FAQ

The term "http://www.mycompany.com.sg" is a URL (Universal Resource Locator). SGNIC registers only third level domain names (e.g. mycompany.com.sg) and not URLs nor hostnames (e.g. www.mycompany.com.sg).

You can register your '.sg', '.com.sg', '.org.sg', '.net.sg' and '.edu.sg' domain names with any of the registrars accredited by SGNIC.

For '.gov.sg' applicants, please send your queries to [email protected]

A domain name is the textual address of the location of a set of machines whereas the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) refers to the location of a particular document on the Internet. When you register [xxx].com.sg, you are informing everyone that there is an easier reference to a set of machines, other than their specific IP addresses. The term, www.[xxx].com.sg is a host name, i.e. the name of a machine that resides within the [xxx].com.sg domain. It is common practice to have web servers running on hosts with names as www (for World Wide Web). Before anyone can access www.[xxx].com.sg, there must be a record that one can look up which maps www.[xxx].com.sg to the specific IP address. This is done on your primary and secondary name servers (provided by your own machines or by your service providers).

To check the availability of the domain name you intent to register, you can visit our website - www.sgnic.sg - and key in the domain name in the Whois box. If the search returns a “Domain Not Found”, it means the domain name is available for registration, subject to SGNIC’s Registration Policy and Procedures Guidelines.

Yes, these restrictions are specified in the Rules of Registration policy document found on this page.

No, domain names are unique. The same domain name cannot be registered with another registrar once it has been registered.

Domain names are registered on a first-come-first-served basis. Thus, the first application received by SGNIC will be successfully registered as long as the registrant meets the registration requirements in the SGNIC agreement.

Please refer to the .SG Domains page.

You can apply for any number and category of domain names as long as you are eligible for that category of domain name. Registrants may also choose to apply for domain names under multiple registrars.

Yes, a registrant may contact the registry for assistance if he cannot get a satisfactory response or solution from SGNIC's accredited registrars. However, it is advisable for the registrant to resolve the problems with the registrar first as both parties are bounded by a commercial agreement signed between each other.

No, SGNIC will not be charging the registrants directly for the registration.

It is unlikely for registrars to charge the same fee as they will be offering their services on a competitive basis. Their fee will also depend on whether it includes other value added services such as website hosting and email hosting services.

It is a common industry practice to show the contact details of a domain name through the WHOIS record.  While SGNIC do follow the industry practice, sensitive data such as the NRIC number of a registrant are not displayed.  It has also been SGNIC's policy since 1 Jun 2005 to mask the email addresses and phone numbers created under the Registrant Contact, Administrative Contact and Billing Contact fields to curb spamming. The only exception is the Technical Contact field as the disclosure of full contact details are necessary to allow for quick resolution of technical problems which can be highly time-sensitive.

You may refer to your registrar to update your contact information.

Each domain name may be renewed for a maximum period of 2 years.

The registrant should first obtain a "domain transfer password" from his current registrar. With this "domain transfer password", the registrant can then approach the new registrar (winning registrar) to effect the transfer. The winning registrar will then submit a ‘transfer of registrar’ request to SGNIC.

Although the current registrar (losing registrar) may require any outstanding payments to be made before the domain name is transferred, it should not prevent the transfer from taking place. The current registrar (losing registrar) may explicitly approve or reject the transfer request. If the current registrar chooses to do nothing, the transfer process will be approved by SGNIC after 7 days from the date of the transfer request.

SGNIC will then inform the two registrars whether the transfer request has been approved.

This will depend on the implementation of the transfer procedures of each registrar. Please consult your registrar.

The Asia Pacific Network Information Center (APNIC) is the authorised IP registry for the Asia Pacific region.  As APNIC has delegated IP registry functions to the Internet Access Service Providers (IASP) in Singapore, please approach the IASPs for the IP addresses.