What to know before registering a .eu domain name

Before you register a .eu domain name, check three things: whether you are eligible, whether your chosen name is available, and whether it complies with the general .eu domain name registration rules, including the requirements for character use and length.

This article also explains what registration information you will need to provide, and what to expect once your domain name is registered.

1. Eligibility

The .eu domain is open to individuals and organisations with a connection to the European Union and the wider European Economic Area (EEA). You can register a .eu domain name if you are:

• a citizen of an EU Member State, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, wherever you live;
• a resident of one of these countries, even if you are not a citizen;
• a business or organisation established in one of these countries, subject to the applicable rules.

You do not need to live in the EU to register a .eu domain name if you are an eligible citizen.

2. Availability

Use EURid’s WHOIS search to see whether your preferred name is free. A name may be unavailable for three reasons:

• someone has already registered it;
• it is reserved or blocked under specific rules, for example certain names linked to EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, or internationally recognised two-letter country and territory codes;

In exceptional cases, a reserved name can be activated following the applicable procedure and review by the relevant national authority, but this is not guaranteed.

Tip: check early and keep a few alternatives ready. For help choosing, see our guide to what domain name to register for your business.

3. Characters and length

Standard .eu domain names can contain the letters a to z, numbers and hyphens, with some restrictions:

• a name cannot begin or end with a hyphen;
• a name cannot have hyphens in both the third and fourth positions;
• a name must generally contain between two and 63 characters before the extension, and some short combinations have extra restrictions.

If you want to use characters from another language, you may be able to register an internationalised domain name (IDN). EURid supports three scripts:

• .eu for Latin characters
• .ею for Cyrillic characters
• .ευ for Greek characters

Characters from different scripts cannot be mixed within one domain name, although numbers and hyphens can be used alongside them. Find out more about domain names with special characters.

Tip: consider how the name looks and reads in your audience’s language, and check that the characters you want are supported. A shorter name is also easier to remember and type, though length alone does not determine how well a name works.

IMPORTANT: You must provide complete and accurate details while registering a .eu domain name: your name or organisation’s name, address, email address, telephone number and preferred communication language. Your registration is handled through an accredited registrar, who is also your contact if your details change. You can review your data at my.eurid.eu and ask your registrar to update it.

Three points are worth knowing:

• Email address: EURid and dispute-resolution providers may need to contact you. If the address does not work, your domain name could be revoked.
• Verification: EURid may verify registration data and carry out security checks before or after a domain name becomes active. Learn more about data quality checks.
• Duration: A .eu domain name can be registered for a period of one to ten years and is then automatically renewed for successive one-year periods, subject to the applicable registration terms.

Tip: keep your contact details up to date and respond promptly to verification requests.

In summary: confirm you are eligible, check availability early and make sure your name meets the character and length rules. When you register, provide accurate details and keep them up to date.