About .es domain
.es is a country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Spain, delegated in 1988. The registry operator is Red.es, a public business entity under the Spanish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation. The extension was initially restricted but underwent a liberalization process, culminating in 2005 with the opening of second-level registrations to a global audience. It is managed according to Spanish domain-related legislation and includes an extrajuridical conflict resolution system for disputes.
Who can register .es domain
Registration at the second level (like example.es) is open to anyone worldwide, with no requirements for a local presence or connection to Spain. For specific third-level domains, eligibility varies: .com.es, .nom.es, and .org.es are open for commercial, personal, and non-commercial use respectively, while .gob.es and .edu.es are restricted to Spanish government bodies and educational institutions. Registrants must accept that the domain's use does not violate third-party rights and agree to submit to a specific dispute resolution procedure for .es domain names.
How to register .es domain
- Search for your desired .es domain name's availability using a domain registrar's search tool, checking both second-level and relevant third-level options like .com.es.
- Compare pricing, registration terms, and add-on services (like WHOIS privacy, if offered by the registrar) from different accredited registrars before selecting one.
- Complete the checkout process, providing accurate registrant contact information as required by the registry's terms and conditions.
- Verify your contact details via email if requested and proceed to configure your domain's DNS settings, such as nameservers, to point to your hosting provider.
Typical uses of .es domain
The .es extension is predominantly used by individuals, businesses, and organizations based in or targeting Spain, serving as their primary online identity. It is also commonly employed for creative domain hacks in English and other languages, leveraging the "es" letter combination to form words (e.g., adspac.es). While open globally, its strongest association remains with the Spanish market, where it is a popular and trusted local alternative to generic TLDs like .com.
Tips for registering .es domain
- The minimum registration term is typically one year, and domains can be registered for a maximum of 10 years at a time.
- Domain names at the second level must be between 3 and 63 characters long, while third-level names can be 2 to 63 characters.
- The registry supports a range of characters including Spanish diacritics (like
ñ, á, é) and the l·l digraph, treating uppercase and lowercase letters as identical.
- Registrants automatically submit to an out-of-court dispute resolution procedure for conflicts related to trademarks, trade names, or official names of Spanish public entities.
Frequently asked questions about .es domain
How much does it cost to register and renew a .es domain?
As of today, .es domains start from $6.99/yr on NameBeta, with prices ranging up to $84.40/yr across 21 registrars. See the registrar comparison table on this page for live prices.Which registrars support .es domains?
NameBeta tracks 21 registrars that support .es domain registration, with the cheapest option at $6.99/yr. Full list on this page.Who operates .es domain?
The registry for .es domains is Red.es.
Who can register a .es domain?
While second-level .es registrations are open globally, some third-level categories have specific intended uses. For instance, .nom.es is designed for personal names and .org.es for non-commercial organizations, though these are generally not strictly enforced during registration. The key requirement for all registrants is the acceptance of the registry's terms, which include agreeing not to infringe on third-party rights and to participate in the established dispute resolution process if a conflict arises.
Can I transfer a .es domain between registrars?
Transferring a .es domain between registrars follows a standard process initiated by the gaining registrar. The domain must be unlocked at the current registrar and the registrant must obtain and provide the correct authorization code (EPP code). There is typically no mandatory transfer lock period after a new registration or a previous transfer, allowing moves to proceed once the domain is more than 60 days old, but the specific policies can vary slightly between registrars.
What characters can I use in a .es domain name?
.es domain names can use letters a-z, numbers 0-9, and the hyphen (though a hyphen cannot be the first or last character). Notably, the registry also supports a wide set of special characters from the Spanish alphabet, including vowels with acute and grave accents (á, à, é, è, etc.), ñ, ç, ü, and the Catalan digraph l·l. There is no case distinction, so España.es and españa.es are considered the same.
Is there a dispute policy for .es domains?
Yes, the .es registry operates an out-of-court dispute resolution system specifically for .es domain names. This procedure covers conflicts related to industrial property rights protected in Spain, such as registered trademarks, trade names, and designations of origin, as well as conflicts involving the official names of Spanish public entities. By registering a .es domain, the registrant automatically agrees to submit to this procedure, which is detailed in the regulations published on the official dominios.es website.
Can I register a .es domain for less than a year?
No, the standard minimum registration period for a .es domain is one year. You cannot initially register a domain for a period shorter than that. Upon renewal, you can typically extend the registration for additional one-year increments, up to a maximum total registration period of ten years in advance. This aligns with common practices for most country-code and generic top-level domains.
