Register domain name .sh

.sh
The .sh domain is a country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) associated with Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The delegation record in the IANA Root Zone Database shows a registration date of 1997-09-23, with the Government of St. Helena listed as the ccTLD manager and Internet Computer Bureau Ltd (ICB) as the technical contact.
Registration services for .sh are provided via NIC.SH.

What is .sh domain?
The .sh domain is a national (country-code) domain zone. According to the official .sh rules published by NIC.SH, second-level .sh domains (like example.sh) can be requested by applicants from any legal jurisdiction, and .sh domains are issued on a first come, first served basis.

There are also third-level options under .sh (for example, registrations in certain sub-domains), but those can have additional requirements—most importantly, residency requirements for applicants.

.sh domain peculiar traits

1. It is a ccTLD, which is a strong geotargeting signal. Google’s documentation on international targeting explains that country-code TLDs are tied to a specific country/territory and therefore provide a strong signal to users and search engines about geographic targeting.

2. Clear registry rules on technical setup. The .sh rules require working nameservers at the time of request (details below), which is a practical “quality gate” for stable DNS operation.

3. Policy restrictions exist. The registry rules include an “Appropriate Use” clause and an anti-spam policy, with the registry reserving the right to deactivate/suspend domains that violate these terms.

4. IDN support is stated by NIC.SH. NIC.SH indicates it supports Internationalized Domain Names (IDN) and provides an IDN code point policy.

.sh domain usage advantages
Registering a .sh domain can be useful when you want:

• Geographic association with Saint Helena / Ascension / Tristan da Cunha (useful for local presence and recognition).

• Clear regional targeting in URLs (ccTLDs are one of the strongest locale signals in Google’s international targeting guidance).

• A stable, standards-based DNS zone (new requests conform to core DNS RFCs, per NIC.SH rules).

• IDN capability, if you need domain names in local characters supported by the registry policy.

.sh zone domain name registration: procedure’s technical sides
If you’re registering a domain in the .sh zone, these are the key technical and policy points from official sources:

• Second-level eligibility: an applicant may reside in any legal jurisdiction.

• Nameservers requirement (second-level): at least two nameservers must be operating at the time the request is submitted; there is no requirement for nameservers to be physically located on Saint Helena, and there is no restriction on the nameservers’ IP addresses.

• Third-level eligibility: an applicant must be resident in Saint Helena (for third-level domains where these rules apply).

• Nameservers requirement (third-level): at least two nameservers, and at least one must be physically located on Saint Helena.

• DNS name length & syntax (protocol-level): DNS labels are limited in length (commonly referenced limits are 63 characters per label), and the “preferred name syntax” uses letters, digits, and hyphen, as described in the DNS specifications (RFC 1035).

• WHOIS and registry info: the IANA delegation record lists the WHOIS server as whois.nic.sh and points to NIC.SH for registration services.

• Registration term (per NIC.SH terms): the fee covers one (1) year for each new registration and one (1) year for each renewal in the NIC.SH terms.

• Data accuracy: providing false information can lead to cancellation; contacts must provide accurate and verifiable information (including a physical street address for service of notices).

.sh zone domain registrar: why is it recommended to buy .sh zone domain?
If you’re registering domains through AlexHost, the practical benefits are simple: you can search, check availability, and register domains through the registrar interface, and get support on domain management and related services from one place.

How much is .sh domain per year?
The cost of a .sh domain depends on the registrar, included services (for example, privacy add-ons where applicable), and current pricing policies. The NIC.SH terms explicitly describe registrations and renewals as annual (1-year) periods in their framework.

For the exact current price at AlexHost, use the domain search/ordering flow on the registrar’s website, where pricing is shown at checkout.

What is required for .sh domain?
To register a .sh domain, you generally need:

• A chosen domain name and an availability check (first come, first served).

• Correct registrant/contact data (inaccurate or false data can lead to cancellation).

• Working DNS nameservers (at least two for second-level registrations; and additional constraints for third-level registrations).

What sites suit .sh zone domain?
A .sh domain is most fitting for projects where the geographic association is a feature, not a bug:

• Local initiatives and services connected with Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (community projects, informational resources, tourism-related pages).

• Organizations that want explicit country/territory targeting via a ccTLD (which is one of the strongest locale signals in Google’s international targeting guidance).

• Projects that need IDN support within the .sh registry’s supported standards and policies.

Who is permitted to register .sh domain?

• Second-level .sh domains: applicants may reside in any legal jurisdiction (no residency limitation stated in the mandatory rules for second-level domains).

• Third-level domains (where these rules apply): the applicant must be resident in Saint Helena, and DNS hosting requirements are stricter (including at least one nameserver physically located on Saint Helena).