Domains - FAQs

» What is a ccTLD?
» Why should I register a ccTLD?
» What ccTLDs does DomainBank offer? Which ccTLDs have restrictions?
» Do any of these ccTLDs require additional paperwork?
» What are the registration terms for these ccTLDs?
» How do I renew a ccTLD?
» Are ccTLDs registered in real time, just like .com, .net and .org domain names?
» Are there charges for making updates or changes to my ccTLD registration?

Q: What is a ccTLD?
A: ccTLD stands for country code top level domain. A ccTLD, such as .de (Germany), represents the domain space for a specific country. Some countries open their ccTLD for registration to anyone in the world, while other countries have restrictive guidelines limiting who can register the ccTLD.

Q: Why should I register a ccTLD?
A: There are many great reasons to consider registering a ccTLD. If you're an individual, many of the unrestricted ccTLDs are ideal for personal Web sites, and thousands of great names are still available for registration. Consider .at, .be, .tv, .ws, .cc, or .me.uk.

The registration of ccTLDs also helps businesses expand their Internet presence and reach a global audience. Europeans, for example, prefer to interact with local businesses and will often search for companies with a ccTLD extension rather than a company with a .com extension. The appropriate ccTLD can make a difference for your business.

Q: What ccTLDs does DomainBank offer? Which ccTLDs have restrictions?
A: DomainBank currently offers the following ccTLDs. Restrictions are noted.
-- .us (United States of America): open to U.S. citizens, businesses, and individuals/businesses with address in the U.S.
-- .ca (Canada): open to Canadian citizens, businesses, and individuals/businesses with address in Canada.
-- .sr (Republic of Suriname): no restrictions.
-- .bz (Belize): no restrictions.
-- .nu (Niue): no restrictions.
-- .tv (Tuvalu): no restrictions.
-- .ws (Western Samoa): no restrictions.
-- .cc (Cocos Islands): no restrictions.
-- .de (Germany): no restrictions.
-- .co.uk (United Kingdom-Coming Soon): recommended for commercial use; no restrictions.
-- .org.uk (United Kingdom-Coming Soon): recommended for non-commercial use; no restrictions.
-- .me.uk (United Kingdom-Coming Soon): recommended for personal use; no restrictions.
-- .nl (Netherlands): local address required for registration. Dutch citizens can only register one .nl domain; Dutch companies can register multiple .nl domains.
-- .dk (Denmark): no restrictions.
-- .se (Sweden): local address required for registration. The registrant must be a company registered in Sweden and can only register one .se domain identical to their company name.
-- .fr (France): local address required for registration. Registration open to businesses only; up to five domains can be registered and all must be related to the name(s) on their Kbis company registration certificate.
-- .it (Italy): open for registration to any European Union person or company only. Individuals can only register one domain; companies can register multiple domains. The European Union consists of these countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.
-- .at (Austria): no restrictions.
-- .ch (Switzerland): no restrictions.
-- .be (Belgium): no restrictions.
-- .no (Norway-Coming Soon): local address required for registration. The registrant must be registered in the Norwegian Business Register and can register up to 15 domains.

Q: Do any of these ccTLDs require additional paperwork?
A: Yes. The ccTLDs .dk, .fr, .nl, .no, and .it require that the registrant print and sign a letter which must be faxed back to us. Further details on the letter and the fax number are provided during the registration process for each of these ccTLDs.

Q: What are the registration terms for these ccTLDs?
A: Depending on the ccTLD, different registration term options are available.
One-year registrations only: .de, .nl, .dk, .se, .fr, .it, .at, .ch, .be, .no.
Two-year registrations only: .co.uk, .org.uk, .me.uk, .nu, .ws
Multiple-year registrations available: .us, .sr, .bz, .tv, .cc

Q: How do I renew a ccTLD?
A: All ccTLD registrations are set up for autorenewal by default. This means that we will automatically extend your registration for another year once your expiration date arrives. If you do not wish to renew your ccTLD, you must log into your account and de-select the autorenew option prior to your expiration date.

Q: Are ccTLDs registered in real time, just like .com, .net and .org domain names?
A: Each ccTLD has different estimated completion times for domain name registrations, modifications, and other tasks. The ccTLD registries offering real time registrations and modifications include: .be, .uk, .us, .sr, .bz, .nu, .tv, .ws, and .cc. With the exception of .at, which is completed within 2-3 hours, all other ccTLD registrations and modifications are completed within 24-72 hours.

Q: Are there charges for making updates or changes to my ccTLD registration?
A: Depending on the ccTLD registry, there are some charges associated with performing ownership transfers or registrar transfers. Please refer to the table below for more information on which registries charge fees for changes.

* one year registration/renewal fee required. Change adds one year to the current registration period.
** one year registration /renewal fee required. Change adds one year to the registration starting on the date of the change.
*** 50% of yearly registration/renewal fee required.