Register your .CA

Purchasing a .CA domain name is quick and easy. Keep these helpful tips in mind throughout the registration process.

    How to buy a .CA domain name

    1. Search for your favourite .CA domain name

    2. Choose a registrar

    3. Complete your .CA domain name registration

    You can find out if a domain name is available by searching at the top of this page. If it's not available, try selecting a suggested alternative that appears, or search again.

    If you’re still stuck, our free guide, Bringing your business online: How to choose a domain name and more, provides some more in-depth information about domain names and helps guide you through the registration process.

    Choose a registrar

    Although CIRA manages the .CA domain name registry on behalf of Canada, .CA domain names are actually purchased through online retailers called registrars. When you search for a .CA domain name on our site, we display a list of certified registrars with whom you can purchase from.

    Your registrar will be your main point of contact for the management of your .CA domain name, so make sure you choose the right one for you. Here are some tips on how to choose the one that best meets your needs.

    1. Determine which services you require

    You may want services like email hosting or support offered in French, so find out what each registrar offers. Remember, if you registered your .CA domain name as an individual you have free WHOIS privacy protection already included.

    2. Shop around

    Shop around to get a good understanding of how much your domain name, and additional services, will cost. Registrars may offer bundles, packages, or special promotions. Keep in mind that cheapest isn’t always necessarily best.

    3. Check references

    Seek out customer reviews and testimonials, and ask friends or colleagues for a recommendation. You may find that some registrars come highly recommended by your peers. If you make a mistake, you can always transfer your .CA domain to another registrar.

    Find a certified .CA registrar

    The three Rs of the domain name world

    Confused about who's who in the domain name world? Don't worry we've got you covered.

    We call them the three Rs—registrants, registrars, and registry—and they are the players involved in every .CA domain name.  

    Registrants: the person buying the .CA domain name

    Registrar: the online retailer selling the .CA domain name

    Registry: manages the .CA domain name system

    Securing your .CA 

    Once you’ve chosen a registrar, consider the following additional tips for protecting your .CA domain.

    • Always register the domain name yourself

      Never let third parties, such as a marketing agency, complete a registration on your behalf. This can become a problem if you part ways and no longer have access to the account managing your domain name.

    • Choose a strong password

      Use a unique password for your registrar account to provide an additional layer of security to your domain name. Never provide this information to third parties, including your hosting company. The password should be changed on a regular basis.

    • Provide the updated contact information

      CIRA and registrars only communicate with the registrant and administrative contacts provided during the registration process. If this information is not accurate, you might not receive important information about your domain name.

    • Choose a registration term length that works for you

      You can register a domain name from one to 10 years at a time. A longer registration period, combined with setting up auto-renewal with your registrar, can help you ensure your .CA domain name remains registered and active.

    • Register common variations of your name

      If your company or product is commonly misspelled, register the alternate domain names and forward them to your primary website. This helps protect your brand identity and ensures no one else can register these domain names.

    • Register a .CA with French-accented characters

      The .CA domain registry supports French accented characters within domain names: é, ë, ê, è, â, à, æ, ô, œ, ù, û, ü, ç, î, ï, ÿ. When a .CA domain name is registered, all variations with accented characters are reserved for the original registrant exclusively.

    • Whitelist the email addresses of your service providers

      To ensure anti-spam software does not filter out important messages regarding your domain name, add CIRA, your registrar and other service providers such as your web host and email provider to your email whitelist.

    • Protect your domain

      Your .CA domain name should be protected like any other asset. A domain name is responsible for a lot of important things. Websites, applications, email and more. Check out our Ultimate Domain Name Security Checklist for more.

    Looking for a .CA domain that is already registered?

    .CA domain names, like butterflies, have a life cycle that dictates their various stages. A .CA domain name that was once registered might one day become available through our To Be Released (TBR) process. We recycle!

    Learn more about the domain name life cycle