March 1, 2026 Changes to FIDE Regulations for the Titles of Arbiters

Running Chess Tournaments
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FIDE have introduced some changes to Regulations for the Titles of Arbiters that was effective from March 1, 2026.

Some of the key changes are detailed below:

International Organizers can no longer sign off on any arbiter norms, and only IAs can sign off on IA norms, while IAs and FAs can sign off on FA norms.

All norms have to be signed by the Chief Arbiter (note not a Deputy Arbiter or another IA/FA at the event) who must be physically present the whole time to enable them to properly evaluate the performance of the arbiter wanting the norm.

You will now have to have a certain number of years at your current level, or achieve additional experience requirements in order to upgrade:

– To become an FA, an arbiter must either hold the NA title for at least one year or have officiated at one additional tournament (not necessarily valid for an FA norm).
– To become an IA, an arbiter must either hold the FA title for two years or have officiated at three additional tournaments (not necessarily valid for IA norms).

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Hi Chris, This shouldn’t affect title applications that will be voted at the first council meeting, right?

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The new regulations should not be applicable to applications submitted prior to March 1, 2026.

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2.8 All norms have to be signed by the Chief Arbiter and the federation responsible for the event.

Chris,

What’s the mechanism for getting a norm signed by US Chess?

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They should be sent to the US Chess FIDE Events Manager at fide@uschess.org

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Chris. . .if one seeks to get a FIDE ID through the USCF, what information is required when seeking? Do you need where we live and other personal information? And is there a charge going through the USCF to get a USA flagged id?

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Any player who meets the eligibility requirements for a USA-flagged FIDE can complete the US Chess’s simple FIDE ID request form at https://forms.gle/fCCTis7WgtJEb2rv6.

To be eligible for a USA FIDE ID, you must have either US citizenship, naturalization or residency in the USA. US Chess does not charge for you to obtain a USA FIDE ID but you must be a current US Chess member.