About .mp domain
.mp is a country code top-level domain (ccTLD) delegated to the Northern Mariana Islands under the ISO 3166 two-letter code "MP". It has been active since its delegation on October 22, 1996, and is operated by Saipan DataCom, Inc., a local internet service provider, through the registry site at get.mp. Registrations are accepted directly at the second level under .mp, meaning domains take the form of name.mp rather than requiring a third-level structure. The extension has gained secondary appeal as a domain hack, with registrants using the "mp" string creatively in domain names unrelated to its geographic origin.
Who can register .mp domain
.mp is an open registration TLD with no geographic or organizational restrictions — anyone anywhere in the world may register a .mp domain. There are no residency, citizenship, or business entity requirements tied to the Northern Mariana Islands. However, registrants must agree to the registry's Registration and Service Agreement, which includes a good-faith warranty confirming the domain is not being registered for cybersquatting, trademark abuse, or competitor disruption purposes. Domain names must use only letters (a–z), digits (0–9), and hyphens, and may not exceed 63 characters in length.
How to register .mp domain
Search for your desired .mp domain name at the get.mp registry or through a participating commercial registrar. Confirm the name is available and check whether it falls into the standard category (four or more characters) or the premium short-domain tier.
Review pricing before committing — standard .mp domains (four or more characters) are priced at $20, while premium short domains under four characters carry significantly higher fees, with two-character domains priced at $5,000 for a three-year registration term. Make sure you understand the registration term length included in the purchase.
Complete checkout by providing your registrant contact details and agreeing to the registry's Registration and Service Agreement, including the good-faith warranty regarding trademark and competitive use.
After registration, configure your DNS settings to point the domain to your hosting provider or web service. Note that .mp does not offer public WHOIS services, so your contact information will not be exposed in a public WHOIS lookup under normal circumstances.
Typical uses of .mp domain
.mp domains are used by a wide range of registrants who value the short, punchy two-letter string for creative domain hacks. The extension is particularly popular for building memorable short URLs where "mp" forms part of a word or brand name — a well-known example being Mailchimp's use of mailchi.mp. Registrants also choose .mp to signal relevance to mobile platforms (reading "mp" as "mobile") or to represent titles such as Member of Parliament. Its open registration policy and low standard pricing make it accessible for personal projects, startups, and brand redirects alike.
Tips for registering .mp domain
- Standard .mp domains with four or more characters are priced at $20 per registration, but premium short domains (under four characters) carry substantially higher fees — two-character domains are priced at $5,000 for a three-year term, so budget accordingly before searching for short names.
- The registry does not offer public WHOIS services, which provides a built-in layer of registrant privacy; however, Saipan DataCom may disclose WHOIS data in cases of potential trademark infringement.
- .mp operates its own UDRP-based dispute resolution policy, meaning trademark holders can file complaints against registrants who register domains in bad faith — review the registry's dispute resolution policy before registering a name that could conflict with an existing mark.
- Registrations are only accepted directly at the second level (name.mp); third-level registrations under .gov.mp or .co.mp are reserved for governmental and organizational use and are not available for general public registration.
- Review the registry's Cancellation and Transfer policy at get.mp before registering, as transfer and cancellation procedures are governed by registry-specific terms rather than standard ICANN inter-registrar transfer policies.