To be able to register a .ie domain name, you must be able to demonstrate a real and substantial connection with Ireland. This can be achieved through various means, such as being an Irish citizen, an Irish resident, or a company registered in the Republic of Ireland. If you are not based in Ireland, you must prove a connection through trading with Irish clients or by having an Irish/EU trademark. In this article, we outline various examples of documents that can be used to demonstrate eligibility for different types of applicants.
To expedite your registration process, please ensure that you provide the required documentation during checkout. The checkout will guide you through the process of uploading or supplying the necessary documentation, depending on the registration category you have selected.
If you already own an .ie domain name and would like to register an additional domain name using the same details, you can simply fastpass your domain name through the registration process.
List of example documents to prove .IE eligibility
We will cover four main registration categories: individual applicants, companies/sole traders, Irish/NI Charities, and foreign applicants in this article.
For a comprehensive list of documents for each of the eight registration categories, please refer to the IE Registry Website.
Individual Applicants
For an individual applicant, one of the following documents could be used to prove that you're eligible for a .IE Domain name:
- Irish passport
- Irish driving licence/UK driving licence ( if the UK driving license is showing a Northern Ireland address)
- Irish/Northern Irish bank statement showing an address in the island of Ireland
- Official college ID (from a college recognised by the Department of Education)
- Public Services Card
- Correspondence from Ireland’s Revenue Commissioners showing your PPS number
- A foreign passport is only accepted if it is also accompanied by a utility bill showing an Irish address
Irish/NI Companies
If you are an Irish/NI Company or Sole Trader, one of the following documents/numbers can be provided:
- CRO/RBN number (you can find your CRO/RBN online via the CRO Website)
- Northern Ireland company number (you can find your NI Company number via the UK Companies House Website)
- VAT number (must be registered in Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland and searchable via the EU VIES Website)
- Tax Clearance certificate from Ireland’s Revenue Commissioners (or other correspondence from them showing your VAT number)
- Correspondence from HM Revenue and Customs (showing you are registered for trading and resident on the island of Ireland)
- Irish or EU Community Trademark number or certificate
- WIPO Trademark number or certificate (if enforceable in Ireland)
Irish/Northern Ireland Charities
Maxer is proud to offer free .IE Domain names are registered to charity organisations within the Island of Ireland. Please contact our registration team for further information regarding our offer to registered charities. To be eligible for a free .IE charity domain name, you must provide one of the following:
- Registered Charity Number (RCN)
- Northern Ireland Charity Commission issued number (NIC number)
Foreign Applicants
For a foreign applicant, the following trademarks will be acceptable to prove eligibility:
- Irish Trademark
- EU Community Trademark
- WIPO Trademark enforceable in Ireland
If your company does not hold one of the above trademarks, you can still be eligible for an .IE domain if you provide one of the following documents:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Verifiable online company number
- VAT number
- Proof of being registered for Income Tax
In addition to one of the above documents, you will also need to provide one of the following:
- Sales invoices showing that the domain holder sells goods or services in the island of Ireland
- Signed letter from a third-party solicitor, accountant, bank manager, or auditor, confirming that the your company is selling goods or services in the island of Ireland
Updated by EC on 23/07/2025
