.CA (Canada) domain registration requirements Print

.CA Domain Registration Requirements

To keep the .CA space 100% Canadian, CIRA requires that every registrant falls into one of 18 specific categories. If you do not meet these requirements, your registration will be rejected.

1. Select Your Legal Type

During registration, you must choose the category that best describes you or your organization:

For Individuals:

• Canadian Citizen: A citizen of Canada (even if living abroad).

• Permanent Resident: A permanent resident of Canada (must be "ordinarily resident" in Canada).

• Aboriginal Peoples: Individuals or groups indigenous to Canada.

• Legal Representative: An executor or administrator representing a Canadian citizen.

For Organizations:

• Corporation: A company registered under the laws of Canada or a specific province/territory.

• Partnership: Registered in Canada where the majority of partners meet the individual requirements.

• Trust: Established in Canada where the majority of trustees meet the individual requirements.

• Non-Profit/Association: An unincorporated organization or club where 80% of members are Canadian residents.

• Trademark Owner: A non-Canadian entity that holds a registered Canadian trademark (the domain must exactly match the trademark).

2. Preferred Language

CIRA requires you to choose between English or French as your preferred language for all official correspondence and the Registrant Agreement.

3. The CIRA Registrant Agreement

Unlike other domains, once you purchase a .CA domain at Nixzoehost, you aren't finished yet!

1. Watch your email: Shortly after purchase, CIRA will send you a link to their Registrant Agreement.

2. Agree to terms: You must click the link and electronically sign the agreement.

3. Activation: Your domain will remain in a "Pending" status and will not load until this agreement is accepted.

Privacy & WHOIS for .CA

One of the best perks of a .CA domain is that CIRA automatically provides privacy protection for individuals. * Individuals: Your name, address, and email are automatically hidden from the public WHOIS database at no extra cost.

• Organizations: Corporations and organizations must have their information publicly listed in the WHOIS directory.

Pro-Tips for Nixzoehost Users

• Postal Code Format: Ensure your Canadian postal code is in the A1B 2C3 format (Letter-Number-Letter Space Number-Letter-Number).

• Province Abbreviations: Use official two-letter codes (e.g., ON for Ontario, BC for British Columbia).

• Matching Names: If registering as a Corporation, the "Organization Name" in your Nixzoehost account must exactly match the legal name registered with the government.