About .uy domain
.uy is a country code top-level domain (ccTLD) delegated for Uruguay. It is managed by the Servicio Central de Informática (SeCIU) of the Universidad de la República, which has operated the registry since its delegation in September 1990. While general second-level registrations under .uy are available, several specific second-level domains like .com.uy and .org.uy are also operated, with .com.uy managed separately by Antel. This structure provides a tiered registration system for different entity types.
Who can register .uy domain
Registration under the general .uy second-level is open to everyone. Specific second-level domains have eligibility restrictions: .com.uy is for commercial entities, .edu.uy for educational institutions, .gub.uy and .mil.uy are exclusively for government and military institutions respectively, requiring official letterhead for verification. .net.uy is for internet service providers, and .org.uy is for non-governmental, non-profit organizations like NGOs and clubs.
How to register .uy domain
- Search for your desired domain name's availability on the website of an authorized .uy registrar, such as Antel's nic.com.uy for .com.uy domains or the SeCIU portal for second-level .uy domains.
- Compare the services and pricing of different authorized registrar agents, as SeCIU accredits multiple private companies in addition to Antel to handle registrations.
- Complete the checkout process with your chosen registrar, providing accurate registrant contact information which is required for all domains.
- Finalize the registration by agreeing to the registry's policies, which prohibit names that infringe on intellectual property or could be confused with state institutions.
Typical uses of .uy domain
The .uy extension is predominantly used by entities connected to Uruguay, making it the standard and most recognizable web address for the nation's online presence. Local businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies heavily utilize their respective second-level domains (.com.uy, .edu.uy, .gub.uy) to establish a clear national identity. Non-profit organizations and internet service providers within the country also commonly register under .org.uy and .net.uy to signal their local operations and community focus.
Tips for registering .uy domain
- Domain names can include accented characters (á, é, í, ó, ú, ü, ñ) and hyphens, but cannot start or end with a hyphen.
- Registrations are prohibited for names that could be confused with Uruguayan state institutions or international organizations, unless registered by the legitimate entity.
- Names identical or confusingly similar to existing intellectual property rights are not admissible under the registry's rules.
- The registry maintains a list of prohibited generic expressions, and domain names cannot begin with the characters "xn--".