Published: 17.10.2026
The .st extension is the country-code domain of São Tomé and Príncipe, a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the coast of Central Africa. Businesses, hotels, schools and community groups that serve people on the islands use it to show a local presence. Portuguese is the official language, and the capital, São Tomé, lies on the main island. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .st is still available.
Check if a .st domain is available .st Check
A short history
The national code was assigned when the country joined the global internet. For a long time the zone was used mostly by government offices, schools and early online services. As the islands' tourism, small trade and cultural organisations went online, the number of .st names grew. Today the zone is used by a range of local businesses and institutions, and many of them publish their content in Portuguese.
Who runs it
The zone is managed by a national registry, which keeps the central database of names and sets the registration rules. Registrars sell names to customers and forward orders to the registry for processing. Because the rules are published nationally, check the current conditions for holders, contact data and renewal before you order, since they may be updated.
Rules in practice
- Holder conditions: the registry may set rules on who can register a .st name, so confirm that you qualify before you pay.
- Contact details: the registration data must be accurate, and the registry may check it.
- Characters: names use letters, digits and hyphens, within the registry's length rules.
- Renewal: put the expiry date in your calendar and enable auto-renewal with the registrar.
Who uses .st
- Guesthouses, hotels and dive or boat operators who welcome visitors to the islands.
- Shops, restaurants and craft makers that serve local customers and guests.
- Schools, churches and community groups with a Portuguese-speaking audience.
- Researchers and conservation projects interested in the islands' forests and coasts.
Strengths
- The ending gives a clear signal of a link with São Tomé and Príncipe, which local readers recognise straight away.
- Search engines may treat the country-code ending as one hint about the audience, which can help Portuguese-language content.
- The two-letter ending is short and simple to print on a sign or a leaflet.
Things to keep in mind
- The zone points to one country, so a business with a wider audience may also want a generic address.
- Visitors from elsewhere may not know the ending, so print the full address on every card and brochure.
- Many short names are already registered, so a place name or activity word can make a clear option.
- The registry may update its terms, so review them before any transfer.
Practical steps before you register
- Check the name in .com and in the social networks used by your audience on the islands.
- Enter the official name of the company, hotel or project in the holder fields.
- Prepare the website in Portuguese, English or both, with contact details and a privacy notice.
- Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC records before you send bookings or e-mail from the domain.
- Keep two trusted people able to manage the account, and enable two-factor authentication.
Frequently asked questions
Can an overseas business register a .st name? Holder conditions can apply, so check the registry's current rules before you order.
Does .st help a site rank in search? It is one geographic signal. Clear content, a reliable site and genuine links usually matter more.
Can I publish a .st site in English? Yes. The ending does not set the language, so you can write in Portuguese, English or both.
