.ca
Can I register a dot-ca domain name directly with CIRA, and avoid dealing with registrars?
No. Registrants must go through CIRA certified registrars.
What are Canadian Presence Requirements to register a .ca?
Canadian Presence Requirements are criteria that classify Registrants according to legal status (e.g. a company vs. an individual). The legal type determines whether Registrants are eligible to register dot-ca domain names.
Why does CIRA have Canadian Presence Requirements?
After public consultation, CIRA determined that the dot-ca domain space should be developed as a key public resource for the social and economic development of all Canadians. Individuals or organizations that wish to register a dot-ca domain name must meet CIRAs Canadian Presence Requirements.
What are the .ca syntax rules?
Acceptable Characters = No characters other than a combination of the following characters may be included in a Domain Name Registration:
- Letters a through z (no accents of any kind will be accepted). Note that Domain Names are not case sensitive.
- The numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and/or 9; and
- The hyphen character (although it cannot be used to start or end a Domain Name).
Length: Domain names must be not less than two (2) and not greater than fifty (50) characters long.
Can you transfer a .ca domain name?
Yes. When a registrant changes its registrar, its registration period for a domain name registration will not be changed or lost. Under CIRA's rules, a registrant is permitted to change its registrar of record at any time. CIRA will charge the new registrar a fee pursuant to the Fee Schedule for a change of registrar. The old registrar is permitted to charge the registrant an administrative fee, which cannot exceed $20.00 irrespective of the number of registrations. Registrars are required to enter into an agreement with each registrant. However, no such agreement shall contain any terms that prevent a registrant from changing registrars at any time.
source: 101domain.com / cira.ca