The new shorter, sharper domain for UK based sites
This is an all-new domain name extension which is design to be shorter and to the point. It doesn't affect or replace existing .co.uk, .org.uk .me.uk or any other existing .uk extensions which remain valid and available.
Unlike any other new domain name launch, there is a process which guarantees the rights to new .uk domain name extensions for up to 5 years. This helps ensure that your brand can secure and use it before someone else has the ability to register it.
Existing rights holders to .uk domains lose this privilege from June 2019. At this point any unsecured .uk domain names are available for general registration.
We recognise that the launch process is like no other before. You can visit the official registry website for further details and ideas here.
If there was no equivalent .co.uk on the cut-off date
(e.g. www.example.org.uk existed but www.example.co.uk did not)
If an equivalent .co.uk existed on the cut-off date
(e.g. www.example.org.uk existed and www.example.co.uk existed)
If there was no equivalent .co.uk or .org.uk on the cut-off date
(e.g. www.example.me.uk existed but www.example.co.uk did not)
If an equivalent .co.uk or .org.uk existed on the cut-off date
(e.g. www.example.me.uk existed and www.example.co.uk existed)
Please make reference to the rights tool facility to confirm if you have rights to an equivalent .uk domain.
The WHOIS output will clearly show if there is an existing rights claim to a domain. If it simply shows as available then you can secure your domain today. If there is a rights claim then there is only one party who can secure the domain today - the rights holder.
If you're not the existing rights holder to a .uk domain name, then from 10th June 2019 any unsecured .uk domains will become available for general registration.