FAQs

What is Happening?

What is happening?

The Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) has selected GoDaddy Registry to provide domain name Registry and DNS services for the .vu ccTLD.

On 12 December 2019, all .vu domain names were transitioned from the existing provider Telecom Vanuatu Limited (TVL), to new Registry infrastructure operated by GoDaddy Registry.

Who is the Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR)?

The Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) is a statutory body operating independently from the government. The body has the General Powers and Functions to regulate telecommunications, radiocommunications and broadcasting services in Vanuatu as provided in the Telecommunications, Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulations Act 30 2009 as amended by Amendment 22 2018. The Regulator reports to and advises the Minister responsible for telecommunications and broadcasting as to policy and making of regulations and any other matter as requested by the Minister.

TRBR has to ensure that the Act is implemented, facilitated and enforced. The Act gives power to the Regulator to facilitate the development of the telecommunications and broadcasting sector and manage radio-frequency spectrum in order to promote national, social and economic development.

Why will my domain name password change?

For security purposes, any domain name passwords (AuthInfo) will be reset as part of the transition of the Registry. For a new password, please get in touch with your Registrar. You can find the name of your Registrar by looking up your domain name via the WHOIS service which can be found at the following link: whois.dnrs.neustar

Who is GoDaddy Registry?

GoDaddy Registry is a worldwide leader in domain name Registry and DNS services. GoDaddy Registry has earned the reputation of being among the most reliable and trusted domain name Registry and DNS service providers in the world.

Consistent with local requirements, GoDaddy Registry Vanuatu Ltd (301714) has been incorporated within Vanuatu to comply with the laws of Vanuatu.

How will this affect my .vu domain name?

Registrants will not experience any significant changes as a result of the transition. Your domain name will be securely transitioned to our new Registry infrastructure, with the benefit of unparalleled security, stability and resiliency.

What happens after the transition?

Until Q1 2020 Telecom Vanuatu Limited (TVL) will continue to act as sole Registrar for the .vu ccTLD.

Domain Name Basics

Who can register a .vu domain name?

Any natural person or organization can register a .vu domain name.

Can I register any .vu domain name?

Domain names in the .vu ccTLD may be ‘reserved’, meaning that they are unavailable for registration as a domain name, or ‘restricted’ meaning that they may be available for registration as a domain name under certain conditions.

Domain names may be reserved or restricted for reasons such as:

  • for technical operations
  • that are controlled by the laws of the Republic of Vanuatu
  • that are cultural terms

those that are reserved by us to comply with the requirements of the Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR)

What is the domain name lifecycle?

There are a number of states that a domain name can be in during its lifecycle.

Available – means that the domain name has not been registered.

Registered – is the default state of a domain name.

  • There is a 5 day grace period which allows for no-cost cancellation of a domain name registration resulting from typographical or other errors by Registrars and registrants. Once cancelled the domain name may become immediately available for registration.
  • During the first 60 days, all domain name registrations are non-transferrable. After 60 days have passed, you can transfer your domain name to any accredited Registrar.

Expired – means the domain name has not been renewed and will stop resolving on the internet.

Redemption Grace Period – once the domain name has expired it will enter into this state for 30 calendar days. You can have the domain name restored if you contact the Registrar.

Pending Delete Period – after the 30 day redemption period, the domain name enters the pending delete period for 5 days.

Can I transfer my .vu domain name?

You will be able to transfer your domain name to any Registrar accredited by Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR).

NOTE: You cannot transfer your domain name during the first 60 days of it being created.

How can I register a domain name?

Telecom Vanuatu Limited (TVL) has been accredited to provide Registrar services by the Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR).

The TRBR will accredit additional Registrars and allow them to commence selling .vu domain names starting from Q1 2020.

How much do .vu domain names cost?

Retail prices to end users are set by Registrars. The ‘wholesale’ price charged to Registrars has been set by the Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) Certain Registrars may charge a premium for value added services, whereas others my offer discounts.

Certain domain names may also be identified as ‘Premium’ and have a ‘wholesale’ price charged to Registrars.

What are the requirements of a .vu domain name?

We use the word ‘label’ to describe a sequence of characters. A domain name is made up of one or more labels, separated by a period (‘.’), before the TLD, for example:

  • vu
  • name.vu

Labels that may be used to make a domain name are subject to composition requirements described below.

Levels of domain names

A domain name is often described in relation to its ‘level’, a:

  • ‘second level’ domain name consists of one Label before the TLD, for example name.vu
  • ‘third level’ domain name consists of two Labels before the TLD, for example domain.name.vu

Composition requirements

We validate that all domain names created in the TLD meet the technical composition requirements described in this section.

All domain names must conform to certain requirements. Each label in the domain name must:

  • have a minimum of 1 character, and a maximum of 63 characters;
  • only contain letters (a-z, A-Z), digits (0-9) and hyphens (-), or a combination of these;
  • begin with a letter or a digit and end with a letter or a digit;
  • neither begin with, nor end with a hyphen (-);
  • not contain hyphens (-) in the third and fourth positions (e.g. www.ab – – cd.vu); and
  • not include a space (e.g. www.ab  cd.vu).

Once I register a domain name, how long does it last? Can it be renewed?

When you register a domain name, you’re able to use it for the period of time you registered it for, which is between one to ten years. If you want to keep using the domain name and any of the services associated with it (like a website or email service) you need to ensure that the domain name is renewed by the Registrar.

What is auto-renewal?

The Registry will automatically renew domain names so that domain name registrants don’t lose access to their domain name. Your Registrar will send you notices reminding you that the domain name is due for renewal and if you no longer want the domain name you must inform the Registrar to avoid being charged.