All applicants applying for a .ie domain name who are not situated in the 32 counties of Ireland, must demonstrate a Real and Substantive Connection with Ireland (with the exception of those applying by means of Community Trademark)
Examples of acceptable Documentation demonstrating substantial trade or commercial activity within Ireland are as follows:
* Copies of invoices (showing trade to or from Ireland)
* High-quality brochures showing a significant intention to trade in Ireland
* A signed letter on headed paper from a bank manager, firm of chartered accountant(s), registered auditor(s), tax consultant(s) (where the tax advisor identification number is displayed), or solicitor(s) confirming the applicants trade with Ireland
Category 1: Personal Name
Requirements:
The applicant must provide documentary evidence of the applicant’s legal name: e.g., a copy of the applicant’s passport or birth certificate.
Domain Options:
* Personal names must consist of the initial letter from each of two or more of the words which comprise the legal personal name of the applicant, in the order in which these words occur in the name, followed by any two digits to be requested by the applicant. As an example, John Citizen could register jc01.ie.
Category 2: Corporate Name
An Incorporated Company can register a domain name to reflect their corporate name. A Company can register multiple different domain names in this category. Only a company can have a corporate name and therefore only a company can register a domain name in this category.
Requirements:
A Company applying under this category need only include their company number in the application.
If the company is incorporated outside of Ireland, specifically UK or US, the company number must be included in the application. All applicants from any other country must submit a copy of the company’s certificate of incorporation.
Domain Options:
* An applicant can add words to their registered company name to form a domain name.
* An applicant can register domain names that have a reasonable connection with their business. In this case the IEDR deems a reasonable connection to be a product or service of the company.
* An abbreviation of the corporate name may be used instead of the full corporate name.
Category 3: Registered Trade Mark Name
Any applicant with a Registered Trademark is eligible to apply under this category.
Requirements:
Irish, UK, US and Community trademarks need only supply their Trademark Number in the application.
For any other country Trademark a copy of the Trademark Certificate must be supplied.
Where the application is made on the basis of a pending TM application the Registry will require a copy of the TM application form and official filing receipt, along with a letter from the TM holder.
Where the applicant is a licensed user of the trademark, the applicant must provide a signed letter on headed paper from the trademark holder authorising the applicant to register and hold the corresponding .IE domain.
Domain Options:
The proposed domain name must correspond closely with the TM, but may include plurals, descriptors, or non-descriptive elements such as numbers or letters and may also differ in respect of signs, symbols or punctuation.
Category 4: Registered Business Name
A Sole Trader, Company or Unincorporated Association who hold a registered business name can apply for a domain name under this category. (Note: If you trade under a name other than your own name, you must register it as a business with the CRO).
Requirements:
The applicant applying under this category need only include the RBN Number in the application.
Unless:
The RBN cannot be confirmed online. If the applicant holds a copy of the registered business name certificate or a copy of all pages of the application form stamped by the Companies Registration Office, these documents can be faxed to the Registry.
The RBN has been recently applied for. Applications will be accepted on the condition that the certificate is submitted to us within 8 weeks from the date of initial registration. If the certificate is not received within this period, the domain name will be deleted.
The IEDR is aware that applicants within the 6 counties do not have to register business names and in such instances the Registry may accept a VAT number or a signed letter on headed paper from an bank manager, firm of chartered accountant(s), registered auditor(s), tax consultant(s), where the tax advisor identification number is displayed on the letterhead, or solicitor(s) confirming that the company is currently trading, or has serious intention and commitment to trade shortly, under the business name that is specified. The letter must state the name of the company and that they are trading, or intend to trade, under the business name in question.
Domain Options:
An applicant can add words to their registered business name to form a domain name.
An applicant can register domain names that have a reasonable connection with their business. In this case the IEDR deems a reasonable connection to be a product or service of the registered business.*
An abbreviation of the registered business name may be used instead of the full business name.
Category 5: State Agency Name
A body, person, entity or office established pursuant to Bunreacht na h-Eireann, or an Act of Parliament, Secondary Legislation or established by the Northern Ireland Assembly, any other state body, agency or department, including state hospitals, semi-state bodies, VEC’s and local authorities is eligible to apply for a domain name which reflects their name. Applicants may apply for the English and Irish version of their name. A state agency may apply for a domain name to reflect the name of a project, special event, or joint venture where at least one of the parties involved is a state agency.
Requirements:
No documentation will be required for applicants applying under this category providing that we can verify the applicant is a Statutory Body.
