International Domain Names
International domain name extensions are those that are specifically related to a country.
They provide a great alternative to the more common Top Level Domains around such as .com, .net, .info, .org or .co.uk. They are particularly useful for anyone who has already lost out on a more popular extension version of their preferred domain.
Are there specific requirements for registering International domain names?
International, or country-specific domain names are managed by the applicable country. Each one is responsible for ensuring that specific registration criteria for that country are adhered to. Some examples of requirements are listed below:
- .de domains (Germany) requires that the legal owner or admin contact should be recorded with a German street address
- .ie (Ireland) are limited to 1. Countries registered in Ireland 2. Individuals resident in Ireland 3. Entities that can prove real connection with Ireland 4. possession of registered Irish or European community trademark.
- .no (Norway) The registrant and administrative contact must be a Norwegian business entity.
- .eu (European Union) Registrants must be residents of the EU
Of course not all International domain names require specific local presence or trademarks, you can register domains such as .co.uk, .uk.com, gb.com, uk.net, .dk, .at, .co, in without the need to provide any form of documentation.
Why would you choose to register an International domain name?
International domain extensions are a great way to show your presence within the specific country. They show that your business is serious and has a legitimate presence with the local country of your potential customers. They also provide great alternatives if you have missed out on your first choice of domain extension. International domains can also provide a great ending to some quirky, memorable names, such as Iam.in for example.
How to register your International domains
Most domain name provides offer many International domain names. Sometimes their website search function may not provide the entire list of international extensions that are available so it can be worth calling to see if they can register the domains that you are looking for.