When should you choose a .CA domain?
The .CA domain is designed for projects with a Canadian focus. It is particularly well suited for the following situations.
Canadian businesses
The .CA is ideal for businesses based in Canada or targeting Canadian customers, as it builds trust and reinforces your brand’s local identity.
Community and institutional organizations
Local organizations, associations, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations will find the .CA to be a domain extension well aligned with their audience and mission.
Canada-focused projects
If your website, service, or online store targets an audience in Canada, using a .CA domain can improve local recognition and support Canadian-focused search visibility.
The information below outlines the main technical characteristics of the .CA domain, as defined by the Canadian registry and applicable rules.
Technical characteristics of the .CA domain
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| TLD name | .CA |
| TLD type | Country-code top-level domain (ccTLD — Canada) |
| Registry | Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) |
| Allowed length | 2 to 63 characters |
| Registration period | 1 to 10 years |
| Grace period | 43 days |
| Redemption period | 30 days (redemption period) |
| Allowed name servers | 2 to 6 |
| IDN support | Yes (includes certain French accented characters) |
| Domain transfer | Real-time; authorization code required |
| Root server updates | Real-time |
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Rules and conditions for registering a .CA domain
The .CA domain is reserved for individuals and organizations with a genuine connection to Canada, including the following categories:
- Canadian citizens
- Permanent residents of Canada
- Organizations or corporations registered in Canada
- Canadian institutions, associations, governments, or public bodies
- Holders of a Canadian trademark (under certain conditions)
These eligibility criteria, known as the Canadian Presence Requirements, are defined by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) to ensure that the .CA namespace remains Canadian in both use and representation.
The .CA domain remains a recognized and regulated extension, ideal for projects seeking to establish a Canadian presence within a reliable technical and regulatory framework.
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