What is .icu?
.icu entered the DNS root zone on May 2, 2015, 11 years ago. It came out of ICANN's New gTLD Program, the 2012 application round that grew the root from 22 generic TLDs to well over a thousand.
ShortDot SA also runs 4 other TLDs, including .bond, .cfd, .cyou and .sbs.
On the technical side, .icu is served by 4 authoritative name servers, every one of them reachable over IPv6. It is also DNSSEC-signed: the root zone carries a DS record for .icu, which lets validating resolvers check its answers cryptographically. Registration data is published over RDAP and WHOIS (the WHOIS server is whois.nic.icu).
Same registry, other endings
4 other TLDs share this operator.
.icu FAQ
What does .icu mean?
.icu is a generic top-level domain named for the word "icu". It doesn't belong to any country.
What country is .icu?
None. .icu is a generic top-level domain, so it isn't tied to any country.
Who owns the .icu domain extension?
ShortDot SA operates .icu as its registry, under a registry agreement with ICANN.
When was .icu created?
.icu was delegated to the DNS root zone on May 2, 2015.
Is .icu a valid domain?
Yes. .icu is an active top-level domain in the DNS root zone, delegated in 2015, so .icu addresses work in every browser.
Can I buy a .icu domain?
.icu names are sold through ICANN-accredited registrars. Some gTLDs restrict who can register, so read ShortDot SA's policy if you're unsure.
Is .icu DNSSEC-signed?
Yes, the root zone holds a DS record for .icu.
Sources
Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed June 19, 2024. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
