What is a Local Internet Registry (LIR)? Role and Rules

A Local Internet Registry (LIR) is an organization that receives blocks of IP addresses from a Regional Internet Registry (RIR) and assigns them to its customers and its own network. Typical LIRs are ISPs and hosting companies. In the RIPE NCC region an LIR is an account held by a RIPE NCC member, and one member can hold several accounts: 19,977 members held 20,687 LIR accounts in August 2026 (RIPE NCC member update, August 2026).

You do not need to be an LIR to hold an Autonomous System Number (ASN) or a Provider Independent (PI) IPv6 block. A sponsoring LIR files the request and the RIPE NCC assigns the resource to you.

Definition and Role

A Local Internet Registry (LIR) holds IP address allocations from its RIR and assigns addresses from them to customers and to its own infrastructure. It also files requests for ASNs and PI blocks on behalf of End Users. The RIR assigns those resources to the End User directly, with the LIR acting as sponsoring LIR (ripe-679 for ASNs, ripe-738 section 7 for Provider Independent IPv6 space).

Most LIRs are:

An Internet Service Provider (ISP)
A hosting company
A large enterprise or organization

The LIR sits between the RIR and the End Users who need addresses. It keeps the registration records for the addresses it hands out.

The Internet Registry Hierarchy

Number resources pass down four levels:

Level 1: IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority)

IANA holds the global number pools and allocates large blocks to the Regional Internet Registries. Its IPv4 free pool ran out on 3 February 2011 (NRO); it still allocates IPv6 and ASN blocks, the latest ASN blocks to the RIPE NCC dated 1 June 2026 (IANA AS Numbers registry).

Level 2: RIRs (Regional Internet Registries)

Five RIRs cover different geographical regions:

RIPE NCC: Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East
ARIN: North America
APNIC: Asia-Pacific region
LACNIC: Latin America and Caribbean
AFRINIC: Africa

RIRs receive allocations from IANA and distribute them to LIRs within their service regions. In the APNIC and LACNIC regions some countries add a National Internet Registry (NIR) between the RIR and the LIRs.

Level 3: LIRs (Local Internet Registries)

LIRs receive allocations from RIRs and assign resources to their customers and end users.

Level 4: End Users

Organizations and individuals who use the addresses. They receive PA assignments from an LIR, or ASNs and PI blocks from the RIR through a sponsoring LIR.

What Does an LIR Do?

LIRs carry these responsibilities:

1. Resource Allocation Management

LIRs receive Provider Aggregatable (PA) address space from their Regional Internet Registry. They then sub-allocate or assign portions of this space to:

Customers requiring IP addresses for their networks
Infrastructure networks they operate
Downstream service providers
End users with justified needs

2. RIPE Database Maintenance

LIRs are responsible for maintaining accurate registration data in the RIPE Database (for RIPE NCC members), including:

IP address assignments and allocations
Contact information for resource holders
Routing information and network objects
Reverse DNS delegations

3. Compliance and Policy Enforcement

LIRs must:

Follow RIR policies for resource distribution
Verify customer justifications for IP address requests
Register every assignment in the RIPE Database
Conduct due diligence on resource usage
Report to the RIR as required

4. Technical Support and Guidance

LIRs often provide:

Assistance with IP address planning
Routing and network configuration support
Help with RIPE Database object creation
Guidance on best practices for resource usage

5. Sponsoring Services

A sponsoring LIR signs a contract with the End User (ripe-637), files the request for an ASN or a PI block, and is published in the resource's sponsoring-org: attribute (ripe-603). If the sponsoring LIR closes, the RIPE NCC gives the End User 10 working days, then a reminder with 10 more, before deregistration starts (ripe-815). The holder can keep an ASN when the LIR closes by signing with a new sponsoring LIR in that window.

Types of Organizations That Become LIRs

Membership pays off when an organization assigns addresses to others or runs a network it must be able to move between upstream providers.

Type	Why it joins
ISPs	Assign addresses to subscribers from their own allocation instead of upstream space
Hosting and cloud providers	Assign addresses to customer servers, and sponsor ASNs and PI blocks for customers who want resources in their own name
Large enterprises	Hold address space that does not depend on any upstream provider and serve subsidiaries from it
Universities and research networks	Address campus networks and departments from one allocation
Telecom operators	Address mobile and fixed-line networks and business customers

LIR Membership Requirements

To become an LIR with the RIPE NCC (the RIR for Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East), an applicant must meet the conditions below.

Who Can Join

Any legal entity or natural person can become a RIPE NCC member. The RIPE NCC serves organizations that provide services in its region of over 75 countries. The application asks for company registration papers not older than one year, or a valid identity document for a natural person. Under the due diligence procedure (ripe-863), every signing party and authorized representative is checked against EU and Dutch sanctions lists. No network plan is needed to join. An IPv6 allocation later asks for a plan covering two years (ripe-738), and the IPv4 waiting list requires an active network element in the region.

Financial Requirements

Pay the annual fee: €1,800 per LIR account under the RIPE NCC Charging Scheme 2026 (ripe-848), the same as in 2025
Pay the €1,000 sign-up fee once per new LIR account
Pay the per-resource fees: €50 per ASN and €75 per independent assignment (PI, anycast, IXP) per year
From 2027, pay €1,894 per LIR account with the first ASN included, then €50 per additional ASN and €75 per independent assignment (ripe-867, adopted at the May 2026 General Meeting)

The full breakdown is in RIPE LIR Membership Costs and Benefits.

