Rules checked against the registry (AMNIC) FAQ in November 2026.
Who can register a .am domain
The registry states that any physical and legal entity can register domain names. Residency and citizenship are not mentioned among its requirements. Registration is handled by registrars accredited by the registry, which are companies registered in Armenia. A registrar may ask for additional data during the order, so have your contact details ready in advance.
Choose the name
- .am: Latin small letters, digits 0-9 and a dash. The part before ".am" is at most 63 characters.
- .հայ: Armenian small letters, digits and a dash. The letter combinations "եւ" and "ու" are not used in the name, the registry recommends substitutes. The name in Punycode form is at most 63 characters.
- Second-level zones are also available: .com.am, .co.am, .org.am, .net.am, .commune.am.
- Names that discriminate by sex, race, language, religion or age, call for violence or war, are blasphemous or contradict the public interest are not registered.
Not sure whether to take .am, .հայ or both? A .am name works everywhere and is easy to type. A .հայ name is written in Armenian letters and suits a local audience. Many owners register both and point one to the other.
How to register: step by step
- Check that the name is free. Use the whois lookup or the search on the Armenian domains page.
- Pick a registrar. See the list of accredited registrars published by the registry.
- Enter the owner data. For a person: name, address, postal code, and contacts (name, email, phone) for the administrative, technical and financial roles. For a company, add the legal form and the legal address.
- Choose the term and pay. The term cannot be shorter than one year.
- Wait for approval. The registry says registration takes three business days.
- Set the name servers. A domain needs at least 2 and at most 6 name servers. Use the ones your hosting gives you.
After registration: connect it to a website
Set the name servers of the domain to your hosting (or edit the DNS records), wait for DNS to update, and add the domain in your control panel. Changes can take from minutes to several hours to spread. If you also need HTTPS, order an SSL certificate.
Renewal and what happens after expiry
Renew the domain before it expires. If you miss the date, the registry keeps the name in its database for an additional 45 days, and during that time the holder has a preferential right to renew it. After that the name can become free for anyone. Do not rely on the 45 days: some services stop working as soon as the domain expires.
Moving a .am domain to another registrar
To change the registrar, apply to the new registrar. Registrars usually ask for an authorization (EPP) code from the current one, the domain must not be locked against transfer, and it should not be right after registration or close to expiry. Conditions differ between registrars, so check them before you start. To bring a domain to us, see domain transfer.
Common mistakes
- Typing the owner data with errors. The owner is the person or company named in the registry record, so use real data.
- Using a name with characters the zone does not allow, such as underscores or spaces.
- Forgetting to renew and relying on the 45-day period.
- Setting the wrong name servers and then wondering why the site does not open.
- Expecting instant activation: approval can take up to three business days.
