.CO Domain Registration & Policy FAQs for Registrants
What is .CO?
Learn all the basics here and see who is using .CO.
DOMAIN REGISTRATION FAQS
What is a domain name?
A domain name is a unique word or phrase in a particular format that allows people to find information on the Internet. The Domain Name System (DNS) maps domain names to servers where the content resides, based on each server's Internet Protocol (IP) address (for example, 192.0.2.53 or 2001:503:A83:0:0:2:30). Instead of searching for information by IP address, a domain name allows people to search for Web sites and send email using familiar, easy to remember names.
What is an Internet domain name registry?
For the Internet to function and to prevent duplication of web addresses there has to be one authoritative place to register a domain name. Each TLD has an authoritative registry, which manages a centralized database. The registry inputs the information about domain names in TLD zone files to enable communication over the Internet for applications like credit card processing, bank transactions as well as Web browsing and email. A registry provides direct service to registrars who provide direct service to domain name registrants.
What is a registrant?
Registrants are people or organizations that would like to register and use a domain name.
What is a registrar?
Registrars provide domain name registration services directly to registrants such as helping them find, register, renew, and delete domain names. They send the information to the registry for entry into the centralized registry database, WHOIS. Accredited Registrars of .CO Internet are those registrars that have executed an Administrator-Registry Agreement (ARA) with .CO Internet or are a reseller of an accredited registrar.
Who can register .CO domains?
You can! .CO has liberal registration policies following international best practices. Anyone in the world can register and transfer .CO domains — with no domicile or burdensome documentation requirements. Any registrant in the world can create their opportunity and have more choice in branding online by securing global, recognizable and credible .CO domain names.
Will there be any restrictions on who can register a .CO domain name?
Going forward, anyone in the world can register .CO domain names for both the second (example.co) and third (example.com.co) levels, with liberal registration and documentation requirements. There is one notable exception to this rule, in that certain restricted third level domains will be marketed and made available only to local, Colombian registrants, including: .ORG.CO, .EDU.CO, .MIL.CO and .GOB.CO.
How much will registrations cost?
The price per domain will be determined by retail registrars. We expect .CO to be very competitive within the industry, while reflecting the value of registering a global, recognizable, and credible domain name. Please consult your domain name provider for specific pricing details.
Where can I register .CO domains?
.CO will be positioned as a premium domain name space, available only through a select list of registrars and their resellers that are committed to the proper development of the domain. Great attention is being placed on the marketing of .CO as a global, recognizable, and credible domain name, and we look to our registrar and reseller partners to be aligned with that goal. Please check with your preferred domain name provider to register your .CO today. If you do not have a preferred provider, you may view our list of Accredited Registrars.
If I don’t see my registrar listed as a directly accredited registrar, are they officially able to offer .CO domains?
Yes. Although, .CO domains are available exclusively through accredited registrars and their related entities, other registrars are able to offer .CO domains as a reseller and have the technology, expertise and ability to offer the .CO TLD to you at competitive prices. .CO Internet supports not only its accredited registrars, but also the multitude of resellers that also sell .CO domain names.
If I have a third level domain (eg: xyz.com.co), do I have priority to register the second level version (eg: xyz.co)?
According to the new policy, priority was given only to those that registered the domain prior to the approval date of the new policy, July 30, 2008; and during a the Grandfathering Phase from March 1 to March 31, 2010. From the end of March 2010 onwards, there is no additional priority given to third level domain registrants.
What are the key .CO domain name policies?
- Domains must be a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 63 characters, not including the TLD.
- A domain may only contain letters, numbers or the special character hyphen. However, a hyphen may not begin or end a name, nor have two or more consecutive hyphens, in the 3rd and 4th positions. No other special characters are permitted.
- Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) Characters are allowed. Currently, the .CO Registry offers the Spanish IDN characters including á, é, í, ó, ú, ñ, ü. For more information on IDNs, click here.
- Only unrestricted domains may be registered. For more information on .CO Restricted Domains, click here.
Can I register .CO Domain Names in other languages (Internationalized Domain Names)?
Yes. Currently, you may register .CO domain names in Spanish, Scandinavian and Asian IDNs. Other languages are being reviewed and may be implemented in the future. The following is a list of languages available for .CO domain names and the corresponding language policies. Additional information for .CO IDNs may be found with IANA's IDN Repository.
How do I submit an IDN registration request?
IDN registration requests are submitted in ACE format accompanied by a language code. You must first convert Unicode to Punycode, which is then converted into ACE format for registratioin. You can use GNU’s IDN Library to assist you in converting your IDNs to ACE format. The IDN Library can be found at http://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/. You may also use the .CO Punycode converter to assist you in IDN registrations. The punycode converter may be found at http://www.whois.co/co/ace_convert/convert_ace.cgi.
Do all registrars offer IDN registrations?
No, not all registrars offer Internationalized Domain Name registrations. Please contact your registrar or reseller directly for information on their ability to register your .CO IDN request.
How do I transfer my domain name?
To transfer your domain name to another registrar, you will need an Auth-Code – or domain password for verification and security purposes. Please contact your registrar to begin a transfer request and receive current registrar transfer policies. .CO Internet does not issue or confirm Auth-Codes for registered .CO domain names.
There are some policies to keep in mind as you contact your registrar to begin the transfer process. Please also contact your registrar or reseller directly for any additional policies.
- Transfers are not permitted within the first 60 days of registration
- Transfers are not permitted within 60 days of a previous transfer
- Successful transfers will result in a one-year domain name renewal registration
What do I do if my domain name has expired?
