Before Registering a Country-Code Domain

ccTLDs can be great for local trust — but they come with rules you need to know.

The golden rule: every ccTLD is different

Unlike gTLDs (which follow ICANN's standardised contracts), each ccTLD is governed by its national registry under local law. Policies vary wildly.

Eligibility / nexus requirements

Many ccTLDs require a connection to the country:

RequirementExamplesWhat you need
Local administrative contact.fr, .eu, .caName + address in the country (can use a trustee service).
Local company registration.de, .jp, .brRegistered entity in that country.
Trademark in the country.cn, .krValid national trademark registration.
Citizenship / residency.us, .sgProof of citizenship or permanent residency.
No restriction (open).ai, .io, .co, .me, .tvAnyone can register.

Always check the official registry website (linked from our TLD detail pages) for current requirements.

Transfer & ownership rules

  • Transfers may not work like gTLDs — some ccTLDs don't support EPP transfers; you may need to re-register.
  • Registrant changes can be restricted — changing the legal owner may require the same eligibility proof as a new registration.
  • Dispute resolution — not all ccTLDs use UDRP. Some have local courts or arbitration (e.g. .uk uses Nominet DRS).

Pricing & renewal surprises

  • No ICANN price caps — registries can raise wholesale prices with less notice.
  • Multi-year limits — some ccTLDs only allow 1-year registrations (e.g. .uk historically, now 1–10 years).
  • Currency — you may pay in local currency (EUR, GBP, JPY, etc.).

Geopolitical risk

ccTLDs are tied to sovereign territory. If a country ceases to exist, changes borders, or loses internet connectivity, its ccTLD may be retired or transferred.

Recent examples:

  • .io — sovereignty dispute over the Chagos Archipelago (UK/Mauritius) created uncertainty 2021–2024.
  • .su (Soviet Union) — still exists decades after the USSR dissolved.
  • .yu (Yugoslavia) — retired 2010, replaced by .rs, .me, etc.

For critical infrastructure, prefer gTLDs or stable ccTLDs with clear governance.

Technical gotchas

  • DNSSEC — some ccTLDs require or strongly encourage DNSSEC; others don't support it.
  • Name server requirements — some registries require authoritative NS in-country (rare now, but check).
  • IDN support — many ccTLDs support IDN second-level labels; policies vary.

Checklist before you register

  1. ☐ Read the registry's registration policy (link on our TLD detail page).
  2. ☐ Confirm you meet eligibility (or have a trustee service).
  3. ☐ Check transfer/ownership change rules.
  4. ☐ Compare 5-year total cost (renewal × 5 + any fees).
  5. ☐ Verify DNSSEC and name server requirements.
  6. ☐ Consider geopolitical stability for long-term projects.
  7. ☐ Register defensive variants in other TLDs.