What is a country-code domain (ccTLD)?
Country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are extensions that correspond to the two-letter country codes in the ISO 3166 standard: .tr for Türkiye, .az for Azerbaijan, .ir for Iran, .kz for Kazakhstan, .de for Germany and so on. Each ccTLD is managed by that country's official registry and has its own registration rules.
Many country extensions can be registered directly at the top level (for example company.az), and many also offer second-level extensions such as .com.az, .co.ir or .com.kz. Second-level extensions are usually intended for specific uses (commercial, organisational, educational), and some require additional documents or conditions.
When is a country-code extension the right choice?
A country extension tells visitors that "this brand operates in my country". It is a strong trust signal, particularly for online stores selling to local customers, companies with regional offices, projects publishing content in the local language and firms taking part in public tenders.
- Local trust: users trust sites with their own country extension more readily and click on them more often in search results.
- Geotargeting: search engines treat ccTLDs as content aimed at the corresponding country. This supports your visibility in searches there, but it is not a ranking guarantee on its own; content quality and local links also matter.
- Brand protection: registering your brand's country extension in a target market prevents local imitators and cybersquatting.
- Better odds of a short name: short names taken years ago under .com may still be available under some country extensions.
For brands serving several countries, a common strategy is to keep the main site on .com and register the relevant country extension in each market. The country extension then points either to a dedicated local site or to the corresponding language version of the main site.
Why do registration rules vary from country to country?
Generic extensions (.com, .net, .org) follow ICANN's common rules, while for country extensions each registry sets its own policy. Before registering a country extension, check the following:
- Identity and local presence: some extensions are open only to residents or locally registered companies; others allow foreigners to register through a local agent.
- Registration term: some extensions can only be registered annually, while others support multi-year registration.
- Whois privacy: most country registries do not allow Whois privacy because of legal requirements.
- Activation time: generic extensions are usually registered within minutes, but for some country extensions registry approval can take from a few hours to several business days.
- Technical requirements: some countries require the site to be hosted on a server inside the country or to use HTTPS.
The comparison table on this page shows the rules for the countries we support side by side. For an extension not on the list, contact our support team to find out its registration conditions.
.az: for the Azerbaijani market
Azerbaijan's country extension .az is the natural choice for Baku-based companies, Turkish firms exporting to Azerbaijan and projects publishing content in Azerbaijani. Alongside the main extension, second-level options such as .com.az, .net.az and .org.az are also available. Registration requires an ID or passport number, plus a registration number for companies, and renews annually.
Because Limitsiz Bulut is headquartered in Baku, you work with a team that knows the local rules throughout the .az registration process. To serve users in Azerbaijan with the lowest latency, consider our Baku-based hosting and VDS services too. See our .az domain page for details.
.ir: for the Iranian market
Iran's country extension .ir is managed by IRNIC. Registration requires an IRNIC Handle (a code that identifies the registrant), which we create for you free of charge. .ir domains can be registered for one to five years, IRNIC approval usually takes 12 to 24 hours, and Whois privacy is not supported because of legal requirements. For commercial projects, the .co.ir second-level extension is also an option. See our .ir domain page for detailed rules and prices.
.kz: for the Kazakh market
Kazakhstan's country extension .kz is a gateway to one of Central Asia's largest economies. The most important rule for .kz registration is that the site must be hosted on a server in Kazakhstan and served over HTTPS with a valid SSL certificate. An IIN or BIN number is required for individuals and organisations in Kazakhstan; registrations can run from one to ten years and activation usually completes within one business day. See our .kz domain page for details.
When should you choose .com.tr or .de?
For the Turkish market, .com.tr can be registered without supporting documents since the move to the TRABIS system, once the registrant's identity details are verified, and it is a strong local trust signal for Turkish users. For Germany and the German-speaking parts of Europe, the .de extension plays a similar role. You can search these extensions alongside other country extensions using the search box on this page. For fast access for your European users, pair your domain with a Germany VDS server.
How to support local SEO with a country extension
A country extension is a strong start for local visibility, but it is not enough on its own. For the best results, publish your site in the target country's language, show prices in the local currency, display your local contact details (address, phone) clearly and try to earn links from sources in that country. If you have several language or country versions, use hreflang tags to tell search engines which page is intended for which audience. Server location also affects loading speed, so choosing a location close to your users improves their experience.
How to register a country-code domain
- Type the name you want into the search box at the top of the page and select the country extensions you want to check.
- Add the available extensions to your cart; if country-specific details or documents are required, you will be asked for them during checkout.
- Once the registry approves the registration, your domain becomes active in your panel and you can configure its DNS.
- Put your domain to work with hosting, business e-mail and an SSL certificate.
To check availability in generic extensions, use our domain search; for details of a registered domain, use our Whois lookup.