How to Buy and Register a Domain Name in Ukraine

Many countries around the world have their own country-code top-level domains, or ccTLDs, and Ukraine is no exception. It uses the .ua TLD, which is the go-to choice for many businesses and organizations operating in this part of the world.

Let’s look at how you can go about setting up a .ua site of your own.

Conditions for Registering a Domain Name in Ukraine

Some ccTLDs have strict requirements about who can use them, and in some cases, you have to be an official resident of the country in question to set up a domain name there. Fortunately, that’s not the case with Ukraine’s .ua domains. Anyone can register a .ua domain, regardless of their location. However, there are still some conditions that must be met.

Most notably, you typically need to hold a registered trademark (either Ukrainian or international) for the domain you wish to register. Your trademark name needs to completely match the domain name you wish to register, too – there can’t be any inconsistencies between the two. This adds a significant extra step to setting up a .ua domain compared to other, more accessible TLDs.

How to Set Up a Ukraine Domain Name

To set up your Ukrainian domain, you’ll need to:

1. Obtain a trademark for the domain name you wish to register.
2. Verify that the name is available with a hosting provider.
3. Fill in the relevant trademark data.
4. Pay the required fees to register your domain.
5. Build your website.

Given that the .ua domain registration process can be a little complex, it’s often recommended to work with a trusted domain specialist. They can help you through the whole process, taking care of the more complicated steps and saving you time and effort in the process.

Other Important Info About Ukrainian Domains

Here are some bonus bits of info that interested parties should know:

• The minimum period for which you can register a .ua address is one year.
• Your .ua domain name can consist of a maximum of 63 characters.
• Hostmaster Ltd is the organization responsible for overseeing .ua domain registrations. They’re based in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
• .ua supports third level domains, meaning you can set up a site ending in something like “.org.ua” or “.com.ua.”

Reasons to Register a Ukrainian Domain Name

So that’s how to register a domain name in Ukraine. Next, let’s explore why you might wish to do so:

National SEO

Often, ccTLDs perform well in search results on the corresponding country’s version of Google. For example, if you search for something on the French version of Google (Google.fr), then sites ending in the official French ccTLD .fr are more likely to appear on the first page of results.

So, if you want to have good SEO performance in Ukraine, it makes sense to use a .ua domain extension. It’s ideal for businesses and organizations operating in this country, as it can boost your chances of reaching the largest possible Ukrainian audience.

Credibility

People often make snap judgments about the trustworthiness of websites based on their domain names. And there are certain TLDs that are generally more trusted than others. When people see a .org or .edu site, for example, they usually assume it can be trusted and is probably the site of a non-profit or college.

In Ukraine, the .ua extension is usually a sign of trust and credibility. It shows that the business or individual behind the website holds an official Ukrainian or international trademark, and has taken the step of making an official Ukrainian site, rather than using a more obscure TLD.

Trademark Protection

Given the fact that you have to first have a trademark before you can set up a domain name in Ukraine, having a .ua site is itself a form of trademark protection. Once you have your trademark and site set up, nobody else will be able to legally copy it or register a site with the same name.

Create Your Ukrainian Domain Name Today

So, if you want to reach the Ukrainian market, consider setting up your .ua site today. With the help of a hosting specialist, the process is speedy and straightforward, and you’ll have a .ua domain in no time.