If your domain name expired, you need to contact your registrar about renewing. If you don’t know who your registrar is, you may search the .CO WHOIS database for your domain name. The results will show the accredited registrar responsible for registering your domain name so that you can contact them.
Why does it appear that some .CO domain names are not able to be registered?
In some limited cases, domains that might appear as available in WHOIS might not actually be available as they could be already registered and the WHOIS not yet updated and/or they could be part of the Restricted list. In these cases, performing a check through your Registrar’s (EPP check) will give you the actual status of the domain. Additionally, domains currently or previously used as extensions in 3rd level domains will not be available for registration in the 2nd level. For example, org.co, mil.co, edu.co, com.co, net.co, nom.co, arts.co, firm.co, info.co, int.co, web.co, rec.co and co.co.
Will proxy registrations, sometimes referred to as “domain privacy” be permitted in the .CO top level domain?
Yes, Proxy or Privacy registration services may be used through a .CO Registrar or Reseller. However, .CO Registrants must still abide by the .CO Domain Name Terms of Use. The Policy requires that true registrant information be provided by Registrars and their Resellers if requested due to a Colombian law-enforcement action or other Governmental request. True registrant information will only be requested upon a legitimate law-enforcement request for information.
How can I determine the availability of a particular .CO domain name?
To determine the availability of a particular .CO domain name please check www.whois.co
Back to Top
DOMAIN POLICY FAQS
What steps are being taken to protect the rights of trademark owners?
.CO Internet is following established best practices in trademark and IP protection to ensure that the domain is launched and managed in an equitable and sustainable way. Our intention is to make the .CO domain name an asset to trademark holders and a tremendous opportunity for companies, entrepreneurs and individuals globally.
We began with a structured sunrise and implemented a number of important rights protection mechanisms to ensure for the fair and orderly distribution of domains. Our policies were designed with the guidance and counsel of ICANN’s Intellectual Property Constituency in mind; along with the lessons learned from previous domain launches and consultations with a variety of global domain registries.
Among other things, our rights protection initiatives include the following:
Reservation of Premium Names. The .CO registry has held back certain generic words and phrases to be allocated via auctions or other defined allocation processes.
Uniform Dispute Resolution Process. We have contracted with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to oversee the arbitration and mediation of domain name disputes that may arise.
Reliable WHOIS Data. The .CO Registry is built with Thick WHOIS data and registrants are required to keep their data updated and accurate at all times.
Rapid Domain Compliance Process. We have a process in place to rapidly take down any website in cases where phishing, pharming, malware, or other significant security threats have been identified. We are also putting in place policies to quickly suspend domains in instances where serial cyber-squatting can be established.
What should I do if someone has a .CO domain name that infringes on a trademark I own?
If you believe that your trademark rights are being infringed upon by someone who has registered a .CO domain name, you can contact the domain owner directly by finding their contact information at www.whois.co. If direct contact does not resolve the conflict, then you have the option to utilize the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), which has been adopted by the .CO Registry and is based upon the best practice recommendations of ICANN for domain dispute resolution. For more information on these tools and the general administration policy for .CO domain names please see Policies & Procedures for Dispute Resolution.
What is the Redemption Grace Period (RGP)?
The Redemption Grace Period is the 20 days following the deletion of a domain. The purpose of RGP is to allow registrars and/or registrants to correct for inadvertent deletions. During the first 15 days of the Redemption Grace Period, registrars may request the Registry to redeem the deleted domain, and thus restore it to its original disposition prior to deletion. Redemptions may NOT be performed during the final five days of the RGP. The WHOIS record will indicate if the domain is eligible for redemption. Domains that are eligible are marked "PendingDelete (restorable)". Ineligible domains have the status "PendingDelete (scheduled for release)". All redemption requests must be submitted through your registrar.
Will .CO Internet allow Domain Tasting?
.CO Internet will implement ICANN’s Add Grace Period (AGP) Limits Policy that was initiated within the gTLD name space in March 2009. For more information on the AGP Limits Policy, you may view the ICANN website at http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/agp-policy-17dec08-en.htm or contact your registrar directly for additional information.
Why is it that some domain names are held back by the .CO Registry or otherwise not available for registration?
.CO Internet has reserved a number of domains that will not be available for registration or sold through registrars. These include:
- Restricted Domains: These domains have been restricted by governmental or international entities and are not available for registration. There is no application process for these domains.
- Reserved and Premium Domains: These domains have been reserved by the .CO Registry for different commercial and marketing purposes. A subset of Premium domains including some generic terms and 1 and 2 character domains will be available for auctions in the coming months. If you are interested in any of these domains please send a message to premium@cointernet.co with your name and contact information, and the domain name(s) you are interested in securing so that we can inform you as these become available.
For more information, please go to our Premium Names & Auction FAQs.
What is .CO Internet doing about Domain Name abuse such as phishing, malware, and spam?
.CO Internet will implement Neustar, Inc.’s procedures to rapidly take down any website in cases where phishing, pharming, malware, or other significant security threats have been identified. We are also reviewing procedures and policies to quickly suspend domains in instances where serial cyber-squatting can be established.
Back to Top
Updated: April 2011
Learn about our .COmmunity and how others are using .CO to build a next-level Internet.go.co
View our local website that features news, blog posts, events and information about .COM.CO cointernet.com.co
Find your ideal .COM.CO domain and serve the people of Colombia with a reliable and secure web address. dominios.com.co
