Insights Government publishes updated Guidance on Registering and renewing .eu domain names in the UK now that the UK has left the EU

The Guidance sets out what organisations and individuals need to do if they hold a .eu domain name or want to register one.

The Guidance refers to the eligibility criteria for .eu domains as set out in Article 4(2)(b) of the .eu Domain Name Regulation (2019/517/EU).

Essentially, organisations and individuals are not able to register or renew .eu domain names if:

  • they are established in the UK but not in the EU/European Economic Area (EEA); or
  • they live outside of the EU/EEA and are not an EU/EEA citizen.

Further, organisations and individuals can only register or hold a .eu domain name if they are:

  • an EU/EEA citizen, independently of where you live;
  • not an EU/EEA citizen but resident in the EU/EEA; or
  • an organisation, business or undertaking that is established in the EU/EEA.

Organisations and individuals may still be eligible if they have their registered office, central administration, or principal place of business within the EU/EEA, are established within the EU/EEA, or are a natural person resident in the EU/EEA.

The Guidance also sets out what happens and what to do if organisations and individuals do not meet the eligibility criteria. To access the Guidance, click here.

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