.ie Domain Registration Guide

If you intend to use the proposed domain name for trading purposes, but are not yet registered as a sole trader, we need the following documentation to proceed with registration:

(A) A copy of your ID, such as any one of the following:

• Irish passport
• Irish driver’s licence
• Irish marriage certificate
• Irish revenue document, Social welfare document/card showing PPS no
• Irish birth certificate
• Irish utility bill (e.g. UPC/SKY/Electric Ireland/Airtricity /Bord Gais/Eircom etc.)
• A copy of an Irish bank statement for a personal account, with the financial details blanked out.

(B) Your proof of Irish address. This will only be required if this is not provided with your ID, e.g. a recent utility bill.

(C) You will also be required to submit a letter outlining your claim on the proposed domain name, explaining what the domain name means and explaining why you wish to apply for it. If your claim references a third party you may be asked to provide further documentation from the third party. This documentation should confirm that you are authorised to get the domain name.

Depending on the nature of your business and business name a range of supporting documentation can be submitted with your application. Please select the option that best applies to your business.

• If you are an individual trading under your own name you can register a domain that reflects either your full name or surname. You should include your VAT number or a letter from an accountant, solicitor or bank manager confirming that you are a Sole Trader, trading under your own name with your application.
• If you are an individual trading under a business registered with the CRO you can register a domain to reflect this name or a reasonable variation that reflects your trade or location. You should include your RBN (Registered Business Number) or Certificate of Registration for your business with your application. We will then verify your application online.
• If your trading name is not registered or if you are registering a domain which reflects your product or service you can apply with your VAT number. We also accept a letter from an accountant, solicitor or bank manager confirming that you are a Sole Trader. You will also need to submit a document on your business letterhead explaining what the domain name reflects and how it relates to your business.
• If the proposed domain name is not a clear variation of your trading name or clearly descriptive of the business, based on information already received, we will need further documentation to complete the registration. This will usually be a signed fax or letter on headed paper which outlines your company’s claim to the domain name.

You can apply using your VAT number, CRO number, RBN or a letter from an accountant, solicitor or bank manager confirming that you are a Sole Trader.

You will only need to submit your RBN with your application, providing that this can be verified online. You can submit a copy of the Certificate of Registration for the business name.

If the proposed domain name is not a clear variation of your company’s name or clearly descriptive of the business, based on information already received, we will need further documentation to complete the registration. This will usually be a signed fax or letter on headed paper which outlines your company’s claim to the domain name.

You will need to include your RBN with your application.

Domains for publications related to a Sole Trader, Company, Unincorporated Association, State Agency or Educational Institution can be registered by sending us a page from the publication where the applicant is stated as the writer or publisher. If it is an online publication simply include a link or a printout of the webpage with your application.

You should include a copy of the publication with your application.

You can register domains for products or services of your company. We will also accept domain names that are abbreviations of your corporate name or include extra words with your corporate name.

If the proposed domain name is not based on your company’s name, or related to a product or service provided by your company, then you should apply under our Discretionary Name Category.

To complete your registration you will need to send us a signed letter on headed paper which outlines your claim to the domain name.

You will need to include your company number with your application. You may also need to provide extra information such as a signed letter on company letterhead outlining your claim to the name.

To register a domain name that is related to your incorporated company you must submit your company number with your application. This can be found via the Companies Registration Office (CRO).

If your company is not incorporated in Ireland you must include your certificate of incorporation with your application. We will also accept VAT numbers from any applicant within the EU provided that they can be verified on the europa.eu database.

You can use abbreviations of your corporate name and include additional words with your corporate name when registering a .ie domain name. If the proposed domain name is not a clear variation of your company’s name or clearly descriptive of the business, based on information already received, we will need further documentation to complete the registration. This will usually be a signed fax or letter on headed paper which outlines your company’s claim to the domain name.

You will need to include your company number with your application

We accept most formats of your first, middle, surname or initials as options but you cannot register just your first, last name or a nickname as a domain. You may register your name in any of the following combinations:

• johnsmith.ie
• john-smith.ie
• jsmith.ie
• j-smith.ie
• johnpaulsmith.ie
• john-paul-smith.ie
• jpsmith.ie
• john-p-smith.ie
• johnpsmith.ie
• paulsmith.ie
• paul-smith.ie
• psmith.ie
• p-smith.ie

Applicants for a Personal Domain Name must provide any one of the following forms of identification:

If you are based in the Republic of Ireland:

• Irish passport
• Irish driver’s licence
• A copy of a bank statement for a personal account, with the financial details blanked out
• Irish revenue / social welfare document showing PPS number
• Irish birth certificate
• Irish marriage certificate
• Irish utility bill (e.g.: UPC/SKY/Electric Ireland/Airtricity /Bord Gais/Eircom etc.)

