375€/year
Policy for the Allocation of Two-Character “.ad” Domain Names
1. Purpose and Scope
This Policy governs the conditions, application procedure, assessment criteria and process for the allocation of two-character domain names under the “.ad” country-code top-level domain.
This Policy applies without prejudice to the provisions of the Regulation on the Registration of “.ad” Domain Names, approved by Decree 114/2024 of 20 March 2024, and to any other regulations, policies, registration conditions and procedures in force that apply to the “.ad” domain.
For the purposes of this Policy, the Registry and the Registry operator mean Andorra Telecom, S.A.U., the entity responsible for the operation, functioning and management of the “.ad” top-level domain.
2. Definition and Nature
Two-character “.ad” domain names are limited-edition domain names that form part of the “.ad” domain’s premium or special-value name category.
These names are available in limited numbers and may be of particular interest because of their brevity, identification value, commercial value, institutional value, geographical relevance, association with acronyms, or distinctive potential.
In accordance with Article 9 of the Regulation on the Registration of “.ad” Domain Names, premium or special-value names may be subject to a special fee higher than the standard fee, or may initially be reserved by the Registry operator for subsequent allocation.
The allocation of domain names governed by this Policy requires the prior submission of an application and the Registry’s express acceptance of that application.
3. Acceptance
By submitting an application to register a two-character “.ad” domain name, the domain-name applicant (hereinafter, the “Applicant”) accepts and is contractually bound by:
a) This Policy for the Allocation of Two-Character “.ad” Domain Names.
b) The Regulation on the Registration of “.ad” Domain Names, published in the Official Gazette of the Principality of Andorra and on the www.domini.ad website.
c) The registration agreement provided by the accredited registrar to the Applicant and accepted by the Applicant.
The Applicant undertakes to use its domain name in a manner that does not represent or imply that the Applicant or, where applicable, its company, is affiliated with a government or country-code administrator where no such affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement exists.
The Applicant further understands and accepts that the Registry operator may take measures to investigate and respond to any reports submitted by governmental bodies and ccTLD operators concerning conduct that may cause confusion with the relevant country code in connection with the use of its two-character domain name. Such measures may affect the registration of the Applicant’s domain name and may result in its suspension or cancellation if the Registry operator considers that any provision of this Policy has been breached.
4. Price
The registration fee for a two-character domain name is EUR 375 for the initial one-year period. The annual renewal fee is the same.
This amount does not include the fees charged by the accredited registrar.
5. Priority Assignment Period for Two-Character “.ad” Names
The Priority Assignment Period for two-character “.ad” names is the phase during which applications falling within the six categories set out in this Policy are accepted simultaneously. Requested names shall be allocated at the end of the period in accordance with the order of priority applicable to each category, as established in clause 6, and, where applicable, following the outcome of the auction procedure.
The Priority Assignment Period for two-character “.ad” names opens on 1 December 2026 at 13:00 UTC and ends on 23 February 2027 at 13:00 UTC.
During this period, interested parties may apply for two-character domain names through an accredited registrar. An application neither reserves the domain name nor guarantees its allocation.
The Registry may require the documentation necessary to verify that the Applicant meets the requirements of the priority category claimed.
6. Order of Priority and Tie-Breaker Criteria
If an application does not meet the conditions required to qualify for a priority category, it shall be reclassified as a priority 5 application if the Applicant is Andorran, or as a priority 6 application if the Applicant is not Andorran.
