We are pleased to announce that the new prestigious .uk domain is now available for registration. It focuses the attention firmly on your website name – exactly where it should be. It provides a new space for you to create your online identity, build your online business or launch your online community in the ever-changing digital world.
If you have a current .co.uk domain then you need to ensure that when you register the .uk domain you use the exactly the same registration details that you used on the .co.uk or registration will fail.
Rules around the registration of .uk
The reservation period for existing customers who already have a .co.uk, .org.uk, .me.uk, .net.uk, .ltd.uk or .plc.uk runs up until 07:59hrs on 10 June 2019 so you cannot register the .uk domain if your not the current owner of any of the above extensions.
We are using the website name ‘example’ (eg: www.example.co.uk or www.example.org.uk) throughout the website to demonstrate which domain names we are referring to and to hopefully make it clearer for you to understand. For your information the same reservation rights apply to these domains as to any other domains.
New registrations of .co.uk domains made before 08:00hrs on 10 June 2014 (provided that no other equivalent .org.uk, .me.uk, .net.uk, ltd.uk or .plc.uk exists) would have been given automatic rights to the new .uk domain.
The new .uk domain launched on 10 June 2014. Any new registrations made within the UK Domain Family (e.g. in .co.uk, .org.uk etc) after this date will no longer get automatic rights to register the new .uk domain. So these new .uk domains become available for anyone to register.
Anyone wanting a new .uk domain, where there are no existing domains with rights, can simply register their new .uk domain.
You can check the nominet Rights lookup tool for information on who has first rights.
Other information
Domains must have been continuously registered to retain the rights to the new .uk – however, if a .co.uk with rights was not renewed before launch on 10 June 2014, then it would have re-gained the right if it was re-registered prior to 10 June 2014.
If you have the right to register a new .uk domain then that right will move with the domain, if you transfer your domain to another person, as long as it remains continuously registered. All rights to new .uk domains will cease if an existing domain is not renewed.
If you have any issues registering you .uk domain when you currently own the other variants as listed above please raise a ticket and will support you through the registration process.
