Starting a DEF CON Group
Start with the community you want to serve. A useful application explains where people will meet, how they will find you, and how you intend to keep the group running.
Check what already exists
Review the directory for nearby groups. If an existing group appears dormant, use the reactivation guidance rather than assuming its identity is available. If your proposal overlaps with another group, explain the geographic or community need. Regional overlap is reviewed by the department.
Prepare your application
Have the proposed name or identifier, city and country, organizer contact, public contact channel, and a practical meeting plan ready. Explain your intended audience and meeting format. If you have not selected a venue or schedule, say so rather than presenting tentative arrangements as confirmed.
Use the current form linked from Group Registration. Complete it, then send the email notification requested on that page. Keep the details consistent across the form and email so the team can identify your request.
Wait for confirmation
Submitting information does not grant official status. The department may need to clarify location, contact information, overlap, or a historical group record. Wait for final confirmation before presenting a new group as official, buying a domain for its approved identity, or finalizing its branding.
A requested number or name is part of the application, not a reservation. Include location when discussing an identifier: the same digits alone may not identify a group globally.
While your request is under review
You can develop a meeting plan and identify potential volunteers. Describe the application accurately when speaking with prospective members or venues. Do not promise that the department has approved arrangements it has not confirmed.
For a status question, reply to the existing correspondence where possible and include the proposed group name, location, and submission date. No fixed approval timeframe is established in this guidance.