PY Domains

.PY domain registration requirements

Paraguay has both open and restricted domain extensions. For most businesses, registration is relatively straightforward: the main commercial extensions are available to individuals and organizations, including those based outside Paraguay.

Other namespaces, particularly those used by government bodies, educational institutions and nonprofits, have more specific eligibility requirements.

Who can register a .PY domain?

You don’t need to operate a Paraguayan business to apply for a .COM.PY or .NET.PY domain. Individuals, companies and organizations can register names under these extensions, provided they’re available.

Institutional extensions work differently. .GOV.PY is reserved for government entities, while .EDU.PY and .COOP.PY have requirements tied to educational institutions and registered cooperatives.

Can foreigners register a .PY domain?

Yes. Foreign individuals and companies can register .PY domains, including the main commercial extensions.

However, NIC-PY’s published guidance states that foreign companies must apply through an authorized representative established in Paraguay. In practice, it specifies that at least the billing contact must reside in the country.

A European company, for instance, can apply for a .COM.PY domain without incorporating a Paraguayan business, provided it meets the applicable registration and representation requirements.

Available .PY domain extensions

Paraguay offers seven main extensions:

• .COM.PY: Commonly chosen by businesses and for general websites.
• .NET.PY: Traditionally associated with network and technology services, but open to general applicants.
• .ORG.PY: Reserved for qualifying nonprofits, associations and other noncommercial activities.
• .EDU.PY: For educational institutions officially recognized in Paraguay.
• .GOV.PY: Exclusively for eligible national and local government entities.
• .MIL.PY: Reserved for Paraguay’s Armed Forces.
• .COOP.PY: For cooperatives recognized by the National Institute of Cooperativism (INCOOP).

According to NIC-PY’s registration policies, .COM.PY and .NET.PY are open to general applicants. The other extensions require documentation confirming eligibility.

Required documents and restrictions

For a typical .COM.PY registration, you’ll need to provide contact information for the domain holder, including administrative, technical and billing contacts.

NIC-PY also asks for DNS server details and information about the intended use of the domain. If the requested name has no clear relationship to the applicant, the registry may request an explanation.

Restricted extensions have additional requirements. For example, .ORG.PY applicants must submit a signed declaration of nonprofit use, while .COOP.PY applicants need documentation confirming their recognition by INCOOP.

How to register a .PY domain

Start by checking whether your preferred name is available through NIC Paraguay’s official website. You can then select the appropriate extension and complete the registration form.

After submitting your contact and DNS information, you’ll receive an email requesting confirmation. NIC-PY reviews the application and may ask for supporting documents before approving it.

Once approved, you’ll need to pay the registration fee. The domain is activated after NIC-PY confirms payment.

You can complete the process directly through NIC-PY or work with a service provider that assists with domain registrations.

.PY domain rules and regulations

Paraguay’s domain namespace is administered by NIC Paraguay (NIC-PY), jointly operated by the Centro Nacional de Computación (CNC) and the Laboratorio de Electrónica Digital (LED).

Under NIC-PY’s published policies, names must contain between 2 and 63 characters. Letters, numbers and hyphens are permitted, although hyphens cannot appear at the beginning or end of a name or be used consecutively.

The registry also supports internationalized domain names (IDNs), including accented Spanish characters and characters used in Guaraní. Names shorter than four characters require additional justification and may carry higher registration fees.

Domain holders must maintain functional DNS servers and accurate registration information. Registering a domain doesn’t grant unrestricted rights to a trademark, and names used for phishing, malware distribution or other technical abuse may be suspended.

.PY domain transfers, renewals and expiration

Domain Transfers

Changes to a .PY domain’s registered holder or service provider must follow NIC-PY’s modification procedures.

The administrative contact can request changes to the responsible organization, while technical contacts can update DNS information. Certain modifications may require supporting documents.

Changing service providers doesn’t automatically change the registered holder of the domain.

Domain Renewal and Expiration

.PY domains are registered for one year, with renewals handled through NIC-PY or the relevant service provider.

The registry sets the annual expiration date on the 25th day of the domain’s activation month. Its published renewal procedure also refers to a payment deadline at the end of that month, so renewing before the 25th is advisable.

An expired domain can eventually stop working and enter the deletion process. NIC-PY allows a period for late payment and reactivation, but its published guidance isn’t fully consistent about the exact deadlines.

Once a domain is deleted, the name becomes available for registration again. You can review the process in NIC-PY’s renewal procedures.

Domain Disputes

Paraguay has an alternative dispute resolution process for certain abusive domain registrations.

A trademark holder may challenge a domain that’s confusingly similar to its mark if the registrant lacks legitimate rights or interests and the name was registered or used in bad faith.

Eligible complaints are handled through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Depending on the outcome, a disputed domain may be transferred or cancelled. The applicable procedures are described in NIC-PY’s dispute resolution policy.

Why register a .PY domain?

For a company serving Paraguayan customers, a .PY 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.

Registering relevant versions of a business name can support brand management across different markets. However, NIC-PY expects domains to have a legitimate intended use and discourages registrations made solely for speculative resale or blocking others.