.in Domain Rules: Who Can Register, KYC, Privacy and Renewal

Written on 12 October 2026 from the .IN Registry’s (NIXI’s) published policies, its registrar agreement and a July 2025 registry advisory, plus a public RDAP lookup. Policies change, so check registry.in or your registrar for the current version.

The .in domain is India’s country code domain, run by the .IN Registry under NIXI (National Internet Exchange of India). You buy it through an accredited registrar or your host. A few rules are different from .com, and the most important one is about contact details.

Who can register a .in domain

Anyone can. NIXI’s July 2025 advisory states that foreign nationals and entities are eligible, and that there has never been a restriction to Indian nationals only. For registrants outside India, the registry asks them to state their business connection or purpose connected to India, which some registrars now collect at registration. Second-level zones such as co.in, net.in and org.in are open too; others like gov.in and ac.in are reserved for qualifying bodies.

Accurate contact details (KYC)

Registry policy requires true, accurate registrant contact details, kept up to date. Registrars may ask for identity documents. If the registry finds inaccurate details, it can suspend or delete the domain, so:

• Register in the name of the real owner: the business, or the person who owns it, not your web designer.
• Use an email address you will keep, ideally on a different domain, so you can still receive renewal and transfer emails if the website breaks.
• Update the details when your address, company name or email changes.

Privacy protection is not allowed for .in

Unlike many .com domains, .in domains can’t use privacy or proxy services that replace your details with the registrar’s. NIXI’s registrar agreement says registrars may not provide them for .in, and a registrant whose data is masked may not be recognised as the owner. If a registrar offers ‘privacy’ on a .in, check what it does. The lookup above shows some fields marked redacted in public output; that is how the registry’s own lookup service displays data, not a privacy service the owner bought.

Term and renewal

• A .in domain can be registered for 1 to 10 years.
• Turn on auto-renew, or renew well before expiry, and keep the card or wallet on file valid.
• Your registrar sends reminders to the registrant email, which is another reason to keep it current. Use an address that doesn’t depend on the domain itself.
• After expiry, recovery rules and fees depend on your registrar and the registry; don’t rely on a grace period.
• After renewing, confirm the new expiry date in a lookup.
• Keep the domain in the business owner’s name, not the developer’s.

Names and nameservers

Names can use letters, digits and hyphens, but can’t start or end with a hyphen. To work on the internet, the domain needs at least one nameserver; two or more are recommended. When you host with a provider, set the nameservers they give you, or point records yourself.

FAQ

Can an NRI or a foreign company register a .in domain?

Yes. The registry may ask for a stated connection or purpose related to India, which your registrar will collect.

Is .in or .co.in better for a business?

Both are valid. .in is shorter and more common for new businesses; .co.in is fine if .in is taken. Register both if you want to protect the name.

Can I hide my phone number and address on a .in domain?

Not with a privacy service, which .in rules don’t allow. Use a business address and a business phone number you are comfortable sharing.

Questions about a .in domain’s details or renewal? If it’s with ShoHost, message us on WhatsApp at +91 94880 91432 and we’ll check them with you.