How a .cv Domain Registration Can Benefit You

When you work in career-focused industries such as recruiting, domain names can be powerful branding tools to set you apart from the competition and make you easy to remember. Of course, you might be relying on the traditional generic extensions like .com and .org, which provide a blank slate to build your online presence. But there’s another exciting option practically made for professional profiles: .cv.

The .cv domain, an acronym for curriculum vitae (Latin for “course of life”), puts you front and center as a brand working in the recruitment and career services industry. It can even function as a personal portfolio and an online CV that’s easy to share. But you might be surprised to learn that it didn’t start that way. Here’s what you need to know about the .cv domain and how to register it.

What Is the .cv Domain?

.cv is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Cape Verde (or Cabo Verde), currently managed by its National Communications Agency (ARME). The country was simply assigned the domain by the IANA due to the initials CV, and, between 1996 and 2024, it was mainly used to designate local websites.

In 2024, ARME made the .cv domain available globally, opening it to registrations by individuals and companies worldwide (with some limitations), and it quickly became known outside of Cape Verde for personal websites hosting resumes or used for the recruitment industry.

Who Uses .cv Domains?

The global availability of the domain, coupled with the simple acronym for an established concept, makes it one of the best options for career seekers or the recruitment industry. In particular, “CV” is a term commonly used in Canada, Europe, India, China, and the U.S. to refer to a more comprehensive form of resume. These markets house roughly half of the global population and have ready access to technology as a rule. This makes a .cv domain have a massive potential audience.

Job Seekers and Career Professionals

A website in a .cv domain allows you to showcase your experience and qualifications in a more original way than using traditional job-seeking platforms that simply house documents. With .cv, you get practically unlimited options for presenting your life’s work, including a potential for highly interactive resumes that showcase your unique skills and experience.

Recruiting and HR Professionals

The .cv domain is ideal for recruiters, HR professionals, and career coaches who want to share resources and offer their services. The domain name alone can immediately signal a focus on career-related services.

Resume and Career Service Companies

The natural association with resumes makes .cv domains perfect for businesses that specialize in resume writing or improvements, career coaching, and professional development.

.com.cv and .org.cv Domains

.cv domains can also come in the form of .com.cv, which is typically associated with companies in the recruitment or career development industries (as opposed to individuals using .cv by itself).

.org.cv domains are reserved for non-profit organizations. Unlike the open registration process for the .cv and .com.cv domains, the domain name under .org.cv must match the name or abbreviation of the company that’s using it or its registered trademark or service.

Why Choose a .cv Domain?

The direct association with “curriculum vitae” can immediately signal professional content and outlook, unlike .com or similar websites, which can be made by anyone. If someone sees a .cv website, they automatically assume it will have something to do with recruiting.

Furthermore, this focus allows you to register a website that is named exactly how you want. For more generic domains, this might not be possible simply due to the fact that millions of domains are already in use. By contrast, .cv is used by less than 0.1% of all websites, and most databases count the number of domains in the low five figures. In fact, there are currently a few single-letter domains available, which are practically impossible to find with most other TLDs.

At the same time, a .cv domain is relatively cheap compared to a similar domain from a large ccTLD or gTLD. The domain’s relatively short history as a globally recognized domain for a particular industry also makes it less susceptible to cybersquatting.

How to Register a .cv Domain

The registration process for .cv domains is relatively straightforward.

1. Go to the Register.Domains page for .cv domains.
2. Choose a second-level domain you’d like to use (.cv, .com.cv, or .org.cv if you’re a non-profit).
3. Enter the domain name you’d like to use in the search bar and check if it’s available. If not, try using a variation of the name if possible.
4. Follow the registration process, providing contact information and selecting the registration period. Register.Domains can automatically renew your registration each year.
5. Choose a hosting solution that works for you, then build up your website however you want it.

Registration Requirements

There are no special restrictions for registering .cv domains. However, you’ll need to be a non-profit to register a .org.cv domain, and the name must exactly match your company, its abbreviation, or a service or product you offer.

Get In Front of People Who Need to See You With a .cv Domain

As you can see, registering a .cv domain is a unique opportunity to establish a professional online presence that immediately communicates you’re a career professional or focused on the recruitment industry. With its recent global availability, direct association with professional profiles, and growing ecosystem of career-focused services, .cv offers excellent advantages for anyone serious about their professional online presence. If .cv seems like the right choice for your career brand, act quickly and register your professional domain today with Register.Domains before the best names are taken.