Registering a .eu domain name
The .eu extension stands for the European Union and is managed by EURid. It is reserved for those established in the EU or the European Economic Area, or for EU citizens. For a company active in several European countries, .eu is the neutral choice that favours no single country.
Registering a .eu goes as smoothly as a .be, with one difference: the registry checks whether you are entitled to it. Below is what EURid requires, how a transfer runs and what happens with a missed renewal.
What does a .eu domain name cost?
Price in euros, per year and excluding 21% VAT. Renewable annually; price changes by the registry are reserved.
The rules of EURid for a .eu
Who may register
Companies and organisations established in the EU or the European Economic Area, and private individuals living there. EU citizens living outside the Union are also eligible. EURid can verify the right to register and delete a name if it does not hold up.
Characters and length
Letters, digits and the hyphen, two to sixty-three characters. A hyphen may not appear at the beginning or end. Accented letters and other European scripts are possible.
Term and renewal
You register per year and renew each time before the expiry date. Automatic renewal prevents the name from expiring unnoticed.
Transfer with a transfer code
You move with an authorisation code that you request from your current registrar. The transfer extends the name by a year. The holder details must still meet the conditions after the transfer.
Expiry and quarantine
A .eu that is not renewed first goes into quarantine. EURid applies a recovery period during which the holder can still reclaim the name. After that it becomes available again.
Which sites is a .eu suited to?
Companies active in several EU countries
Anyone selling in Belgium, the Netherlands and France does not want a country code that excludes two of the three markets. A .eu is then the logical main name.
European projects and organisations
Partnerships, networks and institutions with a European reach use .eu to show that scale.
As a complement to your country extension
If you already have a .be, a .eu keeps the door open for expansion and prevents a competitor from using your name in the rest of Europe.
What most often goes wrong with a .eu
Registering without a right to the extension
A .eu in the name of a holder outside the EU or EEA can be deleted by the registry. Put the name on the right legal entity or on a holder who does qualify.
Relocating the company
If your establishment moves outside the EU, you lose the right to the .eu. Arrange that in advance, for example through a European establishment as holder.
Missing the renewal
After the recovery period the name becomes available and someone else can take it. Switch on automatic renewal and keep the holder's email address current.