{"id":8307,"date":"2026-05-18T12:16:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T10:16:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/?post_type=manual_kb&#038;p=8307"},"modified":"2026-05-19T09:36:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T07:36:19","slug":"co-uk-domain-registration-guide-united-kingdom","status":"publish","type":"manual_kb","link":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/co-uk-domain-registration-guide-united-kingdom\/","title":{"rendered":".CO.UK Domain Registration Guide (United Kingdom)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"translation-block translation-block-merged\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Below are the unique operational, administrative, and technical rules required to manage .CO.UK domains within the mybox platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/co-uk-domain-registration-guide-united-kingdom\/#Local_Presence_Requirements\" >Local Presence Requirements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/co-uk-domain-registration-guide-united-kingdom\/#Domain_Registration_and_Lifecycle\" >Domain Registration and Lifecycle<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/co-uk-domain-registration-guide-united-kingdom\/#The_Detagged_State_and_Expiration\" >The Detagged State and Expiration<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/co-uk-domain-registration-guide-united-kingdom\/#Domain_Transfers_The_IPS_Tag_System\" >Domain Transfers (The IPS Tag System)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/co-uk-domain-registration-guide-united-kingdom\/#Contact_Management_and_Legal_Types\" >Contact Management and Legal Types<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Local_Presence_Requirements\"><\/span>Local Presence Requirements<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"mybox-846915157\" class=\"mybox-content mybox-entity-placement\"><div class=\"early-access-banner-inpost\">\r\n  <div class=\"banner-left-inpost\">\r\n    <div class=\"icon-box-inpost\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/square-info-icon.svg\" alt=\"Info\">\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"text-box-inpost\">\r\n      <span class=\"label-inpost\"><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Early access<\/span><\/span>\r\n      <h4><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Still need help?<\/span><\/h4>\r\n      <p><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Contact our customer service team.<\/span><\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"banner-right-inpost\">\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/panel.mybox.com\/helpdesk2\/v\/list\/\" class=\"banner-button-inpost\"><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Message us<\/span><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"translation-block translation-block-merged\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, Nominet strictly requires that the registrant&#8217;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&#8217;s timeframe will result in domain suspension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Domain_Registration_and_Lifecycle\"><\/span>Domain Registration and Lifecycle<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Registration Periods:<\/strong> Domains can be registered for periods ranging from 1 to 10 years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Instant Activation:<\/strong> Standard registration requests are processed in real time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No Pre-configuration Check:<\/strong> Unlike extensions like <code>.DE<\/code>, Nominet does not require name servers to be pre-configured before a domain can be registered or pointed to them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Detagged_State_and_Expiration\"><\/span>The Detagged State and Expiration<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The expiration lifecycle for a Nominet domain follows a specific sequence that differs from standard gTLDs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Expiration Date:<\/strong> If a domain is not renewed by its expiration date, it enters a grace period but remains active for a short window.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Detagged Status:<\/strong> Exactly 30 days after the expiration date, if no renewal payment is processed, Nominet moves the domain into a <strong>Detagged<\/strong> 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cancellation\/Deletion:<\/strong> 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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Domain_Transfers_The_IPS_Tag_System\"><\/span>Domain Transfers (The IPS Tag System)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <strong>IPS Tags<\/strong> (Internet Provider Service Tags).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Contact_Management_and_Legal_Types\"><\/span>Contact Management and Legal Types<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When creating or modifying contact handles for a .CO.UK domain, selecting the correct <strong>Registrant Type<\/strong> (Legal Type) is essential. Nominet categorizes owners to ensure proper data validation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>LTD\/PLC:<\/strong> UK Limited Company or Public Limited Company (requires a valid UK Company Number).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>IND:<\/strong> UK Individual (for private persons, which allows them to opt-out of displaying their address on the public WHOIS).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>FIND:<\/strong> Non-UK Individual (for private individuals residing outside the UK).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>FCORP:<\/strong> Foreign Corporation (for companies registered outside the UK).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-onethird-callout-box onethird-callout-wrap\"><div class=\"onethird-callout onethird-callout--hint\" style=\"--ot-bg:#EAFFF7;--ot-border:#C8E8D8;--ot-text:#6F7C88;--ot-title:#384048;--ot-body:#6F7C88;--ot-icon:#384048;border-radius:6px;padding:16px\"><div class=\"onethird-callout__head\"><span class=\"onethird-callout__icon\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><circle fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#384048\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"9\"><\/circle><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#384048\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M12 10v6\"><\/path><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#384048\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M12 7h.01\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><div class=\"onethird-callout__title\"><strong>Note on Ownership Changes (Trades)<\/strong><\/div><\/div><div class=\"onethird-callout__body\">Minor corrections to a registrant&#8217;s name (like fixing a typo) can be processed through the contact update system. However, a complete change of ownership from one entity or person to another cannot be completed via standard API contact updates. A formal Domain Trade must be initiated, which involves a registry fee and direct validation via Nominet&#8217;s online portal.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"onethird-callout__separator\" style=\"height:18px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","manualknowledgebasecat":[128],"manual_kb_tag":[593,6720,7801,7826,7827,7828,7829,381,383,385],"class_list":["post-8307","manual_kb","type-manual_kb","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","manualknowledgebasecat-domains","manual_kb_tag-domain-transfer","manual_kb_tag-domain-deletion","manual_kb_tag-registration-periods","manual_kb_tag-detagged-state","manual_kb_tag-registration-lifecycle","manual_kb_tag-instant-activation","manual_kb_tag-no-preconfiguration-check","manual_kb_tag-domain-renewal","manual_kb_tag-domain-expiration","manual_kb_tag-domain-registration"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb\/8307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/manual_kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb\/8307\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8308,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb\/8307\/revisions\/8308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"manualknowledgebasecat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manualknowledgebasecat?post=8307"},{"taxonomy":"manual_kb_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb_tag?post=8307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}