.ca - Do you have to be a Canadian?

[htmlindex]

.ca - do you have to be a Canadian to buy these names? If so, any ways around it?

 

[mis_chiff]

Here is the whole CIRA deal
http://www.cira.ca/en/home.html

Not necessary to be a Canadian Citizen if you meet
one of the other requirements.

 

[sudesh]

I don't think there are any ways around it.. they are very clear on it.. read "CANADIAN PRESENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRANTS" at http://www.cira.ca/en/cat_Registrar.html

 

[ablaye]

Could you let's say just register and host the site with a canadian web hosting company and get away with that???

 

[Deaol]

Could you let's say just register and host the site with a canadian web hosting company and get away with that???

No.

 

[TT]

Cira does an above average job of ensuring names are owned by Canadians if they find out you do not meet the requirements they will take the domain away... no questions asked.

 

[htmlindex]

So you can't have it where some domain companies will act as a corporate agent for non-Canadian people, like some .it registers?

 

[sudesh]

no, I don't think so CIRA is very agressive about that and I am aware of some wh lost several domains after CIRA implemented it's rule about Canadian Presence Requirements.

 

[TT]

nope cira takes thier responsibility very seriously

 

[iNod]

There are ways to bypass this, You can get a Canadian to "hold onto" the domain for you. You can get a Canadian registrar to hold onto it per say "also known as Whois privacy" and a few other things. CIRA is extremely good at what they do by maintaining AN Canadian based domain extension for Canadians. So others can't go in and grab top keywords and park them. Like 99% of the other extensions. Mind you Canadians do it anyways, but that is not the point.The reason behind CCTLD's is just that, allowing country residents to get a business name without having to go around buying domains. .CA's are widely used in Canada because of the easiness to get them. You can easily register most high keywords or normal business names .ca. .us you seem to either have to have a very unique business name, buy the domain or add _'s and other characters. Which defeat the whole reason behind the CCTLD.

Also another thing is CIRA is entirely volunteer while the main part of it is run by the Government of Canada rather than a third party.

- Steve

 

[mis_chiff]

So you can't have it where some domain companies will act as a corporate agent for non-Canadian people, like some .it registers?

It is very rare to find a registrar willing to do them,
because of the CIRA restrictions. Not sure how it works
as to "relationship" to Canadian presence BUT, I believe it has
been done.

EDIT: Good point inod, although caution on the trust factor,
especially if it's a gem - hopefully one would put it in writing
to ensure true ownership.

 

[iNod]

I have done it for a few friends who live in Europe but have family in Canada and want to create a website for Canadians, or Canadians with European decent.

- Steve

 

[mis_chiff]

Too bad CIRA is so nosey, there is a great
opportunity there :D

 

[briguy]

Too bad CIRA is so nosey, there is a great
opportunity there :D

I think it would be also a good opportunity for me to buy .US but I can't as I don't qualify to the terms (basic non-resident)

 

[mis_chiff]

I think it would be also a good opportunity for me to buy .US but I can't as I don't qualify to the terms (basic non-resident)

It is alot easier to get and keep a .us
as opposed to a .ca
I don't have any .us but the registrar I use offers the service of being the
required presence if I did want one.

I was meaning a business opportunity for a CIRA like
company that specializes in it.

 

[briguy]

It is alot easier to get and keep a .us
as opposed to a .ca
I don't have any .us but the registrar I use offers the service of being the
required presence if I did want one.

I was meaning a business opportunity for a CIRA like
company that specializes in it.

Interesting can you post or PM me the register that you mentioned thanks...As for getting and keeping..Being Canadian, It shouldn't be that hard for me (not from what I read anyway)

 

[mis_chiff]

pm sent
Being Canadian - You shouldn't have a problem getting any of them
if your registrar offers it
I hear more about probs with .ca than .us