European domains: Cyprus (.cy)

Registration:

To register your Cypriot domain, click here!

Once the domain is registered

All Cypriot domain names registered with us are stored on our international server. Domains registered with us are automatically provided with their own under-construction page - this notifies potential registrants that the name has been acquired and is now registered. The under-construction page is offered free of charge and may be used indefinitely.

It is possible for Web and/or Mail forwarding to be provided for Cypriot domains.

Domain transfer/release fees are charged are by a majority of registrars, but BB Online make no charge to transfer a domain to another Cypriot domain name registrar.

Background

The University of Cyprus is a non-profit making organisation. For this purpose, it limits its liability in certain respects so that it may continue to offer services in the interests of the whole Internet community. They manage the ".cy" domain as a service Cyprus and the ".cy" top level domain is hence divided into thirteen secondary level domains whose eligible registrants should fall within the definition opposite same. (See bullets further down)

Cyprus domain names are restricted to permanent Cypriot residents only, at least 18 years old. If the name is to be registered to a company, they must have a registered office in Cyprus. The domain name applied for must be three characters or greater than three characters, and there is a limit of 10 domain names per company unless a valid reason for more can be proved. If the applicant is an individual, the limit is one domain name per person.

There are several sub domains available under ".cy", and all are restricted:

To register a ".com.cy", you need to provide a copy of a form of identification, such as a passport, identification card or a driving licence. For all other ".cy" subdomains, the Cypriot registry may ask for proof to establish the applicant qualifies for the restricted subdomains.

There are other restrictions on the domain names you are allowed to register:

The domain name must not relate to politicians, political or historic activities for which a competent Cypriot authority needs to give express permission. The registry asks for proof of this permission.

Generic names corresponding to a branch, group, activity, professional or business sector.

Exceptions can be made for an authority which officially represents such activities or groups.

Geographical names which can be found on official maps can only be registered by the relevant local authority. If your company name (for instance) contains a geographical reference, you must include the "entity" name in the requested domain name.

If you wish to register a name under the ".cy" domain make sure that the name meet the following criteria:

1. The characters which may be used in a domain name are the 26 letters A-Z of the Roman alphabet.

2. The digits allowed in a domain name are 0-9 and the hyphen (-). Though please note that the hyphen may not be used in the beginning or the end of the domain name.

3. Each name can not contain less than three characters.

• Population is estimated to be 835,000 people
• Gross Domestic Product is $19.69 billion US Dollars
• Languages recognised in Cyprus are Greek and Turkish