India has brand.in, Britain moved to brand.uk, and Colombia turned .co into a global product. So why does Nepal give you brand.com.np instead of brand.np? The answer lies in how the NIC.np registry structures the national namespace, and it affects what you can actually register today.

How the .np Namespace Is Structured

The top-level domain .np is not open for direct public registration. Instead, the registry at register.com.np, operated by Mercantile Communications, issues names under structured second levels:

  • .com.np for individuals and businesses
  • .org.np for organizations and non-profits
  • .edu.np for educational institutions
  • .gov.np for government bodies
  • .net.np for network service providers

Every public registration lives under one of these categories. A direct second-level name like brand.np is currently reserved by policy rather than offered for sale.

Why Nepal Keeps the Two-Level System

  1. Category trust: the extension itself tells users what kind of entity they are dealing with. A .edu.np is verifiably a school; a .gov.np is verifiably government.
  2. Free registration model: because .np domains are free with document verification, the structured system keeps the namespace orderly and abuse low.
  3. Policy continuity: countries that opened direct second-level registration usually did so alongside paid, market-driven models. Nepal has so far prioritized its verified free model.

Could Direct .np Registration Open in the Future?

Other registries have shown it is possible: .uk opened direct registrations in 2014 while keeping .co.uk alive. If Nepal ever follows, existing .com.np holders would likely receive priority rights to the matching .np name, as was the pattern elsewhere. Until an official policy change is announced, treat any service claiming to sell direct .np names with suspicion.

What You Should Register Today

  • Primary: your .com.np, free at register.com.np with citizenship or company documents, a cover letter and nameservers, approved in 1 to 3 business days.
  • Optional global companion: the matching .com at roughly NPR 1,500 to 2,200 per year if you serve international customers or want brand protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is www.brand.np ever legitimate today?

A handful of special and infrastructure names exist directly under .np, but ordinary businesses cannot register there. If a reseller offers you one, verify with the official registry first.

Does the longer .com.np hurt SEO?

No. Search engines read .com.np as the Nepal country code with a commercial category. Ranking depends on content, speed and links, not the number of dots.

If direct .np opens, will I lose my .com.np?

Extremely unlikely. Registries that opened shorter variants kept existing domains working and gave holders first rights to the new form.

Secure your name under the extensions available now: run a domain search, follow the registration guide, or get advice from our team.