Published: 17.10.2026
The .cm extension is the country-code domain of Cameroon, a country in Central Africa with a coastline on the Gulf of Guinea. Cameroon has two official languages, French and English, and a wide range of landscapes, from coastal plains to mountains and rainforest. Businesses, schools and cultural projects use .cm to show a local presence. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .cm is still free.
Check if a .cm domain is available .cm Check
A short history
The national code was set up in the early days of the internet. Use of the zone grew as universities, media outlets and companies began to publish their own websites, and later small businesses, schools and churches followed. Today the ending is seen across the country, from the capital Yaoundé to Douala, the largest port city and an important commercial centre.
Who runs it
The zone is managed by a registry operator that keeps the database of names and sets the rules for registration. Registrars take orders from customers and pass them on to the registry. Because the operator can update its policies, the conditions on eligibility, contact data and renewal that apply at the time of your order are the ones to check before you pay.
Rules in practice
- Holder conditions: conditions on who may register a .cm name can apply, so read the current requirements before you order.
- Contact details: the holder information must be accurate, and the registrar may ask you to confirm it.
- Characters: names use letters, digits and hyphens, and each label can be up to 63 characters long.
- Renewal: renew before the expiry date and keep the contact address active, because reminders are sent there.
Who uses .cm
- Shops, restaurants and hotels in Douala, Yaoundé and other towns.
- Tour operators who take visitors to Mount Cameroon, to the national parks and to the coast.
- Universities, schools and training centres with French-speaking or English-speaking students.
- Agricultural exporters, traders and transport firms that work with buyers in the region.
Strengths
- The ending links the site to Cameroon at a glance, which helps local customers recognise it.
- Because the country uses both French and English officially, a .cm site can serve either language community, depending on its content.
- The name is short and easy to read on a shop sign, a delivery vehicle or a printed flyer.
Things to keep in mind
- The ending points to one country, so a business with buyers across Central and West Africa may also want a generic address.
- Visitors from abroad may not recognise the code, so write the full address clearly on printed material.
- Good short names are often taken, so prepare two or three alternatives before you start.
- If your site serves French and English readers, check how the name reads in both before you print it.
Tips before you register
- Check whether the name is available in .com and decide whether a second address is needed.
- Enter the company details in the spelling used by the official register.
- Publish the site in French, English or both, with clear contact details and a privacy notice.
- Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC records before you start sending e-mails from the domain.
- Enable auto-renewal and protect the registrar login with two-factor authentication.
Frequently asked questions
Can a company from outside Cameroon register a .cm name? Conditions may apply to holders and can depend on where they are based. Check the operator's current rules before you order.
Does a .cm name help a site rank in search results? No ending can promise a ranking. Search engines look first at content, page quality and the links to a site.
Should a .cm site be in French or in English? That depends on your audience. Cameroon uses both French and English officially, so many sites use both languages.
