An Introduction to Dot-Ca Domain Names
and the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)
Using a dot-ca domain name is like travelling with a maple leaf on your backpack—it says that you have a connection with Canada. Like your Canadian passport, a dot-ca domain name cannot be obtained by just anyone. That's where CIRA comes in.
CIRA is the Canadian Internet Registration Authority. It is the Canadian not-for-profit corporation mandated by the Government of Canada to manage the set of domain names that end with dot-ca.
Getting a Dot-ca Domain Name: Registrars and You
You may only register a dot-ca domain through a CIRA Certified Registrar.
When you register a dot-ca domain name, you enter into two legal agreements. One is the CIRA Registrant Agreement; the other is your contract with the CIRA Certified Registrar.
Although you use a Certified Registrar to register a dot-ca domain, the domain must actually be registered with CIRA. We maintain the dot-ca registry for all of Canada, which means your domain name is safe even if the Registrar you originally used goes out of business.
Your Certified Registrar also provides you with dot-ca domain registration services. CIRA collects and holds certain of the information you provide when you register your dot-ca domain. Because CIRA holds this information, as long as your domain name is active, you can transfer your registration to a different CIRA Certified Registrar.
CIRA does not endorse any particular CIRA Certified Registrar. It's up to you to choose a CIRA Certified Registrar that will meet your needs at a price that suits your budget.
Who's Who
There are two other important terms you should understand:
- Registrant: That's you—the holder of the domain name registration. To register a dot-ca domain name, you must be of legal age in Canada and meet CIRA's Canadian Presence Requirements. By registering a dot-ca domain name you also have the opportunity to become a member of CIRA.
- Administrative Contact: This is either you or someone you authorize. This person is responsible for authorizing and confirming any changes to your domain registration. The Administrative Contact receives the CIRA User Account Number and password used to manage your domain name. Therefore, this person has complete control over the domain name.
Here are two diagrams that illustrate how the relationship between you, your Administrative Contact, and CIRA works.
- If The Administrative Contact and you are the same person with the same email address.
- You are not the Administrative Contact (i.e., you have appointed someone else), or you have provided a different email address for the Administrative Contact.
Managing Your Domain Name.... Your Responsibility
It's your responsibility to manage your domain name and keep all information accurate and up to date. You do this through your CIRA Certified Registrar.
You make all changes to your domain name registration—like address changes, domain name transfers or renewals—through your CIRA Certified Registrar.
Some changes—such as transferring your domain name from one CIRA Certified Registrar to another—require confirmation from your Administrative Contact. CIRA sends a request for online confirmation to your Administrative Contact's email address. The Administrative Contact must then use the CIRA User Account Number and permanent password to confirm the change or transfer.
This makes your Administrative Contact the most important person in your relationship with CIRA. And your Administrative Contact's email address is the most important part of your domain name registration. It is the only email address CIRA uses to contact you.
All CIRA user accounts, passwords, confirmations and notices are sent to this address. For this reason, it's extremely important that you keep your Administrative Contact's email address up to date and functional.
Dot-ca Domain Name Registrations Are Unique
Registering 1234abcd.com is NOT the same as registering 1234abcd.ca. Although dot-ca domain names, associated websites and email addresses can be seen by anyone in the world, only individuals or organizations that meet CIRA's Canadian Presence Requirements are allowed to register them. The dot-ca domain name space is managed by Canadians for Canadians.
Dot-ca domains are subject to Canadian laws and legal frameworks. Registrants must meet Canadian presence requirements. (See the Canadian Presence Requirements for the full list.) CIRA's policies, rules and procedures clearly state the rights of both the Registrant and CIRA. This is good for you as a Registrant because you know you are dealing with a Canadian. And because CIRA retains your Registrant information, it's like having an insurance policy on your dot-ca domain name—you know it's protected.
You can find more information about CIRA at www.cira.ca.
