A .ie address tells visitors straight away that your business is Irish. Unlike a .com, you can’t register it without showing a connection to Ireland. This guide explains who can register a .ie domain in 2026, which document you’ll need, how long it takes and what it costs, based on the rules currently published by .ie, the national registry.
Who can register a .ie domain?
Any individual, business or organisation that can prove a connection to the island of Ireland can register an available .ie name, on a first-come, first-served basis. The island of Ireland includes Northern Ireland, and the registry accepts Northern Irish documents such as NI bank statements, NI VAT numbers and HMRC correspondence.
Since 21 March 2018 you no longer have to explain your “claim to the name”. Before that change, a business called Murphy’s Bakery had to show why it was entitled to murphysbakery.ie. Today you only need to prove two things: who you are, and your link to Ireland.
One group cannot register at all. According to the registry, individuals who are neither resident in Ireland nor Irish citizens are not eligible. A foreign company can still qualify if it sells, or seriously intends to sell, to customers on the island.
Which document do you need?
In most cases a single document is enough. These are the main options listed on the registry’s document requirements page:
| You are… | One of these documents |
|---|---|
| An individual (your own name, a blog, a personal site) | Irish passport; Irish or UK driving licence with an address on the island of Ireland; Irish or Northern Irish bank statement; Public Services Card; Revenue letter showing your PPS number; a recognised college ID; a utility bill with an address on the island plus proof of identity (such as a passport or driving licence) |
| A sole trader or partnership | RBN (registered business name) number from the CRO; Irish VAT number; Revenue tax clearance or other Revenue letter showing your VAT number; Irish, EU or WIPO trademark number; HMRC correspondence for Northern Ireland traders |
| An Irish or NI company | Your CRO company number (or one of the sole trader documents) |
| A foreign company | Evidence of sales to customers on the island (for example invoices), or a signed letter from a solicitor, accountant, bank manager or auditor, plus proof of commercial identity such as a certificate of incorporation or VAT number |
| A charity | CHY number from Revenue or NIC number from the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland |
| A club, society or band | An Irish or NI bank statement in the club’s name, one personal document from a nominated member, or a Friendly Societies Register number |
Just starting a business? If you don’t have an RBN or VAT number yet, the registry accepts one of the personal documents from the first row instead.
How to register a .ie domain, step by step
- Check the name is free. Search for it on our domain registration page. Try a short version too, and check the matching .com.
- Order the domain. .ie names are registered through accredited registrars rather than directly with the registry. Your provider submits the application for you.
- Send one supporting document from the table above. Irish companies can usually skip this step: with the CRO number entered and the company name typed exactly as registered, the application can be validated automatically (express registration). Returning .ie customers can use express registration too.
- Wait for validation. The registry says applications are usually processed within three hours, Monday to Friday. Once approved, the domain goes live at the next zone reload, and these run every odd hour.
- Connect it to your website and email. Point the domain to your hosting and set up mailboxes such as hello@yourbusiness.ie.
If something is missing, the registry emails you a list of what to send. While you sort it out, the application is held for 27 days, and nobody else can apply for that name during that time.
.ie or .com: which is better for an Irish business?
If your customers are mainly in Ireland, a .ie is usually the stronger choice:
- Local search. Google’s own guidance for multi-regional sites says country-code domains such as .ie “provide a strong signal to both users and search engines” that a site is aimed at a particular country. It also notes that a ccTLD can only target that one country.
- Trust. Because every .ie holder has been checked for a connection to Ireland, the address shows customers that a real Irish person or business is behind the site.
- Availability. Short, descriptive names are often still free in .ie when the .com was taken long ago.
A .com still makes sense if you sell across several countries. Many Irish businesses register both, use the .ie as their main address and redirect the .com to it, so nobody else can use the name.
How much does a .ie domain cost?
Prices are set by each registrar, not by the registry. At Hosteran a .ie domain costs €35.99 per year, VAT included. For comparison, .com is €18.44, .co.uk €17.82 and .eu €17.21 per year. The current list is on our domain registration page.
When you compare offers, look at the renewal price as well as the first-year price. A low introductory price can double at renewal. Also check whether DNS management and transfer out are included.
Practical tips before you register
- Keep it short and easy to say. Imagine reading it out over the phone. Avoid hyphens and numbers that people might mishear.
- Register it in the right name. If the domain belongs to your company, register it to the company, not to a staff member or your web designer.
- Turn on auto-renewal and keep your contact email up to date, so the domain never lapses by accident.
- Keep domain and hosting together if you can. One account and one invoice make DNS changes and renewals much simpler.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a company to register a .ie domain?
No. Individuals can register a .ie with a personal document, such as an Irish passport or a bank statement showing an address on the island of Ireland.
Can I register a .ie if I live in Northern Ireland?
Yes. The registry accepts Northern Irish documents, including NI bank statements, UK driving licences with an address on the island, NI VAT numbers and HMRC correspondence.
I don’t live in Ireland. Can I still get a .ie?
Only if you are an Irish citizen or represent a business that sells to customers on the island. Non-resident individuals who are not Irish citizens cannot register a .ie.
How long does it take?
The registry usually processes applications within three hours, Monday to Friday. Irish companies using express registration with a CRO number are often validated automatically.
Can I move my existing .ie domain to Hosteran?
Yes. Contact us and we’ll explain the transfer steps for your domain.
Ready to claim your .ie? Search for your domain, or see our hosting plans to get your website and email running on the same account.
Sources: .ie registry, Document requirements (updated 29 September 2026), How to register a .ie domain and Liberalisation; Google Search Central, Managing multi-regional and multilingual sites. All checked on 23 October 2026. Prices are Hosteran’s at the time of writing.