.ca domains

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.ca domains

Last updated September 18, 2026 02:27

Learn about the guidelines and features of .ca domains.

If you're based in Canada, you can register, transfer, or connect domains ending in .ca to Squarespace. These domains are a great option if you have a business or professional presence in Canada.

The .ca TLD namespace, managed by its registry CIRA, follows different rules than most other TLDs we offer. This guide covers certain special requirements and exceptions from Squarespace and the relevant organization that oversees .ca domain registration. To learn more about these requirements and exceptions, visit TLD registry policies.

To find a domain's price, you can search for it on our domain name search page or in your domains dashboard.

Transfer pricing

It's free to transfer a .ca to Squarespace, but we ‌add one extra year of registration, as we do for other TLDs. During the transfer process, you'll enter your payment method so we can charge you the standard price on your usual renewal date. The fee for this one year of domain service appears on the transfer checkout page.

Your domain may be subject to local sales taxes. If the fee is subject to tax, we'll add it during checkout. To learn more, visit Canadian tax and Squarespace billing.

Tip: For an overview of costs associated with .ca domains, visit CIRA’s documentation.

TLD features

Browse the table below to learn about the unique features and rules of registering or transferring a domain ending in .ca. If you connect a third-party .ca domain, these guidelines don't apply.
Feature Rules
Registrars While Squarespace is directly accredited to sell and service .ca domains through Squarespace Domains Canada Inc., we may manage .ca domains with other registrar partners. To learn more, visit Who's my registrar of record?
Expired domains If Squarespace Domains Canada Inc. is your domain registrar, you have 30 days after the domain’s expiration date to renew your domain using the Renew button in your domains dashboard. Past 30 days, we can't guarantee your domain will be available for renewal. Keep in mind, there may be a fee to restore the domain in addition to the current domain price. If Tucows is your domain registrar, you have 40 days after the domain’s expiration date to renew your domain using the Renew button in your domains dashboard. If you don't renew the domain within 40 days, you'll then have a 30-day redemption period to contact Tucows and request a renewal. Keep in mind, there may be a fee to restore the domain in addition to the current domain price.
Registration grace period You can cancel these domains within five days of registration for a refund.
Free domain offer These domains aren't eligible for the free domain offer.
Legal Type To register a domain ending in .ca, you must meet the Canadian presence requirement (CPR) by qualifying for one of several categories defined by CIRA. You choose your legal type when registering, or transferring a .ca domain to Squarespace. If your legal type is Canadian Citizen, enter the registrant's first and last name in both the First and Last name fields and in the Organization field. If you leave the Organization field blank, the registration or transfer won't work. You can change your legal type at any time: 1. Open your domains dashboard. 2. Click your .ca domain. 3. Click Edit in the Registration Information section. 4. Scroll down to Additional Information. 5. Select the legal type you want from the dropdown menu. If you change your legal type to Canadian Citizen, enter your first and last name in both the First and Last name fields and the Organization field.
Privacy CIRA, the registry that manages the .ca namespace, provides Whois privacy for .ca domains when you register as an Individual person. If you register a .ca domain as a non-individual entity, like an Association, or Corporation, CIRA requires the entity’s full legal name to be entered in the Organization field. In these cases, Whois data is publicly visible and can't be hidden.
Registry Verification Process As part of the Registrant Information Validation process, the registrant and/or administrative contact may receive emails from CIRA requesting proof of Canadian presence when registering a .ca domain. These emails will likely come from compliance@cira.ca. If you ignore these emails, or can’t provide proof of your Canadian presence, your domain will be suspended, and eventually canceled and made public for registration. To learn more about the timeline of this process, review CIRA’s documentation.
Registry Transfer Confirmation When your .ca domain transfer is complete, you'll receive an email from CIRA confirming the change. The email lists your new registrar, the registrar’s contact information, and other important details about your .ca domain.
Editing Registration Data To edit the registrant’s Name, Organization, or Email fields, ensure you accept CIRA’s Registrant Agreement by clicking the check box. If you don’t, you can’t edit the registrant’s information.
Transfer authorization code .ca domain transfer authorization codes can only contain letters and numbers. If you see an invalid authorization code error message, check your code for special characters and request a new one from your current domain host.

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.ca domains