The .ca domain is the official top-level domain (TLD) of Canada, and its registration is available to Canadian individuals, companies, or brands. This type of domain is very popular for both business and personal use, making it an excellent choice for websites or businesses targeting the Canadian market.
To register a .ca domain, the following requirements must be met. If the domain is registered based on a trademark, it must match the trademark name exactly, and the trademark must be registered in Canada. Identification documentation is required: a copy of an ID card or passport for individuals, or a business number (BN) / Tax ID for companies. For companies, a Certificate of Incorporation must also be provided, and for registered trademarks, a copy of the trademark registration is required. The domain name must be between 2 and 50 characters. Domains with French special characters such as é, ë, ê, è, à, â, ô, ù, û, ü, ç, î, ï are allowed. In case of disputes, the CIRA Dispute Resolution Policy (CDRP) applies. Domains can be registered for a minimum of 1 year and up to a maximum of 10 years, subject to email request for evaluation.
Regarding .ca domain transfers, providing the transfer code is mandatory. Transfers can only occur 65 days after the domain registration. An email will be sent to the administrative contact with a link that must be accepted within 7 days, after which it expires. Before the transfer, the domain must be configured on a hosting service, and the associated nameservers must be specified.
Renewals are possible if the domain is within its renewal period and are carried out for 1 year. It is also possible to renew the domain for up to 9 years, subject to email request for evaluation. The renewal period begins 50 days before the domain’s expiration date, and it is recommended to renew before expiration to avoid service interruptions associated with the domain.
Regarding technical updates, changes to nameservers may take up to 10 days to be fully completed.
In the event of domain expiration, there is a Grace Period of 30 days, which begins immediately after expiration, followed by a Redemption Period of 30 days. During the redemption period, services associated with the domain cease to function. Domain restoration (restore) is performed through a manual process and has an associated cost.
This article is for informational purposes and is subject to change by the Registry. For updated information or questions, please contact our Helpdesk.
