Registration requirements
The name length requirements for .DE domains are one to 63 characters before the TLD. Third-level .DE domain registrations are not supported.
We support the following languages for IDNs:
| Albanian | Catalan | Croatian | Czech | Danish | Dutch |
| Estonian | Finnish | French | German | Hungarian | Icelandic |
| Italian | Latvian | Lithuanian | Norwegian | Polish | Portuguese |
| Slovak | Spanish | Swedish | Turkish | Vietnamese | Welsh |
Find additional details in the TLD reference chart.
Residency requirements
.DE domains can be registered from any owner country. When the registrant is not in Germany, an authorized contact located in Germany who can receive official or court documents on their behalf is required. The authorized contact details must be provided within two weeks when requested by the registry.
Nameserver requirements
Activation requires at least two name servers. Nameservers must be active on two different subnets and authoritative for the domain name at registration. The registry NAST tool verifies the functionality of the name servers. OpenSRS SystemDNS nameservers meet registry requirements.
Note: If you receive an error while adding our SystemDNS name servers, please attempt the workaround.
When a name is registered, and the nameservers are not active, the registrant has 30-days to activate and park the name on them. If the 30-day period completes without active nameservers, DENIC deletes the domain name without providing any refund.
The inactive nameservers associated with the domain name can be modified for 30 days, subject to DENIC verification. The registry ignores activation requests when nameservers don't meet DENIC criteria.
When the name servers are inactive on registration, resubmit them once they are valid. The status continues to show as failed until DENIC accepts the active nameservers.
OpenSRS nameserver workaround
Use a DNS template to apply zone records to the domain. Use templates on transfers, new registrations or active domains.
Renewals
All .DE domains auto-renew. There is no grace period for .DE domains. Domains enter the redemption period immediately after expiry.
The redemption period is 30 days after deletion.
Deletion
To allow a .DE domain to expire, the registrant completes and submits the deletion form at least five days before expiry. Upon reviewing the form, OpenSRS disables auto-renewal and sets the domain to expire on its expiry date.
On immediate deletion requests, the registrant is sent an e-mail confirmation from the OpenSRS compliance team. When there is no response to the compliance message, the domain deletes on the expiry date.
Note: Documentation must be submitted to OpenSRS by the reseller, not the registrant.
Transit
Transit is a service of DENIC that ensures the domain holder will not lose the domain if a provider no longer administers it. The domain is not deleted immediately and is not available for registration to anybody else while in transit.
A transit order is processed for the following reasons:
- The reseller cannot reach the registrant.
- The registrant refuses to pay for the domain.
- The registrant refuses to sign the form.
To place a transit order, the reseller must contact OpenSRS support via e-mail with the reason for submission. Once OpenSRS support processes the transit order, the registry no longer points the domain to OpenSRS, and we no longer administer the domain. The registry takes over the process of contacting the end-user.
Domains set to transit require the registrant to contact the DENIC Transit Service Centre directly for further management, including requesting the authcode.
The registrant selects whether the domain shall be transferred or deleted within 30 days in the Transit Service Center or by contacting the DENIC transit team. If the choice is to transfer, the registrant generates an authcode at the registry.
When the domain holder does not transfer, delete or initiate payment within 30 days, DENIC sends a termination of the contract without notice by e-mail. When the registrant fails to provide an e-mail address, the registry sends the termination notice via postal service.
Note: Postal letters to domain holders are combined to send only a single message.
Change of ownership
Changing the ownership of a .DE domain follows the process outlined in our transferring domains guide.
Transfers
Domains transfer into OpenSRS using the standard transfer process. Transfers don't follow the normal 60-day hold period. Transfers are permitted any time after a domain is registered.
Transfers in
When a .DE domain transfers into OpenSRS with invalid nameservers, the transfer order still completes successfully. The domain does not point to the nameservers until the nameservers are active. Send a nameserver update order to notify the registry.
The transfer authorization message goes to the admin contact specified in the transfer order.
Transfers away
Authcodes expire after 30 days.
Additional Resources
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