About .at domain
.at is a country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) delegated for Austria. The registry operator is nic.at GmbH, which took over administration in 1998. The extension was introduced in 1988 and is a well-established, unrestricted ccTLD product sold globally through accredited registrars.
Who can register .at domain
Registration is open to anyone globally, with no requirement for a local presence in Austria. Eligible registrants include private individuals, companies, associations, and other organizations. Private individuals must be of legal age and capable of entering contracts. Legal entities must be specified with their full official name, including any legal form designation.
How to register .at domain
- Search for your desired .at domain name's availability using a domain registrar's search tool, checking both the direct second level (e.g.,
example.at) and available third levels like .co.at or .or.at.
- Compare pricing, registration terms, and add-on services (like WHOIS privacy) across different ICANN-accredited registrars that sell .at domains.
- Complete the checkout process, providing accurate registrant contact details as the registry requires the holder to be a verifiable natural person or legal entity.
- Finalize the registration by verifying your contact email and configuring your domain's DNS nameservers to point to your hosting provider; registrations are typically active within minutes.
Typical uses of .at domain
The .at extension is very popular within Austria for businesses, organizations, and personal websites, serving as the national online identifier. It is also widely used internationally for creative domain hacks in the English language, where the "at" suffix forms part of a word or phrase (e.g., arrive.at). This dual appeal makes it a versatile choice for entities connected with Austria and for global projects seeking memorable, short domain names.
Tips for registering .at domain
- Registrations can be for a minimum of one year, with a maximum initial term typically set by individual registrars.
- The registry supports WHOIS privacy services, but their availability and specific terms depend on the accredited registrar you choose.
- Since August 2016, one- and two-character .at domain names have been available for registration, expanding the namespace.
- Domain names under .at must be between 1 and 63 characters long and cannot begin or end with a hyphen.
Frequently asked questions about .at domain
How much does it cost to register and renew a .at domain?
As of today, .at domains start from $9.00/yr on NameBeta, with prices ranging up to $84.40/yr across 22 registrars. See the registrar comparison table on this page for live prices.Which registrars support .at domains?
NameBeta tracks 22 registrars that support .at domain registration, with the cheapest option at $9.00/yr. Full list on this page.Who operates .at domain?
The registry for .at domains is nic.at, administered by nic.at GmbH.
Who can register a .at domain?
While open globally, the registry has specific requirements for the registrant field. For a private individual, you must be of legal age. If registering for an organization, you must provide its full legal name including the legal form (e.g., GmbH, OG). For unincorporated entities, a natural person must be listed as the domain holder.
Can I transfer a .at domain between registrars?
Transferring a .at domain between registrars follows a standard process initiated by gaining authorization codes. The registry does not impose additional local presence requirements for transfers. It is important to ensure the domain is unlocked at the current registrar and that any WHOIS privacy service is disabled to receive the necessary transfer confirmation emails.
Can I register domains under .ac.at or .gv.at?
Domains under .ac.at (for academic institutions) and .gv.at (for government authorities) are not freely registrable through commercial registrars. These subdomains are administered separately by the Austrian academic network ACOnet and the Austrian Federal Chancellery, respectively, and have specific eligibility requirements.
What characters are allowed in a .at domain name?
Beyond standard letters and numbers, .at supports Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), including German umlauts and special characters from a defined character set. However, a domain name cannot start or end with a hyphen, and for technical reasons, cannot have two hyphens in the third and fourth positions.
Are there any content or usage restrictions for .at domains?
The registry does not enforce specific content policies for .at, .co.at, or .or.at domains. Registration is unrestricted, and there is no formal dispute policy administered by nic.at since 2008, though standard legal remedies like the UDRP would still apply for trademark conflicts.
What should I know about registering a very short .at domain?
One- and two-character .at domains have been available since 2016. Due to their scarcity and potential for being premium names, they may be subject to different pricing or auction processes at registrars. Always check the specific availability and pricing for short domains directly with your chosen registrar.