Operational Requirements

Accept and follow RIPE policies
Maintain accurate contact information
Respond to RIPE NCC requests and audits
Keep the RIPE Database updated

Benefits of Being an LIR

Resource Independence

LIRs have direct access to IP address allocations without depending on upstream providers, allowing for:

Greater flexibility in network design
Easier provider changes without renumbering
Long-term address space planning
Control over reverse DNS and routing policies
Direct relationship with the Regional Internet Registry

Technical Capabilities

LIRs gain:

Authority to make sub-allocations to customers
Ability to sponsor PI resource requests for clients
Direct control over IP resource management

Community Participation

LIR membership includes:

One vote per member at the RIPE NCC General Meeting, whatever the number of LIR accounts; the May 2026 meeting adopted the 2027 charging scheme by 1,547 votes to 1,479
Networking with other LIRs at RIPE Meetings
Training at no extra cost and certification exam vouchers

LIR vs. Other Resource Options

Organizations seeking IP resources have several options:

LIR Membership

Best for organizations that:

Regularly need IP addresses for customers or infrastructure
Provide Internet or hosting services
Want maximum control over their address space
Can justify the membership costs

Provider Aggregatable (PA) Addresses

Suitable for organizations that:

Are primarily end users without downstream customers
Use addresses from their provider's allocation, which the provider registers and routes
Can renumber if they change provider, because PA space returns to the provider when the service ends
Want the simplest option

For a side-by-side view of membership against sponsored resources, see LIR vs PI: Which is Right for You?.

The LIR's Relationship with RIPE NCC

When an organization becomes an LIR member of RIPE NCC, three relationships follow:

Contractual Relationship

The member signs the RIPE NCC Standard Service Agreement (ripe-812), by hand since the RIPE NCC accepts no electronic signature, or an LIR Account Agreement for an additional account. The agreement defines:

Membership terms and conditions
Financial obligations
Compliance requirements
Data protection and privacy policies

Operational Relationship

LIRs interact with RIPE NCC through:

The LIR Portal for resource requests and account management
The RIPE Database for registration data
Email and ticketing systems for support
Training programs and certification courses

Community Relationship

As members, LIRs participate in:

The RIPE policy process and its working groups, which are open to everyone, member or not (ripe-781)
General meetings with voting rights
Task forces and special interest groups

Common Misconceptions About LIRs

"You Need to Be an ISP to Become an LIR"

Any legal entity or natural person that provides services in the RIPE NCC service region can become a member. Most members are ISPs and hosting companies, but a company with its own network, a university or an individual can join on the same terms.

"LIR Membership Guarantees Large IP Allocations"

Under the IPv4 policy (ripe-826) an LIR that has never received IPv4 from the RIPE NCC can request exactly one /24 (256 addresses) through the IPv4 waiting list. On 25 September 2026, 791 LIRs were in the queue and the first had waited 485 days. Larger blocks come only by transfer from another holder.

"LIRs Can Do Whatever They Want with Their Address Space"

LIRs must follow RIPE policies on how they use, assign and document their address space. The compliance requirements for LIRs cover what the RIPE NCC checks.

"Once You're an LIR, You're Set for Life"

Membership needs paid invoices, accurate registration data and answers to RIPE NCC requests. Unpaid invoices lead to suspension at 60 days and a termination notice after 120 days (ripe-858).

The Future of LIRs

IPv4 now moves between holders by transfer: 5,935,616 addresses changed hands in the RIPE NCC region in July 2026 (RIPE NCC member update, August 2026). Transfers are free of charge at the RIPE NCC, and the waiting list is the only other source of IPv4 (see the misconceptions above).

On the IPv6 side an LIR receives a /32 up to a /29 without further justification (ripe-738). 15,806 of the 20,687 LIR accounts held IPv6 in August 2026 (same member update).

Compliance tightened in 2026. The due diligence procedure was revised on 20 July 2026 (ripe-863), with sanctions checks on every signing party. Maintainer objects lost MD5 password authentication on 4 March 2026, and organisation objects can carry a verified reg-nr: attribute. Two-factor authentication on RIPE NCC Access has been mandatory since 2024. Proposal 2026-01 would drop the needs justification for the first ASN of a holder of RIPE NCC-issued space; it is still at the drafting stage and not policy.

Getting Started as an LIR

Organizations interested in becoming an LIR should:

Assess your needs: decide whether you will assign addresses to others or only need one ASN or one PI block
Understand the costs: €1,000 sign-up, €1,800 per LIR account in 2026 and €1,894 with the first ASN included from 2027, plus per-resource fees
Prepare documentation: company registration papers not older than one year, or an identity document if you apply as a natural person
Choose your approach: apply directly or with help (LIR consulting)
Submit your application: complete the membership form on ripe.net and sign the agreement

If you need one ASN or one PI block, a sponsoring LIR is the usual route. Membership is for organizations that assign addresses to customers.

The full application walkthrough is in How to Become a RIPE LIR.

Conclusion

An LIR holds address allocations and answers to its RIR for how they are used. Membership costs €1,800 per LIR account in 2026 and makes sense once you assign addresses to customers or need allocations of your own. For one ASN or one PI block, a sponsoring LIR files the request and no membership is involved.

Sources:

RIPE NCC LIR Basics: https://www.ripe.net/membership/member-support/lir-basics/
The Internet Registry System: https://www.ripe.net/community/internet-governance/internet-technical-community/the-rir-system/
RIPE NCC Charging Scheme 2026 (ripe-848): https://www.ripe.net/publications/docs/ripe-848/
RIPE NCC Charging Scheme 2027 (ripe-867): https://www.ripe.net/publications/docs/ripe-867/
IPv4 Allocation Policy (ripe-826): https://www.ripe.net/publications/docs/ripe-826/
RIPE NCC Member Update, August 2026: https://www.ripe.net/about-us/news/ripe-ncc-member-update-august-2026/
The Number Resource Organization: https://www.nro.net/about/rirs/the-internet-registry-system/