage an initial allocation of IPv4 address space from ARIN.

Obtaining an Initial Allocation of IPv4 Address Space from ARIN

Because IPv4 address space is limited, ARIN considers many factors in address space allocations. ARIN allocates IPv4 address space using a "slow-start" model, meaning allocations are based on justified need, and not solely on a predicted customer base.

In general, the minimum IPv4 allocation size from ARIN is a /20. However, for multi-homed organizations, the minimum allocation size is a /22. If your organization requires a prefix longer than a /22, ARIN recommends you contact an upstream ISP to get address space.

Step 1 - Requirements

Review ARIN's IPv4 policies to ensure your organization’s request meets the initial IPv4 allocation requirements. Requesting resources from ARIN indicates you have read and agree to abide by these policies.

To request an IPv4 allocation from ARIN, your organization must first have established Point of Contact (POC) handles and an Organization Identifier (Org ID) with ARIN. Additional information about creating and managing POCs and Org IDs is available in ARIN's Guidelines for Managing Organization and Contact Identifiers.

Once your POCs and Org ID are registered, complete and submit the ISP Network Request template. All initial IPv4 allocation requests must be sent from the Admin or Tech POC associated with your Org ID.

Step 2 - Completing the Template

Your organization must establish justification for the request. Justification can be made by meeting at least one of the following requirements.

Standard or not multi-homed:

To qualify under the standard policy, your organization must show utilization of address space equaling a /20, though the space does not have to be contiguous. In addition, your organization must provide 3-, 6-, and 12-month utilization projections. Exact requirements can be found in the Number Resource Policy Manual (NRPM).

Multi-homed:

To qualify under the IPv4 Multi-homing policy, your organization must prove an intent to multi-home, demonstrate utilization for at least a /23-worth of IP addresses assigned by upstream providers, and provide 3-, 6-, and 12-month utilization projections.

In addition, your organization must agree to use the requested IPv4 address space to renumber out of your current address space, and to return the original address space to your upstream provider(s) once the renumbering is complete. Additional space will not be allocated until this is completed. Organizations that qualify under this policy may also qualify and request space under ARIN's general IPv4 allocation policy.

Exact requirements are detailed in Section 4.2.2.2 of the Number Resource Policy Manual.

Immediate Need

To qualify under the Immediate Need policy, your organization must provide extensive documentation to demonstrate the requested IP addresses will be used within 30 days.  ARIN’s minimum allocation under the Immediate Need policy is a /22 (if multi-homed) or a /20 (if single-homed). ARIN’s maximum allocation under the Immediate Need policy is a /16.  These cases are exceptional and must meet stringent requirements.

Cable Providers

For ISPs that have residential cable subscribers, initial allocations are based on the total number of homes that could purchase the service in a given market area.

Micro-allocations:

Guidelines for Micro-allocations outlines how organizations can qualify for and request micro-allocations.

When requesting IP address space to be used for IP-based web hosting, supply (for informational purposes only) your technical justification for this practice.

Instructions for completing and submitting the template are provided at the bottom of the document. To ensure prompt and accurate processing of your ISP Network Request template,follow these instructions exactly. Any errors found may result in the template being returned for correction.

Step 3 - Submittal of Template and Auto Response

Upon successfully submitting the template, ARIN verifies its receipt of the request and issues a ticket number via e-mail to the individual who submitted the request. Based on the volume of requests, this may take up to 60 minutes.

Step 4 - Review Process

ARIN reviews and responds to a resource request within three (3) business days.

The response may include a request for additional information. For each question and response cycle, ARIN responds within three (3) business days. If ARIN does not receive a response within ninety (90) days, the ticket is considered closed and the request must be resubmitted. A response from ARIN requesting additional documentation or information does not imply a request will be denied; it simply means that additional information is needed to evaluate the request.

For questions about requests, communicate via e-mail to hostmaster@arin.net or call ARIN's Registration Services Help Desk at +1.703.227.0660. When contacting the Help Desk, have appropriate ticket numbers and other request documentation readily available, and have access to the ARIN website. In follow-up communication, supply the name of the ARIN Help Desk Resource Analyst that provided previous assistance. Click here for additional guidance on calling the Help Desk.

Step 5 - Request Approval

ARIN notifies your organization, via e-mail to the individual who submitted the request, whether the request was approved or not. The approval is good for ninety (90) days. If your organization does not follow up on the approval within that time, you must resubmit the request.

If a request is rejected and you feel that it has the proper justification for receiving the requested resource, you may contact ARIN to further explain its position.

Step 6- Fee Payment and Registration Services Agreement

As outlined in the Fee Schedule, ARIN charges an annual subscription fee for registration services based on the total amount of address space allocated. These fees cover the cost of maintaining allocation information.

Organizations receiving an IPv4 allocation for the first time are charged a fee based on the size of the initial allocation. Thereafter, an annual subscription fee is assessed. Address space may be revoked if the invoice is not paid by the due date.

After receiving approval confirmation and a ticket number, submit a completed IPv4 Initial Allocation Billing Form Additional fee and payment information is available in the Billing section.