If you are based in Northern Ireland:

• UK driver’s licence with Northern Ireland address.
• HM Revenue & Customs / Northern Ireland Social Security Agency document showing National Insurance number
• A copy of a bank statement for a personal account, with the financial details blanked out
• Northern Ireland birth certificate
• Northern Ireland marriage certificate
• Any Northern Ireland utility bill (e.g. UPC, SKY, UTV Internet/NIE/Airtricity/British Gas /BT /Vodafone, O2, 3, T-Mobile, Orange, BT bill pay phones only).

You will need to provide a copy of your passport or drivers licence or a recent utility bill.

You will also need to submit a document explaining that the domain is for a blog. If the domain name is descriptive of the blog (e.g. mynatureblog.ie), then an explanation of this must be included in the document. If the domain name does not appear to reflect the nature of the blog, then information explaining what the domain name reflects and how it relates to the blog is required. A link to an existing site where you currently blog under the desired domain name can also be accepted with your application.

You will need to provide a copy of your Irish passport, drivers licence or a recent utility bill.

If you are an individual trading under your own name you can register a domain to reflect your full name or surname alone. You should provide your VAT number or a letter from an accountant, solicitor or bank manager confirming that you are a Sole Trader, trading under your own name.

If you are an individual trading under a business name registered with the CRO you can register a domain to reflect this name. You can also register a reasonable variation such as one that reflects your trade or location. You should include your RBN (Registered Business Number) or the Certificate of Registration for your business with your application. We will then verify your application online.

If your trading name is not registered or if you are registering a domain which reflects your product or service you can still get a .ie domain. You should provide your VAT number or a letter from an accountant, solicitor or bank manager confirming that you are a Sole Trader. You will also need to submit a document on your business letterhead explaining what the domain name reflects and how it relates to your business.

You can apply using any one of your VAT number, CRO number, RBN or a letter from an accountant, solicitor or bank manager confirming that you are a Sole Trader.

Any politician currently holding office or standing for election in the island of Ireland (e.g. MEP, TD or members of the Northern Ireland Assembly) can apply for a domain for their name or a combination of their name and office held. You must submit a signed letter on official letterhead and stating the politician’s eligibility with the application.

A signed letter on official letterhead will need to be submitted with the application.

The domain name must correspond closely with the trademark but variations such as plurals, numbers or letters may be accepted. If you are a licensed user of a trademark and wish to use this as your domain you must supply a signed letter of authorisation from the trademark holder. Please note that if you are not applying with an Irish, European or WIPO trademark (covering Ireland) then a connection with Ireland also must be proven. Trademarks registered with WIPO may also be accepted but they must include IE on the particular trademark.

You need to include your trademark number or a copy of your trademark certificate with your application.

The domain name must correspond closely with the trademark but variations such as plurals, numbers or letters may be accepted. If you are a licensed user of a trademark and wish to use this as your domain you must supply a signed letter of authorisation from the trademark holder. Please note that if you are not applying with an Irish, European or WIPO trademark (covering Ireland) then a connection with Ireland also must be proven. Trademarks registered with WIPO may also be accepted but they must include IE on the particular trademark.

You should include your trademark number or a copy of the trademark certificate with your application.

Societies that do not have a registered business name can apply for a domain name using a signed letter on their letterhead. should apply to register a domain under this category. The letter must state the reasons the domain is needed by the society.

You need to include a signed letter on the society letterhead with your application.

Clubs that do not have a registered business name can apply for a domain name using a signed letter on their letterhead. The letter must state the reasons the domain is needed by the club.

You need to include a signed letter on the club letterhead with your application.

To register a domain that reflects the name of your school of college you will need to provide us with your roll number. We check this against the Department of Education’s online schools list. If you do not have a roll number we will need you to submit a self-issued letter on the school’s letterhead with your application.

Domains can also be registered for particular projects or initiatives which are organised by the educational institution. You should submit your roll number along with an explanation of your claim to the domain name on your school letterhead with your application.

You will need to include your roll number with your application.

Your CHY number can be obtained from the Revenue. You may also register domain names that are not related to the charity but you will need to provide documentation which explains the charity’s claim to the name.

You will need to include your Charity Number (CHY) with your application.

Domains can be registered by any state agency that wants a domain that reflects their official name. Applicants can apply for the English and/or Irish version of their name. The domain name can also reflect the name of a project, special event, or joint venture where at least one of the parties involved is a state agency. In order for the domain to be registered it must be proven that the applicant is a statutory body.

You should include proof that the applicant is a statutory body with your application.

Domain names can be registered for products, services, promotional campaigns, brand names, personal projects, etc. To support an application for any of these items, an applicant must submit information explaining what the domain name reflects and how it relates to them.

In general the supporting documentation required will be similar to what is listed above. It can be helpful to choose the most similar listing above and plan to include the supporting information that is required for that. Your accredited .ie Registrar will be able to provide you with further information.

You will be required to prove your claim to the domain name using similar methods to those listed above.