Google Registry's .eat, .fly and .here reach General Availability on 17 November 2026 at 16:00 UTC. This guide covers the Sunrise and Early Access dates, the HTTPS rule and which extensions browsers already enforce it on, the route that fits trademark owners and everyone else, and the outdated dates other sites still quote.
How to Register a .co.th Domain from Outside Thailand: Documents, Local Presence and .in.th
Written by Sarah Johnson ·
A business outside Thailand can register a .co.th domain if it has a trademark (Thai or foreign) or a company to base the name on, and a representative in Thailand who is authorised to hold the domain for it. With a trademark, the domain must match the mark character for character; with a company name, it can be the full name, an abbreviation or part of it. Since March 2026, the registry also accepts a pending Thai trademark application and lets you register first and send the documents within 2-4 weeks. Our .co.th registration with a local representative in Thailand covers the trademark route: you bring the trademark, we provide the representative.
Verified on 18 October 2026 against the T.H.NIC registration guideline of 9 March 2026, the THNIC Foundation's registration policy (May 2020), T.H.NIC's own pages and FAQ, the IANA root database and WIPO. The registry's Thai text governs over its English translation; each rule below names its source.
Who runs .th and how registration works
The .th country code dates from 7 September 1988 in the IANA root database, which lists the Thai Network Information Center Foundation (THNIC) as its manager. Registration itself goes through a single registrar, T.H.NIC Co., Ltd., and its authorised resellers; the registry system is run by Thai Name Server Co., Ltd. Names are allocated first come, first served, and every holder is verified before approval.
The basic rule, in THNIC's March 2026 guideline: a domain holder "must be a natural person, juristic person, government agency, institution, or organization that has a domicile, physical presence in Thailand, operates a business in Thailand, or has a legal representative in Thailand". That last clause is the door for foreign companies.
The three ways to qualify for a .co.th
| Route | Who it fits | Proof the registry accepts | Which name you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai company or business | A juristic person registered in Thailand, or a business with Thai VAT registration | One document or number: company certificate, VAT registration (P.P.20), commercial registration, Tax ID or DBD juristic number | Full name, abbreviation or part of the company name |
| Thai trademark | Owner of a trademark registered with Thailand's Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) | The DIP registration certificate, or (since March 2026) the DIP e-filing application documents, with the certificate sent once granted | Exact match of the trademark |
| Foreign company or foreign trademark plus a representative | A company or trademark owner outside Thailand that appoints a representative in Thailand | The foreign company certificate or foreign trademark certificate (original and English translation), the letter appointing the representative, and the representative's own Thai registration | Company name rules, or exact match of the trademark |
Sources: T.H.NIC guideline (March 2026), Part 2; T.H.NIC .co.th page and FAQ; THNIC 3rd-level guidelines (May 2020), Category 2.
Some registrar guides still say a .co.th needs a Thai trademark certificate, or that a foreign trademark is not enough. The registry's current text says otherwise: .co.th is open to "Foreign entrepreneurs or trademark owners who have appointed a representative", and T.H.NIC publishes a model letter for exactly that case.
What changed in March 2026
T.H.NIC published a new registration guideline on 9 March 2026. Four changes matter to foreign applicants, and most guides online predate them:
| Topic | Before (2020 rules) | Since 9 March 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Who can be the representative in Thailand | A Thai registered business or a VAT-registered entity | A natural person or a registered entrepreneur under Thai law |
| Thai trademark not yet granted | Certificate required (T.H.NIC's FAQ still says so) | DIP e-filing application documents accepted; the certificate must follow once approved |
| When to send documents | With the application | You may register first and send electronic documents within two to four weeks; otherwise use and renewal can be suspended |
| Documents that expire | Not addressed | A renewal cannot run past the expiry date of the identification document; an expired document must be replaced at renewal |
Documents for a foreign applicant
For a company or trademark owner outside Thailand, T.H.NIC's FAQ and its earlier guideline list the same three pieces:
- Your own proof: the certificate of your foreign company, or the certificate of your foreign trademark, in the original language and with an English translation.
- The appointment letter: signed by your company or the trademark owner, with the company seal if you use one, naming the representative and the exact domain name. T.H.NIC publishes model letters for a foreign company and for a foreign trademark.
- The representative's proof: its Thai company certificate or VAT registration (P.P.20), or, under the 2026 rules, the documents of a natural person acting as representative.
When you order through us, the list is shorter on your side, because our Trustee Service supplies the representative and its documents. We ask for a copy of your trademark certificate, your company incorporation certificate and a power of attorney (we provide the model), valid and in English or with an English translation. The domain is activated once the registry approves the documents. The details are on our .th domains page.
Naming rules: what the domain can be
- Based on a trademark: the domain "matches the registered mark exactly in every character". You may use the reading given in the certificate or application, or the reading of universal symbols (a "." read as "dot", a "+" as "plus"). A logo or picture mark cannot be turned into a word.
- Based on a company name: the full name, an abbreviation or a part of it that clearly identifies the organisation. You cannot change the word order or add letters or numbers.
- More than one domain: allowed. T.H.NIC says you can register more than one name, and a later application can refer to the verification already done for an earlier one, provided each name fits the rules.
