Brexit and EU Domains

Page last updated: 4^th January 2021

The United Kingdom left the European Union on 1st February 2020 and after transition period that ended on 31st December 2020 the rights of UK citizens and organisations to hold .EU domains ceased.

Individuals and businesses in the UK are no longer be able to own a .EU domain name unless it is registered to a postal address within the EU.

Revocation of Existing Rights

After 31 December 2020: United Kingdom undertakings or organisations established in the United Kingdom but not in the Union, United Kingdom citizens who are not resident of a Union Member State, and United Kingdom residents who are not Union citizens (hereinafter ‘UK registrants’) will no longer be eligible to hold a .eu domain name.

From 1^st January 2021:

1. New registrations

EURid will NOT allow the registration of any new domain name by UK registrants. EURid will allow neither the transfer, nor the transfer through update, of any domain name to a UK registrant.

2. Existing registrations

On 1^st January 2021, as of 00:00:00 CET, EURid will again notify by email all UK registrants and their registrars that their domain name(s) is(are) no longer compliant with the .eu regulatory framework and is(are) consequently withdrawn.

As of 1^st January 2021, 00:00:00 CET, the domain name(s) of any UK registrant who did not demonstrate his/her/its eligibility will be WITHDRAWN. A withdrawn domain name no longer functions, as the domain name is removed from the zone file and can no longer support any active services (such as websites or email).

Twelve months after the end of the transition period, i.e. on 1^st January 2022 00:00:00 CET, all the affected domain names will be REVOKED, and will become AVAILABLE for general registration. Their release will occur in batches from the time they become available.

PLEASE NOTE:

Union citizens who are residing in the United Kingdom will remain eligible to hold a .eu domain name after the end of the transition period. They will have to update their registration data and prove their Union citizenship.

United Kingdom citizens residing in a Union Member State will remain eligible to hold a .eu domain name after the end of the transition period. United Kingdom citizens residing outside of the Union Member States, on the other hand, will no longer be eligible to hold a .eu domain name after the end of the transition period.

(1) Should the transition period be extended for up to 1 or 2 years in accordance with Article 132 of the Withdrawal Agreement, the specific dates of present plan should be adapted accordingly.

What can I do with my .EU domain?

For businesses:

• If possible, update the domain to be registered to a subsidiary in the EU (if the domain is vital to your business).
• Move email and web traffic on to replacement domains now so that web and email hosting services are not affected.

For individuals:

• As above, move email and web traffic on to an alternative domain name as soon as possible.

If you need any help or advice in moving your Freeola & GetDotted services to a new domain, our Support Team will be able to help.

You can also register alternative domains.