How to Register International Domain Names

Many website owners only consider registering their domain names under .com and .net, but it is also possible to obtain a domain on hundreds of other international domain extensions. Known as country code top-level domains (ccTLDS), they are useful for establishing an international web presence. Although registering a ccTLD is very similar to reserving a .com domain, there are several differences in the process you should be aware of.

Instructions

1. • 1
     Choose a country-code top-level domain extension for your domain registration. Each country has a ccTLD. For example, there is .uk for the United Kingdom, .de for Germany, .ca for Canada and .cn for China. An organization called a registry operates each international domain extension.

     Verify that you are eligible to register the ccTLD. Some countries have residence requirements and other restrictions for their domains.
   • 2
     Select a registrar to process your domain registration. Most registries have an official website with a list of accredited registrars.
   • 3
     Search for an available name using the registrar's search feature. Once you have found a satisfactory domain, add it to your cart and checkout to complete registration. Depending on the ccTLD in question, it could take anywhere from a few seconds to several days for the registry to activate the domain.