Everything You Need to Know About the .cl ccTLD

A .cl domain is a country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) that indicates a presence in the country of Chile. If you want to expand your business into Chile, reach Chile residents with your blog, or connect to locals, a .cl domain can help. Learn everything you ever needed to know about Chilean domains below.

A Quick History Lesson About the .cl Domain

The .cl ccTLD dates back to 1987 when a maths and physics group at the University of Chile developed the domain extension. It was administered by a group called NIC who still manage all .cl domains to this day.

For a long time, the .cl domain extension was freely available to use. That’s because it wasn’t until 1997 that the domain became the official country code for Chile.

In 2005, the .cl ccTLD made history by becoming the first-ever Spanish language domain extension. It became possible to create domains with non-ASCII characters, i.e., those not in the standard Latin alphabet.

The country code celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017 have recently surpassed the milestone of 500,000 .cl domains.

Today, there are well over 700,000 .cl domains.

What Are the Requirements for Registering a .cl Domain?

Chilean domains are popular all over the world, partly because there are no restrictions on who can register one. Anyone inside or outside Chile can purchase a .cl domain name and there’s no need to have a proven presence within the country.

NIC Chile, the regulating body for all .cl domains, has the last word. They may decide to do identity checks on the person applying for the domain. When registering, the applicant must include the personal details of someone who will become an administrative contact.

Rules for Choosing .cl Domains

Like all domains, there are some rules when choosing your domain name.

• Only characters from the standard Latin alphabet, certain international characters found in Spanish, numbers, and hyphens can be used in a .cl domain name.
• The main part of the domain name must be at least 3 characters but no more than 63 characters long.
• The domain name must not begin or end with a hyphen.

These rules aren’t restrictive at all, meaning you’ve got a good chance of discovering your perfect domain name with a .cl extension.

Benefits of a .cl Domain

So, we’ve covered how you can easily register a .cl domain. The next obvious question is, why would you want to? Here are just a few key benefits.

Availability of IDNs Characters

The .cl domain supports International Domain Names (IDNs) characters including many with accents, such as á, é, í, ó, ú, ü, or ñ. Because many of these characters appear in Spanish, Chile’s primary language, a .cl domain can help you connect with locals.

Target Local Audiences More Accurately

A local domain is useful if you’re hoping to gain access to the Chilean market to grow your business. Investing in a ccTLD helps you create a reputation as a trusted entity with a presence within Chile. You’ll find it easier to create better relationships with clients or customers by appearing alongside other reliable Chilean firms.

Great Value Unique Domain Names

The .cl domain extension allows you to find unique domains that may not be available with gTLDs (generic top-level domains) such as .com, .org, or .net. For example, if you can’t buy myshoeshop.com, take a look at myshoeshop.cl instead. You may also find that the .cl version of a domain name is a much lower price than alternatives.

Tips for Choosing the Right Vendor for Your .cl Domain

The best domain vendors will offer a range of domain names and extensions, including .cl and other ccTLDs. There are over 1,000 domains to choose from, so find a vendor that gives you that choice.

Check if the provider offers any extras with their domains, such as web redirection or email forwarding — these will help if you’re transferring a site. Also, always look for a vendor with a reputation for excellent customer service, so you’ve always got someone to contact.