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Published: 2026-08-20 | Updated: 2026-08-20
How to Register a .US Domain at NiceNIC

A .US domain gives businesses, organizations, communities, and individuals a clear online connection to the United States.
Unlike unrestricted extensions, .US requires the domain holder to have a legitimate U.S. Nexus. Before registering, make sure you actually qualify and use accurate contact information.
This guide explains the Nexus requirement and shows how to register a .US domain at NiceNIC.

Quick Answer
A .US domain is available to three main categories of eligible registrants:
  • Category 1: A U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or individual whose primary domicile is in the United States or its possessions
  • Category 2: A U.S. entity or organization incorporated or organized under U.S. law
  • Category 3: A foreign entity or organization with a genuine lawful presence or activities in the United States
The .US Registry requires this U.S. connection to continue throughout the life of the registration and may conduct spot checks to confirm eligibility.
The NiceNIC registration page therefore displays:
.US Reminder: A valid U.S. nexus is required to register a .US domain.
The example order in this guide shows a first-year price of $13.99. NiceNIC currently lists Market at $13.99, Basic at $13.39, Super at $12.99, and VIP at $12.39.

Before You Register
Prepare:
  • Your preferred .US domain
  • The real name of the individual or organization that will own it
  • Accurate address and contact information
  • A working telephone number and email address
  • Your applicable U.S. Nexus basis
  • Supporting evidence if the Registry later requests verification
  • A supported payment method
Do not use a U.S. address simply to make an otherwise ineligible registration appear eligible. The Nexus requirement is based on a real connection to the United States, not merely the address entered in the form.

Step 1: Search for Your .US Domain
Go to the NiceNIC domain search page and enter the name you want, for example:
examplebrand.us
Click Search.

If the domain is available, the result page displays its current registration price.

Before clicking Register, confirm that the intended holder satisfies one of the three Nexus categories.

Step 2: Enter Accurate Holder Information
NiceNIC next displays the .US registration reminder:
A valid U.S. nexus is required to register a .US domain.

Enter the real details of the individual or organization that will own the domain:
  • Name
  • Company, if applicable
  • Country or region
  • Address and postal code
  • Telephone number
  • Valid email address
Your contact information should be consistent with the Nexus category under which you qualify.

Which Nexus Category Applies?
U.S. individual
A U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or person whose primary domicile is in the United States may qualify under Category 1.
U.S. company or organization
An entity incorporated or otherwise organized under U.S. law may qualify under Category 2.
Foreign company or organization
A foreign entity may qualify under Category 3 when it has a genuine U.S. presence: for example, regular lawful business activities in the United States or an office or other facility there.
A foreign individual who does not otherwise meet Category 1 should not assume that simply doing business with U.S. customers automatically creates .US eligibility.
NiceNIC automatically enters its default nameservers. They can normally be left unchanged unless your hosting or DNS provider has supplied different nameservers.
Accept the Domain Registration Service Agreement and click Next step.

Important: .US Privacy and Proxy Registration Is Restricted
.US differs from many other domain extensions in one important way.
The official usTLD policy prohibits anonymous or proxy registration services that prevent the Registry from receiving and displaying the domain holder's true registration data. Registrars and resellers also cannot substitute their own contact information as proxy registrant data.
For a .US domain, use the real holder information from the beginning.
This also means you should not assume that the WHOIS privacy options available for many other extensions will apply to .US.

Step 3: Review the Registration Details
The next page displays the information entered for the order.

Check:
  • Domain spelling
  • Holder name
  • Company name, if applicable
  • Country and address
  • Telephone number
  • Email address
  • Registration period
Most importantly, confirm that the holder information is consistent with the U.S. Nexus being claimed.
The Registry conducts spot checks on selected .US registrations, so correcting inaccurate information before submission is much easier than trying to justify it later.
Click Next when everything is correct.

Step 4: Confirm the Price and Complete Payment
The order page shows the domain, registration term, price, total amount, and current account balance.

NiceNIC currently lists first-year .US pricing as:
  • Market: $13.99
  • Basic: $13.39
  • Super: $12.99
  • VIP: $12.39
Check the live price before ordering because account-level pricing and promotions may change.

Click Pay by Crypto / PayPal to continue.

Review the final amount and any payment-provider fee before completing the transaction.

If Your U.S. Nexus Is Checked
The .US Registry performs Nexus spot checks and may ask selected registrants to provide documentary evidence.
Examples of evidence accepted by the Registry include:
  • U.S. passport or birth certificate for a U.S. citizen
  • Green Card documentation for a permanent resident
  • Current official business documents showing a U.S. organization and address
  • Evidence of lawful U.S. business activity or U.S. facilities for a qualifying foreign organization
The document requested depends on the Nexus category being claimed.
If contacted, provide information that matches the domain holder and Nexus category used during registration.

Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can anyone register a .US domain?
No. The registrant must satisfy one of the official usTLD Nexus categories.
2. Do I have to be a U.S. citizen?
No. U.S. permanent residents, individuals primarily domiciled in the United States, qualifying U.S. organizations, and certain foreign organizations with a bona fide U.S. presence may also qualify.
3. Can a foreign company register a .US domain?
Yes, if it has a bona fide U.S. presence that satisfies Category 3—for example, qualifying lawful activities or an office or facility in the United States.
4. Can I use WHOIS Privacy for a .US domain?
Anonymous and proxy registrations that hide the true registrant data from the .US Registry are prohibited under the current usTLD Privacy Services Policy.
5. Will the Registry check my eligibility?
It may. The usTLD Administrator conducts spot checks and can require documentary evidence demonstrating compliance with the claimed Nexus category.
6. How much does a .US domain cost at NiceNIC?
The example order shown here is $13.99 for one year. NiceNIC currently lists lower first-year pricing for Basic, Super, and VIP account levels.

Register Your .US Domain
First confirm that the intended holder has a valid U.S. Nexus.
Then search for your preferred .US name, enter the real holder information, review the order, and complete payment.
Check .US availability and register your domain at NiceNIC.

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