How to register a .tr domain: .com.tr, .tr and restricted extensions

Since 2022, Türkiye's .tr domains have been run by TRABİS, the .tr registry operated by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA, known locally as BTK). The switch made a .com.tr far easier to get: many extensions no longer require documents, and applications are processed in real time. Here is how to register one, step by step.

Which .tr extensions are there?

.tr extensions fall into two groups.

Open extensions. First come, first served; no trademark or company documents needed.

• .com.tr: The most common choice for businesses and brands.
• .net.tr: Once reserved for internet and infrastructure companies; now open to everyone.
• .org.tr: Long associated with associations, foundations and nonprofits; now open to everyone.
• .biz.tr, .info.tr, .web.tr, .gen.tr, .tv.tr: Less common open extensions.
• .tr (direct): Shorter addresses such as example.tr.

Restricted extensions. Only granted to specific institutions, organizations or professionals, and you must submit supporting documents (in Turkish, "belge"). For example:

• .gov.tr: Public institutions.
• .edu.tr: Higher education institutions.
• .k12.tr: Schools.
• .bel.tr: Municipalities.
• .av.tr: Lawyers.
• .dr.tr: Physicians.
• .pol.tr: Police units.

For a restricted extension, the registrar you apply through will tell you which documents are required.

Direct .tr domains

Under TRABİS, direct .tr domains like example.tr became available too. In the initial allocation, priority went first to public institutions, then to people who already held a name under extensions such as .com.tr or .net.tr, so they could claim the .tr version of their own name. So most well-known brands already hold their .tr address. Any .tr name still free today goes to whoever applies first.

Registering a .com.tr, step by step

1. Check whether the name is available

Enter the name on the .com.tr lookup page. "No record" means it is free. If it is registered, you will see its expiry date and status; if it has expired, you can check which stage of the 60 + 30 day process it is in.

2. Choose an accredited registrar

You do not buy .tr domains from TRABİS directly but from registrars accredited by BTK. TRABİS publishes the current list of accredited registrars on its website. Look at:

• Whether the renewal price is very different from the first-year price.
• Whether name server and DNS management are easy in their control panel.
• Auto-renewal and reminder options.
• How the process works if you later want to move to another registrar.

3. Enter the registration details correctly

The application asks for the domain holder's details. Do not register a company domain under an employee's personal details; if that person leaves, ownership gets messy. Use the company's details for a company domain and your own details for a personal one.

4. Choose the registration period

.tr domains are allocated for a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 5 years at a time. For a long-term brand, a multi-year registration lowers the risk of forgetting to renew.

5. Set up name servers

After registration, enter the name servers that point the domain to your website and email hosting. You can use the name servers your hosting provider gives you, or manage DNS with a separate service.

After you apply

• Check for verification emails from your registrar.
• Look the domain up with a WHOIS lookup; the registrar and expiry date should be visible.
• Confirm which email address renewal reminders will go to. The registrar is required to send a notice to that address at least three months before expiry.

.com.tr or .com?

They are separate domains, and owning one does not give you the other. Brands active in Türkiye often register both and redirect one to the other. We cover what to weigh in .com vs .com.tr.

Frequently asked questions

Why are identity details required for a .tr domain? To record who holds the domain, so the rightful holder can be identified in later ownership, transfer or dispute cases. These details are protected as personal data and are not public in WHOIS.

Can I transfer a .com.tr domain to someone else? Yes. A change of holder goes through the registrar and needs both parties' details and consent. The expiry date stays the same; the new holder handles renewal.

Can I change registrars later? Yes. For .tr domains, a registrar change goes through TRABİS, and your new registrar starts the process.

Can I get a restricted extension without documents? No. Extensions such as .gov.tr, .edu.tr and .av.tr are only granted to the relevant institutions and professionals, and the application requires documents proving that status. Applications without them are rejected.

How long does a .tr application take? Open extensions are processed in real time; if the name is free, registration usually completes within minutes. Restricted extensions can take longer because documents must be reviewed.

Can I manage my .tr domain from outside Türkiye? Yes. Name servers can point to a hosting or DNS service anywhere; your site and email do not need to be hosted in Türkiye. Applications and renewals go through accredited registrars, so you just need an active registrar account and current contact details.

What happens if I forget to renew my .tr domain? On the expiry date the domain is suspended, and your site and email stop working. Within the first 60 days you can renew through your registrar at the normal price; for the following 30 days renewal is not possible, and at the end of day 90 the domain is deleted and opens up for anyone to register. Details are in what happens when a .com.tr domain expires.

Keep an eye on your domain

It is a good habit to track your domain's expiry date independently of your registrar. For .tr domains you add to NicFollow, you get reminders 60, 30, 14, 7, 3 and 1 day before expiry. You can also track a .tr name someone else holds and get notified when it is deleted and opens up again. Create a free account.