FAQs

You must first have a .cat domain before you can have an e-mail account with .cat. Ask your provider whether the e-mail service is included with your domain or whether you have to contract it separately. Once you are clear on this, you can follow our recommendations:

For individuals:
If you want to look after your digital image, you should register the domain of your surname, or both surnames together, and then create the e-mail address with your name, such as abel@graubosch.cat. Other members of your family can also benefit from this, such as pare@graubosch.cat, mare@graubosch.cat, etc…

For businesses:
If the addresses are for a business, you should register the name of the business and personalise the e-mail address of each employee. Following the example of Abel, he has the domain advocatsgrau.cat and has created the e-mail addresses: info@advocatsgrau.cat, admin@advocatsgrau.cat and abel@advocatsgrau.cat.

For originals:
If you want an e-mail address with a more original name, you can register any name you like and create a fun e-mail address, such as vostedira@alvostreservei.cat.

Yes, you can create as many e-mail addresses as you like with just one domain, depending on what you have contracted with your provider. In business, e-mail addresses often have the same domain, as each employee has their own address ending with the company domain. For example, advocatsgrau.cat have info@advocatsgrau.cat, administracio@advocatsgrau.cat and abel@advocatsgrau.cat.

Families also benefit from this possibility, registering the surname and acquiring e-mail addresses for the different relatives with the same surname. The addresses of Abel and his sister, for example, are abel@graubosch.cat and rosa@graubosch.cat.

If you have contracted the .cat e-mail pack, you can create up to 10 e-mail accounts linked to the same domain.

If you have a .cat domain registered separately to the e-mail package, you can create as many e-mail addresses as you like, provided you contract it with your registrar.

Yes, although you might have compatibility problems with some e-mail servers. We therefore recommend you create aliases with the domain without IDNs, which lead to the equivalent inboxes with special characters.

You can’t usually do this directly, but you can delete an inbox you have and create a new one. However, remember that this process might mean you lose the contents and your inbox is deleted.

Whether you have the e-mail pack or a domain with e-mail accounts contracted, this process must be carried out through your registrar.

E-mail forwarding is very useful because it enables you to manage e-mails sent to other addresses from a given inbox. In general, people do not want to stop using their usual inbox (normally from free services), and they forward their e-mails from their .cat inbox so that they can consult the messages sent to the .cat e-mail from their usual inbox.

To do this, go to the control panel of your .cat domain on the website of your registrar and you will find an option to create e-mail inboxes. Look for something like: e-mail management, e-mail forwarding, e-mail aliases, or something similar. Follow the instructions and create your .cat address. To forward e-mails, it will ask you to indicate a source address, which is your .cat (e.g. Gerard would indicate gerard@masoliver.cat) and a target address where you want to receive the messages (Gerard’s is gerard.29.masoliver@outlook.es. Your .cat e-mails will now be forwarded to your usual inbox so that the e-mails sent to your .cat will be sent to your old inbox.

The most common e-mail interfaces, such as Gmail and Hotmail/Outlook, provide this function. The ways of doing this in these cases is indicated below:

• Consult how to send .cat e-mails from Gmail.com
• Consult how to send .cat e-mails from Hotmail or Outlook

Yes, you need to install the forwarding option for all your e-mail addresses. e-mail forwarding is very useful because it enables you to manage e-mails sent to other addresses from a given inbox. In general, people do not want to stop using their usual inbox (normally free services), and they forward their e-mails from their .cat inbox so that they can consult the messages sent to the .cat e-mail from their usual inbox. And how do you do that?

On the control panel of your .cat domain on the website of your registrar, you will find an option to create e-mail inboxes. Look for something like: e-mail management, e-mail forwarding, e-mail aliases, or something similar. Follow the instructions and create your .cat address. To forward e-mails, it will ask you to indicate a source address, which is your .cat (e.g. Gerard would indicate gerard@masoliver.cat) and a target address where you want to receive the messages (Gerard’s is gerard.29.masoliver@outlook.es. Your .cat e-mails will now be forwarded to your usual inbox so that the e-mails sent to your .cat will be sent to your old inbox.

Of course! First you must forward your e-mails from your .cat inbox to indicate that any messages sent there can be read from your usual inbox. Go to the control panel of your domain and look for something like “e-mail forwarding”. It will ask you to indicate a source address, which is your .cat (e.g. Gerard would indicate gerard@masoliver.cat) and a target address where you want to receive the messages (Gerard’s is gerard.29.masoliver@outlook.es. Once configured, you can consult the messages sent to your .cat from your usual inbox. Each registrar uses a different system, so consult them with any queries you might have.

Your .cat e-mails will now be forwarded to your usual inbox so that the e-mails sent to your .cat will be sent to your old inbox. If you also want to send e-mails from this inbox but with your .cat e-mail address showing, this is possible too. We’ll explain how to do this below with the two most common free e-mails and web interface:

• Consult how to send .cat e-mails from Gmail.com
• Consult how to send .cat e-mails from Hotmail or Outlook

Yes, after a minimum of 60 days since registration, you can transfer your domain to another .cat registrar, but remember that you will continue to have the e-mail account of the previous registrar unless you contract a new e-mail plan with your new registrar and migrate the contents of the inbox before the original is deleted.

