Registering a domain is essential for businesses or individuals looking to establish or enhance their online presence. Having a personalized address offers various benefits, including setting up professional email accounts, websites, blogs, and online stores.
Registering an international domain can be beneficial in different scenarios, like defining the scope of a project, safeguarding a brand, and conveying a business’s essence.
This article explores the characteristics of an international domain, the significance of selecting a strong address, and the process of searching for and registering a domain name for use in online ventures.
What does an international domain mean?
An international domain is an internet address not tied to a specific geographical location, unlike country-specific domains like .br for Brazil or .us for the United States.
Any domain without a country-linked extension is considered an international domain. In this context, an “international domain” refers to any address that does not include the .br extension, which is exclusive to Brazil and has registration rules specific to the country.
Some well-known global domain extensions such as .com, .org, .net, and .info, among others, are available for registration, totaling over 1,200 generic domain extensions. That’s quite a large number, right?
What is the reason for registering a domain name globally?
Registering an international domain allows for creating an online presence without focusing on a specific geographical area, which is beneficial for those aiming to reach a worldwide audience and establish a universal internet identity.
This is important to note because it is not related to users’ access availability. Users in Brazil and other countries can access websites with national or international domains.
For Brazilian companies focused on Brazil, acquiring an international domain name can offer additional benefits, such as safeguarding the brand from potential competitors imitating their main domain.
Explore also: Reasons for registering multiple domains for your website
Some domain extensions can indicate the type of business a company is involved in. For instance, the domain .app suggests an app-related business, .ai is associated with artificial intelligence services, and .design could be used for a company or design professional’s website. The options are vast and depend on creativity and domain availability.
Rules and limitations for registering international domains
The procedures for registering an international domain can differ based on the selected domain extension and the registrar’s individual policies, but there are some broad principles to follow.
Most global domain extensions do not have strict eligibility criteria, allowing individuals and businesses to register domains such as .com and .org by simply providing contact details like name, address, phone number, and email address as mandated by ICANN, the organization overseeing worldwide Internet domain management.
The contact information of domain registrants is visible in Whois searches, but domain privacy services allow registrants to conceal their personal details and display the company’s information instead.
Hiding domain registration data can benefit cybercriminals who may exploit this anonymity to create deceptive websites, but this option is only available for international domains, not those ending in .br, as per the regulations of the Brazilian domain registry.
A registration fee must be paid annually for any domain, whether national or international, in order to keep the right to use the address. Failure to pay the fee during the renewal period results in losing the right to use the domain. The fee amount can vary based on the domain extension and registrar selected.
Certain addresses, such as those with a .app extension, require requests to be made via HTTPS, which ensures secure communication by encrypting traffic to prevent interceptions. It is advised for all electronic addresses to have this encryption in place by having a valid SSL certificate on the server.
Registering an international domain name step by step.
Now that we understand the concept of an international domain and the reasons for registering one, let’s explore a thorough guide for completing the registration process.
Select a company to sign up for your domain.
When registering an international domain, the initial step is selecting a suitable company. Many web hosting companies offer domain registration services, with costs differing significantly. Thus, it is crucial to consider two factors beforehand: the credibility of the company and the pricing for domain registration.
International domains can be registered with either Brazilian or foreign companies. Opting for a Brazilian company offers the benefit of being able to make payments in Real and receive support in Portuguese.
When considering costs, it is crucial to monitor not just the initial payment but also the renewal price. Initial prices may be lower due to promotions, but renewal rates often rise.
Some companies provide free domain registration if you opt for additional services like email or website hosting. HostGator, for instance, includes a free domain registration for the first year when you purchase any hosting plan on an annual basis.
Search for and sign up for a domain.
After selecting the firm, the subsequent task involves verifying the accessibility of the preferred domain. To exemplify this process systematically, we will reference the HostGator domain registration portal, known for its user-friendly and budget-friendly approach to popular domain extensions. The registration procedure mirrors that of other companies, with variations primarily in page layout and extension costs.
Go to the domain registration page and input the preferred address with the extension.
Click on “Search” to verify if the address is available. The system will search for the same name in different extensions in addition to the one you want. Registering your domain in multiple extensions can help safeguard your brand.
If the domain is available, you can simply click the button to add it to your cart. Consider registering the domain for a duration longer than a year at this point. HostGator, for instance, provides discounts for extended registration periods.
After selecting items and adding them to the cart, review the contents of the cart.
Look out for the prices and products in the shopping cart. During our experiment, the initial cost of international domain registration with a .com extension was R $ 48.99 for the first year, with a renewal price of R $ 72.99, providing a discount of slightly over 30% in the first year. Opting for longer payment terms results in discounted first-year pricing. For instance, in a three-year payment cycle, the .com extension is priced at R $ 31.90.
Next, move on to customer identification. If you’re not already registered with the company, simply provide your email and set up a password to initiate the domain registration procedure.
After setting up the account, the final stage involves making a payment, which can be done using credit card, PayPal, Boleto, or Pix with HostGator.
How to get a free domain registration with a hosting purchase bonus
Several companies provide domain registration for free when you purchase additional services like email and hosting, as seen with HostGator’s website hosting plans that include a complimentary domain for the first year.
To access this advantage on HostGator, visit the service page and choose the preferred plan. For instance, we’ll opt for the P hosting plan, one of the company’s top choices.
The free domain option is offered only in the annual and triennial payment cycles after selecting a plan.
The search domain option will be visible in the shopping cart. I opted for the same domain as before, and this time, getting hosting for a year included a free domain.
This plan offers the professional email service for free as long as the service is active. For more information about this deal, please check the HostGator hosting plan page.
After you have registered your domain, what steps should you take next?
After you register an international domain, you may want to link it to a service like email or a website. To do this, you will need to make some configurations, such as DNS pointing to a hosting or email server. These settings can be done in the domain management panel, whose functionality may differ among different companies.
Many companies are willing to assist with technical configurations, especially if the domain was registered with the same company offering other services.
All service providers offer guidance on domain pointing and service setup, so it’s essential to opt for a company with clear documentation and strong technical support for these tasks, regardless of the domain registration company.
In summary
Registering an international domain is a crucial strategic choice that involves more than just selecting an internet address. The domain significantly impacts the digital presence of businesses and individuals, affecting visibility, brand strategies, and digital security.
Currently, there are numerous companies providing the service at different prices and some may not include extras like email, websites, and hosting. Additionally, many companies offer a free domain when you purchase other services like email and hosting.
To register an international domain, see our comparison of the top domain registration websites in Brazil.
Publication date: November 24, 2023 (last updated on May 5, 2025)
Tags associated with: Concepts, Tutorials