ARIN does not accept purchase orders as the equivalent of payment and payment information is not accepted by phone. The approval of a request can be dependent on the billing status of the Org ID in question. Outstanding fees due to ARIN must be paid before additional resources are allocated.

Submission of Signed Registration Services Agreement (RSA)

All applicants requesting resources from ARIN are required to sign the Registration Services Agreement (RSA). The RSA must be signed and returned before ARIN allocates resources. The RSA cannot be altered or modified. If the organization already has a signed RSA on file with ARIN, a new one is not needed unless the request for resources will be issued under a new Org ID. Organizations may fax a signed, but otherwise unaltered, RSA to +1.703.227.0671. ARIN requests that the organization also forward two (2) signed originals via postal mail to:

ARIN
Attention: Financial Services Department
3635 Concorde Parkway, Suite 200
Chantilly, VA 20151

Submission of Payment

When completing ARIN's online billing forms, organizations may choose between two payment options:

Immediate online payment by credit card (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa)

If payment is by credit card, an automatic receipt is e-mailed to the organization, along with instructions on how to download the Registration Services Agreement (RSA).

Receive an invoice for payment by check or wire transfer

For organizations choosing to receive an invoice, ARIN sends an invoice within three (3) business days and instruction on how to download the Registration Services Agreement (RSA). For instructions to send payment by wire transfer, call +1.703.227.9886 or e-mail billing@arin.net.  For wire instructions by e-mail, include the ARIN ticket or invoice number, the organization name, and Org ID. For payments by check, send payment to:

American Registry for Internet Numbers
P. O. Box 79010
Baltimore, Maryland  21279-0010

Step 7 - Allocation

ARIN completes the allocation of the IPv4 address block to the organization within two (2) business days of ARIN's receipt of the registration fee and a signed RSA.

Organizations that receive a direct allocation of IP address space from ARIN are automatically accorded membership for as long as they continue to pay any fees related to their allocation. This membership is associated only with the Org ID holding the allocation.

It is not necessary to become a member of ARIN prior to applying for IP address space, nor will doing so make it easier to obtain IP addresses. Members and nonmembers alike must meet policy requirements and justify their allocation requests based on utilization criteria.

Automatic membership based on a direct allocation of IP address space from ARIN is terminated when the address space is transferred to another entity, returned to ARIN, or revoked due to nonpayment. On the day the transfer process is complete, membership and the accompanying voting rights are transferred to the entity acquiring the address space.

Each ARIN member is asked to name a designated member representative (DMR). This is the only person eligible to vote in ARIN online elections (Bylaws, Article III, Section 3.b.). Requirements for the DMR can be found on the Membership page.

Managing Allocation Records

Organization and Contact Identifiers

To ensure efficient and accurate processing, promptly update Org ID and POC records after any change. Additional information about Org IDs and POCs is available in ARIN's Guidelines for Managing Organization and Contact Identifiers.

Maintaining IN-ADDRs

ARIN has requirements regarding the responsibility of organizations in maintaining all IN-ADDR.ARPA domain records for their respective customers. For specific information regarding this policy, see the Maintaining IN-ADDRs section of the NRPM.

Reassigning Address Space to Customers

As outlined in ARIN's IPv4 Policy, organizations must require that their customers meet certain utilization efficiency requirements. As IP addresses are allocated to organizations in contiguous blocks, these blocks should remain intact and fragmentation of blocks is discouraged.

If a customer moves to another service provider or otherwise terminates a contract with an upstream organization, ARIN recommends that the customer return the network addresses to the upstream organization and renumber into the new provider's address space. The original upstream organization should allow sufficient time for the renumbering process to be completed before requiring the address space to be returned.

ARIN must review and approve reassignments of a /18 or greater by "extra-large" organizations and reassignments of a /19 or greater for all other organizations. Specifics, including what information needs to be included in the template, are available in the "Reassigning Address Space to Customers" section of the NRPM.

Providing Reassignment Information

Guidelines for the Reporting of Reassignment Information outlines requirements and procedures ISPs must follow in reporting reassignment information to ARIN.

Modifying or Returning an IPv4 Allocation

There are two types of changes that can be made to an IPv4 allocation record.

Modification

The Network Modification (NET-Mod) template can be used to change the POC handle associated with a resource allocation, to add, modify or delete in-addr.arpa name servers, or to modify a network name. Modifications are submitted by the Administrative or Technical POC for the appropriate Org ID, or the Technical POC for the resource.

To change POCs associated with a resource allocation, the POCs must already exist. If the POCs are not currently registered in the ARIN database, submit a POC template prior to submitting the NET-Mod template.

Return

The Network Modification template can also be used to return unused allocations to ARIN. Returns of an allocation can only be submitted by the Administrative POC.

Transfers of IPv4 Allocations

Transfers of IPv4 allocations are handled similarly to the transfer of any ARIN resource. Specific guidelines for this process are provided in ARIN's Guidelines for Transfers of Internet Number Resources.