The .CO.UK extension is the primary and most widely recognized commercial country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the United Kingdom. Managed by the registry Nominet, it is a vital extension for any business establishing a digital footprint in the UK market.
Below are the unique operational, administrative, and technical rules required to manage .CO.UK domains within the mybox platform.
Table of Contents
Local Presence Requirements
Unlike many other ccTLDs, Nominet does not enforce a strict local presence or local address requirement for registering a .CO.UK domain. Anyone worldwide can register one.
However, Nominet strictly requires that the registrant’s name and address details are accurate and complete. The registry regularly runs automated data validation checks. If an address or identity cannot be verified, Nominet will contact the registrant to request supporting documentation (such as a utility bill or company registration certificate). Failure to provide this within the registry’s timeframe will result in domain suspension.
Domain Registration and Lifecycle
- Registration Periods: Domains can be registered for periods ranging from 1 to 10 years.
- Instant Activation: Standard registration requests are processed in real time.
- No Pre-configuration Check: Unlike extensions like
.DE, Nominet does not require name servers to be pre-configured before a domain can be registered or pointed to them.
The Detagged State and Expiration
The expiration lifecycle for a Nominet domain follows a specific sequence that differs from standard gTLDs:
- Expiration Date: If a domain is not renewed by its expiration date, it enters a grace period but remains active for a short window.
- Detagged Status: Exactly 30 days after the expiration date, if no renewal payment is processed, Nominet moves the domain into a Detagged state. When a domain is detagged, the registry removes its name servers from the DNS zone, causing the website and associated email services to stop working.
- Cancellation/Deletion: If the domain remains unpaid, it is permanently cancelled and scheduled for deletion 90 days after the original expiration date, at which point it becomes available for public registration again.
Domain Transfers (The IPS Tag System)
Nominet handles domain transfers differently than almost any other registry. Instead of utilizing traditional Authorization Codes (Auth Codes or EPP codes), transfers are governed by IPS Tags (Internet Provider Service Tags).
Contact Management and Legal Types
When creating or modifying contact handles for a .CO.UK domain, selecting the correct Registrant Type (Legal Type) is essential. Nominet categorizes owners to ensure proper data validation:
- LTD/PLC: UK Limited Company or Public Limited Company (requires a valid UK Company Number).
- IND: UK Individual (for private persons, which allows them to opt-out of displaying their address on the public WHOIS).
- FIND: Non-UK Individual (for private individuals residing outside the UK).
- FCORP: Foreign Corporation (for companies registered outside the UK).