Remember that the prices and characteristics of the service you have contracted might change.

The .cat Foundation is impartial with regard to the different registrars of the .cat domain, which is why we are unable to recommend one registrar over another. All .cat registrars are companies with the necessary ICANN certification to be able to register domains. One or another will be of interest, depending on your needs.

Check out the price comparison, compare what each one has to offer, and choose the one that best suits your needs.

You can transfer your domain to another registrar provided that:

• The domain is up to date on payment.
• More than 60 days have elapsed since it was registered or transferred.
• It has no associated legal problems.
• It is not blocked or frozen.
• The e-mail address indicated as the administrative contact for the domain works properly and the person or company requesting the transfer (or someone close) has access to it.

To make the transfer, proceed as follows:

1. Inform your current registrar that you want to transfer one or more domains. It will provide you with the necessary authorisation code(s) to start the process. This is a security measure to protect your domain and might be provided directly on the administration panel of your domain(s).
2. Ask your new registrar to process the transfer in order to contract its services and indicate the domain authorisation code.
3. The new registrar will send an e-mail to the address given as the administrative contact for your domain. Follow the steps indicated in the e-mail.
4. When the new registrar receives your message, it will start transferring your domain, which might take between one to five days.

Like all generic registers (.com, .org, .info, .museum, etc.) .cat can only be registered through ICANN-authorised registrars. If you are not yet an ICANN-accredited registrar ICANN, you can find the necessary information to set yourself up as a registrar here.

If you are already an accredited registrar and want to offer the .cat, contact us.

The process to become an ICANN registrar might be too long, complex, and really expensive. Therefore, most ICANN-accredited registrars have networks of resellers through which they can offer the registration of .cat domains. Contact them directly if you’re interested in learning more. You can consult the list of accredited registrars.

The .cat Foundation, the Register of the .cat domain, has a series of registrars that, once accredited with ICANN, sell the .cat domain in line with their business criteria. The .cat Foundation sells the domains at wholesale price and each registrar adds on its profit margin to establish the end price, as can be seen in the price comparison. Remember that registering a domain is often associated to a series of products or services that increase its price.

The infrastructure expenses are very similar for all domains, but having many millions of domains registered and the system amortised, such as in the case of .com and .es, is not the same as having thousands of domains and having only been operational for a few years, such as in the case of .cat. Remember that the prices of the .cat domain have decreased by almost 90% since it started.

Furthermore, the .cat Foundation is a private foundation that is exclusively self-funded through the sale of .cat and does not and does not want to depend on public budgets in order to operate.

However, the end price is set by the registrars depending on the added value services they provide and on their operating margin. Consult the price comparison, where you will see the different official .cat registrars. Look for the one most suitable for you, as the range of prices and services is extremely varied.

Registering and receiving a domain is as easy as any other on-line purchase. Once you have completed the registration form on the registrar’s website, you must indicate a payment card with which to make the on-line transaction. This process is fast and secure, and you will have your domain available in very little time. Some registrars have other methods of on-line payment, such as PayPal or similar, as well as traditional systems such as bank transfers.

Renewals can be made in two ways: if you have automatic renewal enabled, once you reach the expiry date of the domain, your registrar will charge you for the cost of its annual renewal using the payment system you indicated when you registered the domain. They normally send you an e-mail beforehand to inform you of such. The other method is manual, by going to the control panel and following the renewal procedure.

The registration price of a domain for one year is not always the same as that of its annual renewal. The price comparison includes the official prices for the registration and renewal of domains, depending on each registrar.

You can also ask your registrar directly, as it might have a promotion underway or, due to your conditions, might offer you a better price.

Whether the .cat Foundation or your registrar have blocked the domain, you will not receive a refund because the block is due to use of the domain contrary to the registration agreement signed when you contracted that particular domain.

The renewal promotions consists of distributing discount codes through a set of questions on the current affairs of the .cat Foundation and the .cat domain. The codes are distributed during the promotional periods and are sent to the e-mail address you linked as a contact when you created your .cat domain.

Consult our renewal promotions.

If you have requested a renewal code during a promotion, remember that the codes will be automatically sent to the email listed in the domain holder’s data.

Verify that your data is up-to-date in your registrar’s control panel before requesting the codes, as, by law, we cannot send codes to e-mails that do not correspond to the domain owner’s.

Keeping your details up to date will simplify the renewal process.

Yes, we also offer promotions for registering .cat domains? Although these promotions don’t normally have codes, you can also find discount codes for .cat registrations.  A domain registered with a promotional code has no limitations. It is exactly the same .cat domain as any other, with the same functions and validity period.

The codes are generally valid for around 3 months. You will find the precise expiry date on the promotions page and in the e-mail sent with the promotional code requested.

