GL Domains

.GL domain registration requirements

Greenland has an open domain registration system. For most businesses, registration is straightforward: the extension is available to individuals and organizations regardless of where they’re based.

You don’t need to operate a Greenlandic business or demonstrate a local connection to apply. Your chosen name must be available, and the registration must comply with the registry’s conditions.

Who can register a .GL domain?

You don’t need to run a Greenlandic company to register a .GL domain. Individuals, businesses and organizations can apply, provided their chosen name is available.

There are no general restrictions limiting registrations to Greenlandic residents or institutions. However, applicants must confirm that their chosen names don’t infringe existing trademarks or other intellectual property rights.

Can foreigners register a .GL domain?

Yes. Greenlandic residency isn’t required to register a .GL domain, and foreign companies don’t need to establish a local business.

A company based in Europe, for instance, can register a .GL address for its Greenlandic operations without incorporating a separate company in the territory.

The same eligibility applies to individuals outside Greenland. You’ll need to provide accurate registration information, but there’s no general local-presence requirement.

Available .GL domain extensions

Greenland allows registrations directly under .GL, but there are also several second-level options:

• .GL: The main extension, open to businesses, organizations and individuals.
• .CO.GL: An alternative commonly associated with commercial websites.
• .COM.GL: Another option for businesses and general websites.
• .NET.GL: Traditionally associated with networks and technology services.
• .ORG.GL: Commonly associated with nonprofits, associations and organizations.
• .EDU.GL: Intended for educational websites and institutions.

These extensions are offered by .GL registrars. Their names suggest different purposes, but they’re generally available to applicants outside Greenland. Check availability and any provider-specific requirements before registering.

Required documents and restrictions

For a typical .GL registration, basic contact information is usually enough. This includes the registrant’s name, address, email and relevant administrative details.

There’s generally no need to provide Greenlandic identification or company incorporation documents. However, applicants must accept NIC.GL’s registration terms, including a declaration that the chosen name doesn’t infringe third-party rights.

Traditional applications require a signed declaration. For registrations completed through automated registry interfaces, this signature requirement is waived, provided the registrar ensures that the registrant accepts the terms.

How to register a .GL domain

Start by choosing a name and checking whether it’s available. You can use a registrar supporting .GL registrations or check an existing name through NIC.GL’s WHOIS service.

After selecting your domain, provide the requested contact information and accept the registration conditions. You’ll also need to configure at least two nameservers so the domain can point to your website or other services.

The registrar submits the request to NIC.GL, which checks the name’s availability and the existence of its nameservers.

Automated registrations can be processed quickly. Traditional applications may take up to 14 days under the registry’s published terms.

.GL domain rules and regulations

Greenland’s domain namespace is managed by Tusass, the telecommunications company identified as TELE Greenland A/S in the IANA domain database.

According to NIC.GL’s published rules, names can contain between 1 and 63 characters. Letters, numbers and hyphens are permitted, although hyphens cannot appear at the beginning or end of a standard domain name.

Unlike some other country-code extensions, .GL doesn’t support internationalized domain names (IDNs). This means special characters such as æ, ø and å cannot be used directly in a registered domain name.

NIC.GL requires at least two nameservers for each registration. The registry checks that these servers exist, but the domain holder is responsible for ensuring they’re configured correctly.

Trademark rights are another consideration. Registering a domain doesn’t give someone unrestricted rights to a brand name, and Tusass doesn’t investigate potential infringement before approving registrations.

.GL domain transfers, renewals and expiration

Domain Transfers

Moving a .GL domain between registrars is permitted. The receiving registrar can initiate the transfer using a valid authorization code.

For older domains registered directly with NIC.GL, the registrant or administrative contact can request an authorization code using the registry’s designated service.

Changing registrars doesn’t automatically extend the domain’s registration period. Changing the registered holder is also a separate process, handled through updates to the registrant information for registrar-managed domains.

Domain Renewal and Expiration

NIC.GL generally supports one-year registrations, although two-year registrations are also available under its published procedures.

Domains must be renewed to remain active. The registry charges an annual maintenance fee and may revoke a registration if payment is late or missing.

NIC.GL provides a 24-hour grace period for certain registration and automatic-renewal transactions. It also offers a 30-day redemption period following deletion, during which restoration may be possible.

These periods aren’t a substitute for renewing on time. An expired domain isn’t automatically available for someone else to register, and the redemption period doesn’t guarantee recovery in every situation.

You can check a domain’s registration status, expiration date and registrar information through NIC.GL’s WHOIS service.

Domain Disputes

Disputes involving .GL domains are subject to the registry’s registration conditions and applicable legal procedures.

Under NIC.GL’s terms, registrants are responsible for ensuring that their domains don’t infringe trademarks or other third-party rights.

Tusass doesn’t undertake to investigate these claims or resolve disputes between domain holders and rights owners. A trademark owner challenging a registration may therefore need to pursue the matter through the appropriate legal channels.

Why register a .GL domain?

For a company serving customers in Greenland, a .GL address is a straightforward way to identify its local website. It also allows international businesses to maintain a country-specific address alongside their main domain.

The extension can also appeal to businesses looking for a short, distinctive domain name. Since registration is open internationally, companies can use .GL without establishing a presence in Greenland.

Registering relevant versions of a brand name can be useful for portfolio management, particularly when a business operates across several markets.