These rules apply to most domain registrations:
- Domain name length: 63 characters excluding the “.”
- Minimum domain name length: 3 characters
- A domain name must not start with a dash or a dot and can not have 2 dashes together.
- Only letters, numbers and dashes allowed in domain name
- The first or last character cannot be a dash
- A domain cannot have more than 13 name servers associated with it
- Some names can never be registered. These are known as reserved names and the registry do not allow them to be registered. These names vary between each registry.
.ltd.uk
To register a .ltd.uk domain name, the registrant must be registered at UK Companies House.
Furthermore, the domain must correspond exactly to the name registered at Companies House (the word "the" may be omitted where it appears as the first word of the name). Where the name consists of more than one word, hyphens are allowed between words.
For example:
The Really Useful Domain Company Ltd could have:
- thereallyusefuldomaincompany.ltd.uk
- the-really-useful-domain-company.ltd.uk
- reallyusefuldomaincompany.ltd.uk
- really-useful-domain-company.ltd.uk
It is not possible to have all of these domains - the registry limit .ltd.uk domains to one per company.
Please note that the final decision on .ltd.uk registrations lie with Nominet. For more information on the registration policy, please see Rules for the .ltd.uk and .plc.uk Second Level Domains (PDF).
.plc.uk
The rules for .plc.uk are similar to those for .ltd.uk - please see above.
.de
In order to register a .de domain name, either the registrant or administrative contact must be based in Germany with a verifiable German address.
Additionally, the two name servers must be active on two different subnets and must be authoritative for the domain at the time of registration, i.e. a zone file must be present for the domain specifying the name servers before registration.
If the name is registered and the name servers are not active, the registrant will be allowed a 30 day period in which to activate and park the name on them. If the name servers are not activated within this period, the registry (DENIC) will delete the name without refund.
The name servers associated with the domain name can be modified during the 30 day period subject to the registry's verification. If the name servers do not meet DENIC's criteria, the change request will be ignored.
.us
To register a .us domain, prospective registrants must fall into one of 3 US Nexus Categories and must certify that they have a bona fide presence in the United States. These categories are:
Nexus Category 1
A natural person
- who is a United States citizen,
- a permanent resident of the United States of America or any of its possessions or territories, or
- whose primary place of domicile is in the United States of America or any of its possessions.
Nexus Category 2
An United States entity or organisation that is (i) incorporated within one of the 50 US states, the District of Columbia, or any of the United States possessions or territories or organised, or otherwise constituted under the laws of a state of the United States of America, the District of Columbia or any of its possessions or (including a federal, state or local government of the United States, or a political subdivision thereof, and unincorporated organisations based in the United States).
Nexus Category 3
An entity or organisation (including a federal, state or local government of the United States, or a political subdivision thereof) that has a bona fide presence in the United States of America of any of its possessions of territories:
- If a foreign entity, applicant must state country of citizenship
- Regularly sells goods in the United States
- Regularly provides services in the United States
- Regularly engages in business activities, trade or other business (commercial or non-commercial including not-for-profit) relations in the United States
- Maintains an office or other property within the United States
These rules are not exhaustive, but cover the main points. For more detailed domain registration policies, click here to view our domain registration agreement or visit the relevant registry website.
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