This page presents some frequently asked questions and answers
concerning ccTLDs.
Besides the information offered here, we have a list
of general questions
and answers about the domain system, which is worth reading
and well-suited to impart a solid basic understanding for this topic.
There are some ccTLDs with a special relevance for which we have created
sections of their own. Please refer to these sections if you're looking for
information on .de domains,
or on the new country code
top level domains .cn, .eu, .tw, and .us.
»ccTLD« is an acronym for the term »country code top level domain«.
These are all domains which use a country or area code in the highest
level (top level) of the domain name.
»Austria«, for example, was assigned the code »at« while the British
oversea area »South Georgia and Southern Sandwich Isles« has the code
»gs«.
We intend to constantly expand the spectrum of registrable ccTLDs.
If you would like to register a domain which is not listed so far and
the registration is not definitely excluded (see below), please
ask ccTLD@knipp.de
if a registration is possible.
There are some ccTLDs that can not be registered by us or
for which we have decided not to provide registrations for some good
reasons.
For some ccTLDs it is not possible to register domains at all, because
there has only been an assignment of a country code, but no domain
registry
exists to administer domains.
Furthermore we usually do not provide registrations of ccTLDs for which
at least two of the following conditions apply:
1. Registration of domains is only permitted if the domain
holder's domicile or residence is located in the appropriate country.
2. The domain registration is only allowed via registrars
which are located in the appropriate country.
3. The missing infrastructure and the small population of the
country lead to the expectation that the demand on domains will not reach
a noteworthy level.
In the near future, we will provide a list of domains that definitely
cannot be registered by Knipp.
In quite a number of countries it is impossible to register domain names
directly below the top-level, because the responsible local authority has
decided to group the domains into categories and to permit registrations
only below predetermined second level domains.
If the top level domain itself is not named as registrable on the
respective page but only second level domains, this means that a
registration directly below the top level domains is not possible.
The list of second level domains is not necessarily complete but may be
a selection that we made, because for normal customers it is not possible
to register domains below second level domains like gov.za or mil.za, for
example.
ccTLDs are managed by Knipp using the DRS. However, registrations or
modifications via the webinterface of the DRS are only possible for
.de, .us, .tw, and .eu domains.
You have to use an e-mail form to register or modify any other type of
ccTLD.
For most new registrations of a ccTLD, all you need is to complete
the e-mail form. In some cases however, additional documents may be
required. You will find corresponding notes on the appropriate ccTLD page
or on the application form.
For transfers and modifications of a country code domain, additional forms
or documents are necessary in almost every case. We will provide you
with the details when you apply for a transfer or modification.
This is possible in some exceptional cases only, namely if you
incidentially would like register only those domains which use the same
application form (e.g. if you would like to register an .ac, an .ag, an
.at, and a .ch domain).
The particular ccTLD can be found on the approproiate country page in
the table »Order information and ...« in clicking on »domain application
form«.
We ask for your understanding, that registrations can not be processed
if the used form does not belong to the designated ccTLD.
A number of countries have special regulations or require additional data,
which were considered in the appropriate application forms. This
proceeding prevents us from refering to existing special regulations and
from repeatedly having to request for additionally required data.
This way, you get to know all the important particularities in
advance, which helps to avoid possible irritations because we have to
insert our e-mail address for the domain holder, for example, or
because Knipp is the technical contact.
If all necessary requirements are given (i.e. we received all necessary
form data, the nameservers are configured correctly, etc.), 2 or 3 working
days is the usual period of time for the activation of the domain.
From our experience we can say that our handling time is normally marginal
if compared to the time which is necessary to set the stage for the
described conditions. In a few countries, like Czechia, the complicated
procedures of the domain registry can result in an elongating of the
overall processing time of up to multiple weeks until domain activation.
Nearly all ccTLD registrations are valid for unlimited time.
None of the ccTLD registrations will terminate by itself, but everytime
an explicit cancelation of the domain's holder at the foreign
registry is
required.
We will provide you with the necessary documents and with explanations on
the procedures if you inform us about the intention to delete a domain
via e-mail or fax.
Independently from that, ccTLDs are being charged for in certain time
periods (accounting periods).
The accounting periods are one or two years in length, as you can see in
our price list.
However, a domain will not be deleted automatically if it hasn't been
payed for immediately.
Some time before expiry of the actual accounting period you receive an
e-mail reminding of the accounting period's nearing end. If you are not
willing to pay the charge for the next accounting period, it is necessary
that you send the cancelation within the periods mentioned
in the e-mail reminder. After receiving your cancelation request, we will
send you any forms that might be required, together with explanations
of the domain deletion procedures of the respective registry.
In this case, actions of any kind have to be taken by the
gaining registrar! In individual cases,
the assistance of the releasing registrar may be required. You should
therfore inform the releasing registrar about your intention to change.
Please consider that the releasing registrar will have to charge the
domain for another accounting period, if the gaining registrar is not
able to transfer the domain by the end of the actual accounting period.
