.EU Domain Registration Eligibility and Brexit Implications

Updated on June 19, 2026 • 8 min read

The .eu domain is the premier extension for organizations and individuals operating within the European Economic Area (EEA). Managed by EURid, this extension carries strict geographic limitations to ensure it authentically represents the European community online.

Standard Eligibility Criteria

To register a .eu domain name, you must fulfill at least one of the following criteria:

Citizenship: You are a citizen of a European Union Member State, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway, regardless of your current place of residence globally.
Residency: You are a natural person who is not an EU citizen, but you legally reside within a European Union Member State, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway.
Organization: You are an undertaking or organization established within a European Union Member State, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway.

The Impact of Brexit

Following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union (Brexit), the eligibility rules shifted significantly for UK entities.

UK Companies and Residents: Organizations established solely in the UK, and non-EU citizens residing in the UK, are no longer eligible to register or hold .eu domain names. Millions of domains held by UK entities were revoked by EURid post-Brexit.
EU Citizens in the UK: If you are a citizen of an EU Member State (e.g., France, Germany, Ireland) but reside in the United Kingdom, you remain fully eligible to register and renew .eu domains based on your citizenship. You must declare your citizenship during the registration process.

Verification and Suspension

EURid employs advanced automated checks and manual reviews to verify the geographic data provided during registration.

If your data appears suspicious or invalid, EURid will pause the domain and issue a "Request for Verification." You will have a limited window (usually 14 days) to upload a scan of your passport, national ID card, or company registration documents via the EURid My.eu portal. If verification fails, the domain is withdrawn.