In practice, decide the domain before you file the trademark. A mark registered as ACME ROBOTICS supports acmerobotics.co.th, not acme.co.th or acmerobotics-th.co.th.
.co.th, .in.th or .th?
Thailand has seven third-level categories (.ac.th, .co.th, .go.th, .in.th, .mi.th, .net.th, .or.th) plus second-level names directly under .th. Three are relevant to a business:
| Extension | Who can register | Name rule | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| .co.th | Businesses and trademark owners, Thai or foreign with a representative | Must match the company name or trademark | Through T.H.NIC resellers; we register it with our Trustee Service |
| .in.th | "Domain names for everyone", but the holder still needs a link to Thailand: Thai ID, a Thai work permit with passport, Thai company or trademark documents | No naming criteria | We register it through our partner in Thailand, who provides the local presence at no additional cost |
| .th (example.th) | Thai organisations, Thai citizens, and foreigners with a trademark registered at the Thai DIP | English name of the organisation, trademark or person; trademark names must be identical | Only from T.H.NIC, in three application rounds a year; we do not offer it |
The second-level .th round is open now. Round 3 of 2026 accepts applications from 1 October to 30 November 2026; approved names are announced on 15 December 2026, with disputes accepted until 15 January 2027. When several applicants want the same name, a trademark registered with the Thai DIP gets first priority, a foreign trademark registered through a local agent second, and an existing third-level .th holder third. THNIC reports 269 second-level .th names registered so far. A foreign trademark that is not registered in Thailand does not qualify, which is why .co.th remains the practical choice for most foreign brands.
Two more points from the registry: every English .th name gives the right to a matching Thai-script .ไทย name at no additional registry fee (.co.th pairs with .ธุรกิจ.ไทย), and an .in.th cannot change hands: moving it to another owner means letting it expire and registering it again.
How long it takes and how long it lasts
| Step | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Our usual time to register | About 3 days, once the documents are complete | Register.Domains |
| Pending request | Valid for 30 days; no one else can request the same name meanwhile | T.H.NIC guideline 2026, §2.2 |
| Going live | Needs at least two name servers; about 1-2 hours after registration for DNS to update | T.H.NIC guideline 2026 §1.1; T.H.NIC FAQ |
| Typo correction | A name registered less than five days ago can be deleted and re-registered with the same term at no extra fee | T.H.NIC guideline 2026, §1.1 |
| Registration term | 1 to 10 years; renewals cannot take the total past 10 years | T.H.NIC guideline 2026, §1.2 |
| Days 1-5 after expiry | The domain keeps working (renewal grace period) | T.H.NIC guideline 2026, §1.3 |
| Days 6-30 | Hold: the domain stops working until renewed | T.H.NIC guideline 2026, §1.3; 2020 guideline |
| Days 31-60 | Redemption: restoration request, restoration fee and at least one year of renewal | T.H.NIC guideline 2026, §1.3 |
| After redemption | Pending delete, then available to anyone within five days | T.H.NIC guideline 2026, §1.3 |
Keep the documents behind the domain alive too. If your registration is based on a trademark, the domain depends on it: under the 2026 rules a renewal cannot run past the expiry of the supporting document, and a .co.th based on a trademark that has expired is deleted by the registry.
Transfers and disputes
A .co.th is not freely transferable. THNIC's policy allows a change of holder only when the trademark changes owner, when a company merges or changes its name, when a foreign company or trademark owner changes its local representative, or on the holder's death or incapacity. Moving the domain to another reseller is a different process and requires renewing it for at least one year with the new reseller.
There is no UDRP for .th. WIPO states that it "does not provide dispute resolution services for .TH and .ไทย domain names", and THNIC acts only on a final Thai court order, an arbitration ruling or a written settlement between the parties. If someone registers your brand first, the fight is slow and local, which is the best argument for registering the .co.th before you launch in Thailand. Our guide on handling a domain name dispute in Thailand explains the options.
If you don't have a trademark yet
The fastest .co.th route for a foreign brand is a trademark you already own anywhere in the world plus a representative. If you want a Thai trademark as well, which protects the brand in the Thai market and is required for a second-level .th name, keep these official facts in mind:
- The applicant or its agent must have an office or address for communication in Thailand (Trademark Act B.E. 2534, section 10).
- The DIP's own service standard adds up to 16 months from filing to certificate, including a 60-day opposition period; objections or oppositions make it longer.
- Thailand has been part of the Madrid Protocol since 7 November 2017, so an international registration can designate it.
Our sister service Protect.TM files trademarks in Thailand: see trademark registration in Thailand. For how other countries handle local presence, see our table of ccTLD local presence requirements.
Checklist: registering a .co.th from abroad
- Choose the name: it must match your trademark exactly, or your company name (full, abbreviated or part of it).
- Check availability with a .th WHOIS lookup.
- Prepare your trademark certificate and company certificate, valid and in English or with an English translation.
- Sign the power of attorney so the representative in Thailand can hold the domain for you.
- Have two name servers ready so the domain goes live when approved.
- Diary the renewal date and the expiry of your trademark: the domain stops working 5 days after expiry.
Ready to secure your brand in Thailand? Start your .co.th domain registration: we provide the representative in Thailand through our Trustee Service, and you keep full control of the domain's DNS, website and email.
