Why did my IDN registration fail?
An Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) may appear available in a NiceNIC domain search but still fail registration because it does not meet the registry’s character or language requirements for that domain extension.
Common IDN-related reasons include:
1. The domain contains unsupported characters
Each registry determines which characters are allowed under its domain extensions. A character that you can type or display on your screen may not be accepted for registration.
Supported characters and combinations vary by extension, so a name accepted under one extension may be rejected under another.
2. A related domain variant is already registered or reserved
Some registries treat certain alternative character forms as related domain variants. For example, simplified and traditional Chinese characters may be covered by a registry's variant rules.
If a related variant is already registered or reserved, the version you entered may be blocked from separate registration, even if that exact spelling has not been registered. This depends on the extension's variant policy.
3. The domain mixes characters that cannot be used together
Some registries restrict mixing different writing systems, or "scripts," within the same domain name.
For example, the Latin letter a and the Cyrillic letter а look almost identical, but they are different characters. Combining Latin and Cyrillic letters in one name may cause the registration to be rejected.
Not all mixed-script combinations are prohibited. The permitted combinations depend on the registry's rules.
Why did the search show the domain as available?
An availability check may not identify every character restriction or variant rule. Additional checks during registration can result in the registry rejecting a name that appeared available.
Registration is only complete once the registry accepts the request.
What happens if I have already paid?
If you have already paid, please contact NiceNIC support with your order number. Once we confirm that the domain cannot be registered, we will refund the registration fee to your NiceNIC account balance.
