Published: 05.07.2026
The .eu extension is the internet identity of the European Union. It is not the domain of one country, but of a whole region, and it is attractive to companies that work in several European countries and want one common address.
Check if a .eu domain is available .eu Check
A short history
The idea of a European top-level domain was approved in the early 2000s, and the zone was created by a regulation of the European institutions. Registration started in 2005 with a phased opening: first for owners of trademarks and public bodies, then for everyone who was eligible. The launch was successful, and within a few years millions of names were registered. Today .eu is among the largest country-code style domains in Europe.
Who runs it
The registry is EURid, a non-profit organisation based in Belgium and appointed by the European Commission. EURid sets the policies, works with accredited registrars and operates the technical infrastructure. The extension also exists in the Cyrillic and Greek scripts as separate zones.
Who can register
Registration is limited by eligibility rules. Generally you can register a .eu name if you are:
- a citizen of a member state of the European Union, regardless of where you live;
- a resident of a member state, including non-citizens;
- an organisation or a company established in the Union;
- in line with the rules, a citizen, a resident or an organisation of Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway.
After the United Kingdom left the Union, the rules for British holders changed, and the registry applied transition periods. If your situation is unusual, read the current eligibility conditions before you order. The registry can check data and suspend a name when the holder does not meet the requirements.
Other rules
- Names can have up to 63 characters; letters, digits and hyphens, with support for characters of many European languages.
- Registration for one year or more.
- Accurate contact data is required, and the registry may request verification.
- DNSSEC is supported.
Who uses .eu
- Companies that sell across several European countries.
- Organisations and projects with European partners.
- Freelancers and brands who want a neutral European address.
- Businesses that cannot get their name in .com.
Strengths
The extension signals a European orientation and works well for multilingual sites with country versions. A single name can serve all member states without favouring one of them. The registry is stable and the zone is well protected against abuse.
Weaknesses
- The eligibility rules exclude some owners.
- Visitors outside Europe may know it less than .com.
- Policy changes, such as those after political events, can affect eligible owners.
Tips before you register
- Check that you meet the conditions and keep proof of your status.
- Use the exact legal name and address in the registration data.
- For a multinational site, think about language folders or subdomains for each market.
- Choose hosting with servers in Europe for speed and for data protection.
- Enable auto-renewal and keep the contact e-mail active.
Frequently asked questions
Can a company outside Europe register .eu? Not unless it meets the eligibility rules, for example by having an establishment in the Union.
Is .eu good for SEO in Europe? It does not target one country, so use language settings and local content.
What happens if I stop being eligible? The registry may ask for confirmation and can revoke the domain.
