Published: 17.10.2026
The .cr extension is the country-code domain of Costa Rica, a small country in Central America with coasts on both the Caribbean and the Pacific. Spanish is the official language, and San José is the capital. Hotels, nature guides, cafés and local services use .cr to show that they are rooted in the country. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .cr is still free.
Check if a .cr domain is available .cr Check
A short history
The national code was set up in the early days of the internet, and the zone grew as universities, public bodies and early companies began to publish their websites. Tourism, agriculture and education are among the sectors that use the ending today, and the zone is now part of everyday life for businesses across the country.
Who runs it
The zone is managed by a national registry operator that keeps the database of names and sets the rules for registration. Registrars sell names to customers and pass the orders to the registry. Because policies can be updated, the rules published for the zone should be checked on the day you order.
Rules in practice
- Holder conditions: rules on who may hold a .cr name can apply, so check the current requirements before you pay.
- Contact details: the registration data must be accurate, and it may be verified when the registrar asks.
- Characters: names use letters, digits and hyphens, and each label can be up to 63 characters long.
- Renewal: keep the expiry date in view and enable auto-renewal, so that a name used for bookings does not lapse.
Who uses .cr
- Hotels, eco-lodges and tour operators that welcome visitors to the national parks and the beaches.
- Surf schools, nature guides and outdoor activity providers on both coasts.
- Schools, universities and language institutes with Costa Rican students.
- Coffee producers, food brands and craft businesses that sell to local and regional buyers.
Strengths
- The ending shows the site's link to Costa Rica at a glance, which helps visitors planning a trip and customers searching for a local service.
- The name is short, and a Spanish-language site with this ending suits Costa Rican readers well.
- The zone works well on lodge signs, printed maps and tour brochures.
Things to keep in mind
- Foreign visitors may not recognise the code straight away, so write the full address clearly on printed materials and vehicle signs.
- The name points to one country, so a business that serves travellers across the whole region may need a generic address too.
- Short nature words are often taken, so a place name or a local word can make the address easier to register.
- Rules for holders can change, so check the current terms before you renew.
Tips before you register
- Compare the name in .com and in the social accounts your visitors already use.
- Write the legal name of the business exactly, and keep it the same on the contact page and in the registration.
- Offer pages in Spanish and English if tourists are part of your audience.
- Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC records before the domain sends booking confirmations.
- Protect the registrar login with a strong password and two-factor authentication, and check the contact address once a year.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be based in Costa Rica to register a .cr name? Holder rules may apply and can depend on your situation, so check the current terms at the time of the order.
Is Spanish required for a .cr site? No. The ending does not fix the language. Spanish is the official language and most local readers expect it, but English is common in tourism, so many sites use both.
Does .cr help a site rank in search results in Costa Rica? It is one geographic signal. Clear local content, reliable information and genuine links usually matter more.