Category 6: Publication Name
A Sole Trader, Company, Unincorporated Association, State Agency or Educational Institution that publishes or writes periodicals, magazines, trade journals, Ezines or books is eligible to apply for a domain name in this category.
Requirements:
A faxed copy of the page from the publication where the applicant is stated as the writer or publisher of the publication.
If the publication does not clearly show that the applicant is the writer or publisher of the publication then the applicant must provide a signed letter on headed paper from an Irish firm of chartered accountant(s), registered auditor(s), tax consultant(s), where the tax advisor identification number is displayed on the letterhead, or solicitor(s) confirming this.
In the case of a Website Publication or Ezine, links to the publication can be entered in the application or printouts of Website/Ezine can be faxed to us.
Category 7: Educational Institution Name
A primary or secondary level school or other recognised educational institution is entitled to register a domain in this category.
Requirements:
No documentation will be required for applicants applying under this category if the applicant is recognised by the Department of Education as an Educational Institution.
Alternatively, a self-issued letter on the Educational Institution’s letterhead will suffice.
Category 8: Politician’s Name
A natural person who is the President of Ireland, a sitting (already elected) or standing (certificate showing that he/she is an official candidate) politician at National (32 counties) or European level, which can be verified by an election officer or as is the case in Northern Ireland, a returning officer, or a person who is officially contesting any of the above offices or seats in the immediate run up to an election is eligible to apply for a domain name in this category. (Any politician representing the 32 counties – e.g.: MEP, TD, or Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly.)
Any domain holder with a name in this category who ceases to be a sitting politician, or who fails to be elected, must have their domain name de-activated after due notice.
Requirements:
A signed letter, on official letterhead, from the politician confirming their eligibility to register a domain name in this category.
Domain Options:
Politician’s Name may be registered in either one of the following formats: seanmuldoon.ie (personal name without title) or seanmuldoontd.ie or seanmuldoonmep.ie (personal name with politician title)
Category 9: Unincorporated Association Name
An unincorporated association that is not legally obliged to have a registered business name (club or society) is entitled to register a domain name in this category.
Requirements:
A self issued letter from the applicant on the association’s letterhead stating that they are an Unincorporated Association and require the domain name to reflect their organisation name. Sample Letter: We ‘Association Name’ confirm that we are an unincorporated association and request the domain name .ie to reflect our association name.
Category 10: Personal Trading Name
Sole Traders, such as Authors, Designers, Entertainers, Artists, Photographers, journalists etc, trading in Ireland under their Personal Names are eligible to apply for a domain name in this category.
For clarification purposes this new domain name category is only available to sole traders trading under their own personal trading name.
Requirements:
A VAT number.
A signed letter on headed paper from an Irish bank manager, firm of chartered accountant(s), registered auditor(s), tax consultant(s), where the tax advisor identification number is displayed on the letterhead, relevant body/association or solicitor(s) confirming that the person (sole trader) is currently trading in Ireland under their own personal name.
High quality brochure/promotional material or other demonstration or documentation of significant investment in the use of the personal trading name.
Any other supporting documentation that the Registry deems acceptable.
Domain Options:
The proposed domain name must consist of the full name of the sole trader in the format of the full first name followed by the full surname. E.g.: Joseph Bloggs may apply for “josephbloggs.ie”.
Category 11: Discretionary Name
Requirements:
A signed letter on headed paper from a bank manager, firm of chartered accountant(s), registered auditor(s), tax consultant(s), where the tax advisor identification number is displayed on the letterhead, or relevant professional body/association or solicitor(s) confirming the applicants eligibility and claim on the proposed domain name.
High quality brochure/promotional material or other demonstration of significant investment in the project, expo, or event may be sufficient.
Where the applicant is a natural person: The applicant must provide adequate documentary evidence of a correspondence address within the 32 counties of Ireland (the island of Ireland) and the applicant’s legal name. Acceptable documentation would include a copy of the applicant’s passport, birth certificate or citizenship certificate.
Where the applicant is a sole trader: Documentation to show that the applicant is trading in Ireland. A copy of a VAT registration certificate or a signed letter on headed paper from an Irish bank manager, firm of chartered accountant(s), registered auditor(s), tax consultant(s), where the tax advisor identification number is displayed on the letterhead, or solicitor(s) confirming that the person (sole trader) is currently trading in Ireland.
Any other supporting documentation that the Registry deems acceptable.
* Information supporting the “reasonable connection” maybe requested at the discretion of the IEDR.