Priority | Applicant persons or entities | Conditions for priority | Tie-breaker criteria in the event of identical applications within the same priority category |
1 | Andorran public institutions | The Applicant is an Andorran public institution and may apply for any available two-character name. | The Government of Andorra and the Consell General have priority over other Andorran public institutions. If there is a tie and no agreement is reached among those other public authorities, the name shall not be allocated and shall remain reserved by the Registry operator. |
2 | Holders and exclusive licensees of Andorran word or combined trademarks registered before 1 October 2026, and holders of Andorran trade names registered with the Trademark Office of the Principality of Andorra (OMPA) before 1 October 2026 | The name must match the trademark or trade name normalised into domain-name format, without spaces, apostrophes or graphic elements. In the case of combined trademarks, the verbal element of the trademark shall be taken into account. | Holders of Andorran trademarks have priority over holders of Andorran trade names. If there is a tie between holders of Andorran trademarks or between holders of trade names, the dispute shall be resolved through the auction procedure set out in clause 8. |
3 | Andorran legal persons | The name must match their registered company name or a significant part of that name. | If there is a tie, the dispute shall be resolved through the auction procedure set out in clause 8. |
4 | Holders of word or combined trademarks that have no legal effect in Andorra and were registered before 1 October 2026 in publicly accessible online registers | The name must match the trademark normalised into domain-name format, without spaces, apostrophes or graphic elements. The trademark reference and the office with which it is registered must be specified. | If there is a tie, the dispute shall be resolved through the auction procedure set out in clause 8. |
5 | Andorran citizens and residents, whether natural or legal persons | Any name applied for by an Andorran Applicant that is not an Andorran public institution and does not meet the requirements of the preceding priority categories, including fanciful names. | If there is a tie, the dispute shall be resolved through the auction procedure set out in clause 8. |
6 | Any non-Andorran natural or legal person, including persons that may otherwise qualify under the preceding categories | Any name applied for by a non-Andorran Applicant that is not an Andorran public institution and does not meet the requirements of the preceding priority categories, including fanciful names. | If there is a tie, the dispute shall be resolved through the auction procedure set out in clause 8. |
7. Allocation and General Opening of Two-Character Domains
The Registry shall decide on applications submitted during the Priority Assignment Period for two-character “.ad” names once that period has ended.
From 25 February 2027 at 13:00 UTC, any person may register any two-character domain names that remain available. Allocation shall be made on a first-come, first-served basis.
Domain names subject to an auction procedure shall remain blocked and shall not be available for registration until that procedure has been completed.
The price applicable during this phase is the price set out in clause 4.
8. Auction Procedure
Once the Priority Assignment Period for two-character “.ad” names has ended, the Registry shall initiate the auction procedure for domain names in respect of which there are multiple applications within the same priority category and the tie must be resolved by auction.
Domain names subject to an auction procedure shall remain blocked and shall not be available for registration until that procedure has been completed.
a) The auction shall be managed by the “.ad” Registry. All communications from the Registry shall be copied to the Applicant’s accredited registrar. The submission of a bid constitutes acceptance of these conditions.
b) Once the Priority Assignment Period has ended and the existence of a tie has been determined, the Registry shall send the Applicant an email informing the Applicant of the tie and the commencement of the auction procedure. From the date on which that communication is sent, the Applicant shall have fifteen (15) calendar days to submit a financial bid for the domain name.
c) The Applicant may submit one bid only, for a minimum amount of EUR 375 or for a higher amount in increments of EUR 25; for example, EUR 400, EUR 425, EUR 475, EUR 600 or EUR 1,000. The bid shall be binding on the Applicant submitting it.
d) If no Applicant submits a bid within the period set out in paragraph b), all Applicants shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the auction. All applications shall be refused and the domain name shall become available.
e) If only one Applicant submits a bid, all other Applicants shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the auction and the domain name shall be allocated to that Applicant for the amount bid under paragraph c), without prejudice to any applicable registrar fees.
f) If several Applicants submit the same bid, the procedure set out in paragraph b) shall be repeated until a higher bid is submitted or the Applicants withdraw from the auction.
g) The highest bid shall be the winning bid. The outcome of the auction shall be notified to the accredited registrars concerned and to the winning Applicant, together with the payment terms.
h) The winning Applicant shall have fifteen (15) calendar days to pay the amount of its bid.
i) If the winning Applicant fails to make payment within the specified period, it shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the auction. The Applicant that submitted the second-highest bid, or, where applicable, the subsequent Applicants in descending order of their bids, shall be notified. The notified Applicant shall have the period provided for in paragraph h) to make payment. If no valid outstanding bid remains, all applications shall be refused and the domain name shall become available once the auction procedure has been completed.
9. Entry into Force
This Policy enters into force on 1 October 2026.