Buying a .CA domain name is quick and easy.
Let your audiences know you are a proud Canadian with a .CA. Keep these helpful tips in mind throughout the registration process.
1. Search for an available .CA
Find out if a domain name is available to register by searching below.
If it's not available, you can:
- select a suggested alternative that appears,
- search again for a different domain, or
- look into getting a domain that's already taken
2. Choose a registrar
When you search for a .CA domain, you will have the choice of which registrar to register the domain through. A registrar is a company that sells domain names and related services like web hosting. Select a registrar that meets your needs and price point, depending on what you want to do with your domain.
View a full list of .CA Certified Registrars
Tips for choosing a registrar
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.
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.
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. Complete your registration
Once you have selected a registrar, you will complete the registration through their platform. You will be required to meet certain presence requirements in order to register a .CA.
So, you have your .CA - congrats! Now what? There are many things you can do with a .CA. Learn how to optimize your .CA.
Tips when making your .CA purchase
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.
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.
Provide accurate contact information
CIRA and your registrar will use the contact information provided during the registration process to communicate important information about your domain name.
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.
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.
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.
Ready to get started?
See if your favourite domain name is available as a .CA.
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