Published: 17.10.2026
The .bs extension is the country-code domain of the Bahamas, a chain of islands and cays in the Atlantic Ocean, south-east of Florida. Hotels, charter boats, professional firms and local shops that serve people on the islands use it to show where they operate. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .bs is still free.
Check if a .bs domain is available .bs Check
A short history
The Bahamas received its national code in the early years of the internet. Over time the zone spread from the first large organisations to a wide range of businesses and groups across the islands. The early history of the zone is not widely documented in public sources, so for dates and rules it is best to rely on the operator's own published information.
Who runs it
The zone is managed by a registry operator that keeps the database of names and publishes the rules for registration. Registrars sell names to customers and pass the orders on to the registry. The operator's published terms are the reference point for eligibility, contact details and renewal, so read them before you pay for a name, because they can change.
Rules in practice
- Holder conditions: some zones limit who may register a name, and the conditions for the Bahamas may depend on the holder's situation, so check them first.
- Contact details: the holder information must be accurate, and the registrar may ask you to confirm it.
- Characters: names use letters, digits and hyphens. A single label can be up to 63 characters long, which is a general limit in the domain system.
- Renewal: keep the expiry date in view and turn on auto-renewal, because a lapsed name can be picked up by another customer.
Who uses .bs
- Hotels, resorts and guesthouses that welcome visitors to the islands.
- Charter boat operators, dive schools and marine services.
- Accountants, lawyers and consultants who serve clients in the Bahamas.
- Churches, schools and community groups with an audience on the islands.
Strengths
- The ending links the site to the Bahamas at a glance, which helps local customers recognise it.
- For a holiday business, the name can say where the service takes place, which helps a visitor who is planning a trip.
- The address is short and easy to say, so it works on a boat hull, a brochure or a shop sign.
Things to keep in mind
- The zone points to one country, so a business with customers abroad may also need a generic address.
- Visitors from other countries may not recognise the code straight away, so write the full address clearly on printed material.
- Short names built from island or resort words are often taken, so a more specific name may be easier to register.
- Holder rules can change, so check the current terms before you renew.
Tips before you register
- Check whether the same name is available in .com, and decide whether a second address is worth the cost of keeping it.
- Enter the company details exactly as they appear in the official business register.
- Publish opening hours, booking terms and a privacy notice from the first day the site goes live.
- Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC records before the domain sends booking confirmations or invoices.
- Give renewal responsibility to two people and protect the registrar login with two-factor authentication.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a local company to register a .bs name? Holder conditions can apply and may depend on your situation, so check the current terms at the time of the order.
Is .bs only for English-language sites? No. The ending does not limit the language. English is the official language of the Bahamas, so an English site fits the local audience well.
Does .bs help a site appear in Bahamian search results? It is one geographic signal. Relevant local content, clear contact details and genuine links usually matter more.
