How to Register a .com.tr Domain: Requirements & Documents (2026)
Last updated: 23 September 2026
A .com.tr domain is the most popular extension for brands targeting the Turkish market. The good news: since 2022 the documentation requirement has been removed — registering a .com.tr is now as easy as registering a .com. This guide covers the current rules, the application steps and the mistakes people make most often.
Do you need documents for a .com.tr?
No. After Turkish domains moved to the TRABIS system, no documents are required for the following extensions and a "first come, first served" rule applies:
- .com.tr — commercial entities (and, in practice, anyone)
- .net.tr — network / infrastructure services
- .org.tr — associations, foundations, communities
- .biz.tr, .info.tr, .tv.tr and other general extensions
Documents are only needed for restricted (special) extensions: .gov.tr, .edu.tr, .k12.tr, .bel.tr, .pol.tr, .tsk.tr. As an ordinary company or individual you will never deal with these.
.com or .com.tr? Which should you get?
| Criterion | .com | .com.tr |
|---|---|---|
| Governing body | ICANN-accredited registries | nic.tr / TRABIS |
| Target audience | International | Turkey |
| Local trust perception | Medium | High |
| Documents | None | None (for general extensions) |
| Price | Usually cheaper | Usually slightly higher |
For an e-commerce site selling in Turkey, a local service business or a corporate brand, .com.tr makes sense. If you are launching a global product or software, make .com your priority. If budget allows, the safest option is to register both and point the .com.tr at the .com.
Registering a .com.tr step by step
1. Check availability
Type the name you want into a domain search tool. The system shows you yoursite.com.tr along with alternatives such as yoursite.com and yoursite.net, with availability and pricing.
2. Enter your contact details
The information requested during registration (it goes into the WHOIS / registry record):
- Full name or company title
- Address, city/district, postal code
- Phone and email (must be verifiable)
ICANN rules require the domain contact email to be verified within 15 days; if it is not, the domain can be temporarily suspended. So use an email address you actually have access to.
3. Complete payment
The domain is registered in your name the moment payment is confirmed. For .tr extensions, registration usually completes within a few minutes.
4. Set the nameservers
The domain is yours but not yet connected to anything. For your site and email to work, change the nameservers to those of your hosting/server provider, or enter the DNS records in your provider's DNS panel. The change propagates within 24 hours at most.
Renewal and term
- .tr domains are registered for 1 to 5 year terms and must be renewed before they expire.
- When the term ends the domain is not released immediately; there is a short grace period and then a redemption period (recovery at a high fee). If you do not renew during these periods either, the domain becomes available to everyone.
- Keeping auto-renew on prevents you from forgetting and losing the domain.
Common mistakes
- Wrong email: Entering an address you cannot access → verification fails → domain suspended.
- Turkish characters: Using ş, ğ, ı, ö, ü in a domain is technically possible (IDN) but causes problems with email and some systems; prefer the ASCII equivalent.
- Not checking trademarks: If the name you want conflicts with a registered trademark, it can lead to a dispute later.
- Registering only the .com.tr: If someone else takes the .com of the same name, it creates brand confusion. If budget allows, hold both.