The .cat domain will no longer accept anonymized registrations from March 2026

Due to a change in the .cat Domain Policy, as of March 1, 2026, .cat domains may no longer be registered using anonymized registrant data or through privacy services that conceal the domain holder’s information.

The purpose of this measure is to ensure that the .cat domain Registry can communicate with the domain holder when necessary, particularly in situations involving significant regulatory changes or website security matters.

What does this change imply?

• New .cat domain registrations with anonymized registrant data or privacy services will not be accepted.

• As of March 1, domains found to be registered without real registrant data may be suspended, always following prior notice.

• A progressive review of existing domains will be carried out to identify those that do not meet this requirement.

Who is affected by this change?

This change affects all .cat domain holders who use privacy services or have registered their domain with anonymized data.

It should be noted that although the contact data associated with a domain is not publicly visible, it must be real, up to date, and accurate.

In the past, privacy services were useful because some domain registration data was publicly accessible. However, this has changed in recent years, and personal data associated with a domain is no longer publicly visible.

For this reason, it is no longer necessary to use services that anonymize the domain holder’s data. In fact, doing so may have the opposite effect, preventing the Registry from delivering important communications related to the domain. Failure to receive such communications may result in the domain being blocked — a situation that could often be avoided if the domain holder were properly identified by the Registry.

Domain holders can make this change through their registrar’s control panel. If access is not possible, they should contact their registrar directly.

Why is this change being made?

This change is not an isolated decision. It forms part of the implementation of ICANN’s Registration Data Policy (RDP), which establishes a new framework for the processing of domain registration data, as well as the adaptation to the future transposition of the NIS2 Directive, which strengthens the requirement for reliable and verifiable contact data associated with domains, with the aim of improving security and trust on the Internet.

As the Registry of the .cat domain, we have a responsibility to ensure compliance with the Registration Policy and to guarantee the safe and responsible use of the domain.

If you have any questions regarding your .cat domain, please contact us at suport@domini.cat.