2 - What is a registrant?
A registrant is the person in whose name a .ca domain name is registered.

3 - What is a domain name?
Domain names are the familiar and easy to remember names used in lieu of the difficult to remember Internet Protocol (IP) address numbers. IP addresses are used to locate computers on the Internet.

4 - When did CIRA start operating the new registry?
The Operational Transfer Date of the registry took place on December 1, 2000. However, CIRA began processing requests for new .ca registrations on November 8, 2000. The registrations were made in the registry operated by the University of British Columbia (UBC) until November 30, 2000. As of December 1, 2000, they were automatically transferred to and became operational in CIRA's registry.

5 - How do I register a new .ca domain name?
A person who wishes to register a new .ca domain name must retain a certified registrar to submit a registration request to CIRA. Applications will be processed on a "first come, first served" basis, in accordance with CIRA's registration rules. A domain name may be registered for a period of 1 to 10 years. CIRA will charge the registrar a fee dependent on the registration term, which is initially Cdn. $20 per year, plus applicable taxes. Registrars are free to set their own fee structure.

If CIRA validates a registration request and the requested domain name is available for registration by an applicant who is not already a registrant, the applicant will be required to complete the registration procedure, including accepting the Registrant Agreement, at CIRA's secure website. Once a person is registered as a registrant in the CIRA system, it is fairly simple to register future domain names through a registrar. If CIRA validates the registration request and if the requested domain name is available, the name will be registered and the registrant will be advised by CIRA.

6 - How can I determine if a name is available?
CIRA maintains a "WHOIS" look-up system on this site where applicants and registrars can query the .ca database to determine if a specific domain name is available. This query service will be provided at no cost to the user.

7 - How can I find a registrar?
The list of certified registrars is on this Web site.

8 - Can I register a .ca domain name directly with CIRA, and avoid dealing with registrars?
No. Registrants must go through CIRA certified registrars.

9 - What is the fee for registering new .ca domain names?
Registrars are free to set their own fees for services they provide to registrants, but CIRA will charge all registrars the same fees for registration services ($20 per year plus applicable taxes). CIRA's Fee Schedule is included in the document entitled Procedures, Policies and Certification Requirements for Becoming a Registrar.

10 - Will CIRA make money on registrations in the .ca domain?
CIRA is federally incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation. As such it is bound to charge only enough to cover its operating costs and maintain adequate reserves.

Should CIRA's revenues surpass its operating costs and reserve requirements it may decrease its fees to registrars, which currently stand at $20 per year per registration plus applicable taxes. Any such decrease to registrars may translate to lower fees for registrants.

It should be noted that CIRA will have its annual financial statements audited and that it will post these on its web site for any member of the public to see the balance between expenses and revenues.

11 - Why does CIRA have to charge Registrars fees for domain name registrations?
There are two factors that explain why CIRA has to charge fees for registering domain names:

a) A majority of the .ca user community wanted a professionally operated real-time registry. This is what CIRA was tasked with implementing. To fulfill its mandate, CIRA had start-up costs for such things as staff, offices, equipment and overhead.

b) As per the Transition Agreement between UBC and CIRA that has been made public, CIRA has agreed to compensate UBC for its efforts in developing the .ca registry over the past 12 years in an amount of $4,348,800 to be paid out over the next few years.

12 - What happened to .ca domain names that were reserved with a registrar before the new rules were implemented?
Many registrars offered a pre-registration service for new domain names. All queued requests for registration of new .ca names were processed beginning November 8, 2000 according to CIRA's policies.

In order to make the process as fair as possible, all .ca domain names that were queued with a certified registrar were processed in an order to be determined randomly. CIRA's system processed one name from each registrar's queue in a circuit of the queues. It then repeated the circuit until all the names were processed in the system. If a .ca domain name was pre-booked with a registrar and was not registered, this means that the registration request by another applicant who requested the same domain name was processed first.

13 - Can I still register a new 3rd and 4th level domain name?
Yes. CIRA accepts requests for the registration of 3rd and 4th level domain names under provincial, and territorial sub-domains as well as their official municipal sub-domains. To qualify such domain names must meet CIRA's requirements for the registration of domain names.

Provincial or territorial governments wishing to request that CIRA place additional constraints on the allocation of domain names under their respective provincial or territorial domain codes or wishing to take over the administration of their respective provincial or territorial domain codes, under the .ca domain, may do so but only after entering into a contractual arrangement with CIRA that is satisfactory to CIRA.

14 - Do .ca registrants have portability of their domain name registrations between CIRA certified registrars?
Yes. When a registrant changes its registrar, its registration period for a domain name registration will not be changed or lost. Under CIRA's rules, a registrant is permitted to change its registrar of record at any time. CIRA will charge the new registrar a fee pursuant to the Fee Schedule for a change of registrar. The old registrar is permitted to charge the registrant an administrative fee, which cannot exceed $20.00 irrespective of the number of registrations.

Registrars are required to enter into an agreement with each registrant. However, no such agreement shall contain any terms that prevent a registrant from changing registrars at any time.

15 - How can I transfer my registration from one registrar to another?
To transfer a registration, a registrant must select a new certified registrar. The new registrar will initiate the request with CIRA on behalf of the registrant. The request must be confirmed by the registrant in accordance with CIRA's registration rules. CIRA will charge the new registrar a fee pursuant to the Fee Schedule for a change of registrar. CIRA will extend the registration period for the registration by one year. The old registrar is permitted to charge the registrant an administrative fee, which cannot exceed $20.00 irrespective of the number of registrations.

16 - How are domain name requests approved?
CIRA processes and validates each completed request for registration of a domain name made by a registrar on behalf of a registrant in accordance with CIRA's Registration Rules in force at the time of the receipt of the completed application. Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis, in accordance with the Registration Rules.

17 - How can I modify the registration information contained in the WHOIS?
To modify registration information, please contact your certified registrar.