Published: 17.10.2026
The .sv extension is the country-code domain of El Salvador, the smallest country on the Central American mainland, with a Pacific coastline and a long tradition of coffee growing. Businesses, schools, tour operators and community groups that serve people in El Salvador use it to show a local presence. Spanish is the official language, and the capital, San Salvador, is the largest city. Check the availability form at the foot of this text to see whether your name in .sv is still available.
Check if a .sv domain is available .sv Check
A short history
The national code was assigned when El Salvador joined the global internet. For a long time the zone was used mostly by government offices, universities and early online services. As businesses, media outlets and tourism operators began to publish their own sites, the number of .sv names grew. Today the zone serves many kinds of organisation, from coffee producers and food makers to schools and small service firms.
Who runs it
The zone is managed by a national registry, which keeps the central database of names and sets the conditions for registration. Registrars sell names to customers and send orders to the registry. Because the rules are set nationally, read the current policy on holders, contact details and renewal before you order, and confirm that the terms you are reading are the current ones.
Rules in practice
- Holder conditions: the registry may set rules on who can register a .sv name, so confirm that you qualify before you pay.
- Accurate records: the contact data must match the real holder, and the registry may ask you to verify it.
- Characters: names use letters, digits and hyphens, following the length and format rules of the registry.
- Renewal: enable auto-renewal and make sure the reminder e-mails reach two people in the organisation.
Who uses .sv
- Coffee producers, food businesses and restaurants that present Salvadoran products.
- Surf schools, hotels and tour operators who welcome visitors to the Pacific coast.
- Schools, universities and training centres that serve a Spanish-speaking audience.
- Companies in the region that want a clear address for their work in El Salvador.
Strengths
- The ending shows a clear link with El Salvador, and local customers recognise it straight away.
- Search engines may read a country-code ending as one hint about the audience, which can help Spanish pages match local searches.
- The two-letter ending is short and easy to print on a sign, a bag or a product label.
Things to keep in mind
- The zone points to one country, so a business with customers across Latin America may also want a generic address.
- Visitors from other countries often know their own national endings better than .sv, so explain the address clearly.
- Short and descriptive names are often taken, so a product or place word can help.
- Holder conditions can change, so review them before any renewal or transfer.
Tips before you register
- Compare the name with .com and decide whether a second address is worth keeping.
- Enter the holder details exactly as they appear in your company or personal papers.
- Write the site in Spanish, English or both, depending on the buyers you want to reach.
- Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC records before the domain sends invoices or newsletters.
- Protect the registrar login with a strong password and two-factor authentication.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to live in El Salvador to register a .sv name? Holder conditions may apply, so check the current terms at the time of the order.
Does .sv help a site appear in search results in El Salvador? It is one useful geographic signal. Clear local content, a fast site and genuine links usually matter more.
Can a site in Spanish use .sv? Yes. The ending does not set the language, and Spanish is the main language of the country.
