How to get a .dz domain name for your business.

What .dz is and who runs it

.dz is Algeria's country-code domain. It is managed by NIC.dz, the registry operated by CERIST, the research centre under the Ministry of Higher Education, which has handled .dz registrations since 1995. NIC.dz keeps the official database of every name under .dz.

The important difference with a .com is that a .dz name is tied to a right to that name. You do not simply pick a free word and pay: you show a document proving the name belongs to you, and the registry checks it before the domain goes live.

Choosing between .dz and the second-level extensions

Besides the plain .dz, the registry's naming charter lists several second-level extensions, each reserved for a type of organisation. Most companies will look at .dz or .com.dz; the others exist for specific cases.

• .com.dz: commercial entities
• .org.dz: non-governmental, non-commercial organisations
• .net.dz: entities working in the Internet field
• .edu.dz: education and training
• .gov.dz: government bodies
• .asso.dz: approved associations
• .pol.dz: political parties
• .art.dz: artistic professions
• .soc.dz: individuals living in Algeria who own a trademark protected in Algeria but have no commercial register

Who can register and which documents to prepare

According to NIC.dz, entities established in Algeria, entities with a legal representation in the country, and individuals living in Algeria can register a .dz name, provided they hold a document proving their right to the name.

Every application file contains a registration form signed by the final owner of the domain, plus one supporting document from the list below. If someone handles the procedure on your behalf and is not listed as the technical contact on the form, a power of attorney from your organisation is also required.

• a copy of your commercial register (registre de commerce), for a business
• or a copy of your trademark filing with INAPI, or with WIPO for an international filing
• or a copy of the official decree creating the entity, for an association or a public body

The procedure, step by step

You cannot register directly with NIC.dz. Every request goes through an accredited registrar, which submits your file online to the registry and then manages the domain on your behalf. The current list of accredited registrars is published on the NIC.dz website.

The registry's charter states that a registration takes effect within two working days once the registrar has submitted a valid file, but check the real timing with your registrar. NIC.dz also checks files periodically and can cancel a registration if a condition is no longer met.

• Check that the name is free with the search tool on nic.dz.
• Choose an accredited registrar from the official list.
• Fill in and sign the registration form, and gather your supporting document.
• The registrar submits the file online to NIC.dz, which records the domain.
• Point the domain to your hosting and set up your professional email.

The naming rules to know before you choose

The .dz rules are stricter than most. The name must match what appears on your supporting document, and only abbreviations and acronyms shown on that document are accepted. Generic words, profession names, city, region and country names, and people's names cannot be registered, even if they are free.

• between 2 and 24 characters
• only the letters a to z, the digits 0 to 9 and the hyphen
• not made of digits only
• no hyphen at the start or the end

Cost, renewal and .dz versus .com

NIC.dz does not charge registrars for the registration itself, but each registrar sets its own prices for its service, so check the current fee with your registrar. Under the charter, a registration stays valid as long as your right to the name does; ask your registrar how often they bill for managing it. The domain belongs to your company, never to the registrar or the agency that filed it.

A .dz shows clearly that you are a local business and is harder for someone else to grab, since it requires proof. A .com is quicker to buy and better suited to an audience abroad. You can also take both and redirect one to the other. When we build your site at Neodott., we can help with the procedure.