“WHOIS” is an online directory service that allows people to look up information about domain names in Canada.

CIRA maintains a WHOIS directory which permits queries to the .CA (Canada’s country code top-level domain) registry database.

 

What domain information does WHOIS display?

When doing a WHOIS lookup, you can find details such as:

  • Status (i.e. if a domain is currently available or registered)

  • The creation, expiry, and updated dates

  • Registrar information

  • Registrant information*

  • Who owns the domain

  • Administrative, Technical and Billing Contacts*

*The registrant name and administrative and technical contact information of non-individual registrants, such as corporations, is displayed by default. The registrant name and administrative and technical contact information of individuals, such as Canadian citizens or permanent residents is not displayed in WHOIS per the CIRA Privacy Policy. Generally non-individuals are public and individuals are private.

How do I contact a registrant?

If you wish to contact a registrant whose information is not displayed in WHOIS, you may use the online Message Delivery form which will allow CIRA to send a message to a domain registrant on your behalf maintaining their anonymity.

Contact a registrant