Consult the list of registrars taking part in this promotion here.

The promotions are limited to a maximum of 1 code linked to the same registration or renewal (Only one code will be distributed for each domain extension, except for generic extensions, because these correspond to different owners).

Of course! A domain can be renewed whenever you want, provided it is before the expiry date. And because you can renew it for whatever period you like, you don’t have to wait until the renewal date! If you renew early, the expiry date does not move forward. This means that if your domain expires on 11th November 2024 and you renew it early on 10th June 2024 for another year, your domain will remain active until 11th November 2025 and this will become the new expiry date.

To renew your domain, contact your registrar and follow its instructions. With almost all of them, you can choose the automatic renewal option so that you don’t have to remember the date. In all cases, remember to do it before the expiry date.

The renewal price depends on each registrar and on the additional services you have contracted. Our price comparison includes all the information regarding the price of the domain.

Yes. You can see the regulations of the .cat domain but also, before registering the domain, your registrar must show you the contract that describes the conditions of using the domain. You must accept this contract if you want to register the domain.

We regularly inspect websites under the .cat domain to check whether they abide with the regulations. Furthermore, any user can send complaints on sites that might be in breach of the regulations to suport@domini.cat. Once we receive an e-mail, we check the website of the complaint and, if necessary, contact the owner of the domain to solve the problem, as established by the regulations.

If we detect a breach of the conditions, we send an e-mail to the owner of the domain to inform of the breach. If we receive no answer within fifteen days, the domain might be suspended. We only suspend domains when their owners fail to fulfil the regulations and offer no options to solve the problem.

Yes they can. The suspension of a domain is a temporary measure to ensure the regulations are met. In most cases, a suspended domain is not cancelled and, therefore, owners can redeem them as soon as the conditions for use are fulfilled.

Some registrars block domains to protect their ownership. If this is the case, you should ask your registrar to unblock it. It might also be blocked because there are proceedings to solve disputes or a judicial order on it. If this is the case, you will have to wait until the process has ended. Registration of the domain might also have been frozen because the eligibility conditions for the .cat domain are not met or because it is being used for speculation.  In this case, contact us at suport@domini.cat.

The lifecycle are the phases through which a domain passes or might pass. The .cat domains have a very similar lifecycle to other domains, which is divided into very different phases:

Registration:
When a domain is to be registered, a check must be made to make sure the word or combination of characteristics (numbers, letters, Catalan letters, accents, umlauts, dashes, etc.) is available. This is done by consulting the Whois of the Register or by using the interface offered by the .cat registrars. If the domain required is free, it can be registered.

Registering a domain means that you must identify yourself as the owner, indicating your forename, surnames, postal address, and e-mail address. It is important for the register and registrar to be able to contact you by e-mail, as this might avoid problems when renewing the domain, for example. The .cat also requires the intended use. This is also important, as it may entail the refusal or freezing of a domain if it is not in line with what is indicated.

Defensive registrations, a special type of registration, are offered to those who, despite not meeting the eligibility criteria of the .cat domain, want to reserve the name in order to prevent others from registering it.

Once the domain has been registered, the .cat Foundation adds it to the .cat zone and it will become available for everyone in just a few minutes.

It is important to keep your contact details (e-mail address, postal address, etc.) up to date on the control panel of the registrar’s website. Registrars send an  e-mail to the owner of the domain a few months before it expires. The domain must therefore be renewed before the deadline in order to ensure its continuity. If it is not renewed, the expiry date will arrive and the domain will enter a different phase.

Expiry:
Domains are registered for whole years, for between 1 and 10 years. The creation date and the expiry date can be seen at Whois. Before reaching the expiry date, registrars send an e-mail to the inbox that the owner gave as a method of contact. It is important to give a valid e-mail address that you check regularly. If you change e-mail, you must update your contact details (of the person registering and of the administrative contact) on the website of your registrar.

If the domain is not renewed by the expiry date, it will enter a grace period of a maximum of 45 days.

Grace period:
This period lasts for a maximum of 45 days, but each registrar can decide to delete the domain at any time. Although they are not obliged to do so, registrars often try to contact the owner so that the domain is not lost. Renewal of a domain from this status might be more expensive than standard renewal.

After the 45 days, or before if the registrar wishes, the domain is marked as “pending delete” and its removed from the zone, when it enters the redemption period.

Redemption period:
During this period, the domain is removed from the zone and is no longer accessible (no e-mail or website). Once 30 days have elapsed without any renewal (normally at a higher cost), the domain is deleted and cannot be redeemed, leaving it free to start the cycle once again.

Defensive registrations (a special type of domain only used to protect brands) do not enter the redemption period and immediately become pending delete. In other words, they can no longer be redeemed and become free.

.cat is a generic domain, i.e. not defined in regional terms. Its regulations were therefore developed jointly by the .cat Foundation and the ICANN. The applicable regulations are divided into two areas, both forming an integral part of the contract you accept when registering a .cat domain name: Registration regulations and Dispute solving procedures. You can see the details of these regulations here.