.LY domain help and support
Answers about registering, transferring, managing and paying for a .ly domain. Type a word to narrow them. If yours isn't here, open a ticket: our support answers 24/7.
Registering a .ly domain
Who can apply for .LY domain names?
Anyone can register a .LY domain name, with two exceptions. A name shorter than 4 characters directly under .ly, such as abc.ly, needs a local presence in Libya. And the zones NIC.LY reserves for Libyan bodies, .gov.ly, .edu.ly, .sch.ly and .med.ly, need an official letter from the applicant as proof of identity.
Do I need to reside in Libya to register .ly domain?
No. Individuals and organizations don't need a local presence to register a .ly domain, and anyone can search for one and reserve it. Only names shorter than 4 characters directly under .ly, such as abc.ly, need a local presence in Libya.
What are the valid characters and lengths for .ly domain names?
A .ly domain name must:
- Have 1 to 63 characters. Names shorter than 4 characters directly under .ly need a local presence in Libya.
- Begin with a letter or a number, and end with a letter or a number.
- Use the English character set: letters a to z, numbers 0 to 9 and hyphens (-), or a combination of these.
- Neither begin nor end with a hyphen.
What is the registration period allowed for .ly domain names?
From 1 to 10 years at a time. The price for more than one year is shown at checkout.
How long can domain registration take?
It's instant, once you complete checkout.
Is a .ly extension good for a domain?
Yes. A .ly extension suits tech companies, start-ups and personal websites, and it lends itself to short domain hacks: reg.ly does it with its own names, get.ly and your.ly.
Are there any restrictions?
Yes. Under registry regulations, no .ly domain may be used, directly or indirectly, for anything sexual or pornographic in nature, or to violate the rights of third parties. If a website breaches this, the NIC.LY registry reserves the right to deactivate the domain at once. See the NIC.LY regulations and our Terms of Use.
Transferring a .ly domain
How long will the domain transfer take?
Instantly, when nothing blocks it. There's no approval step at your current registrar. A wrong auth code, a registrar lock or an expired name blocks a transfer: fix it and the transfer can be retried. A name can't move within 3 days of a registration or a previous transfer.
Will I lose the remaining time I have with my current registrar?
No. The time you have left with your current registrar carries over, and your domain is renewed for one year as part of the transfer.
Can my domain be renewed for more than 1 year during transfer?
When you move your domain, the time left with your old registrar is included, and the one year you transfer for is added on top. You can add more years once the transfer is done.
Can I transfer an expired domain?
No. The domain's status must read OK or Active. Check it in the .LY WHOIS to make sure it's ready to transfer, and open a ticket if you need help.
Where do I get the auth code?
From your current registrar. If you can't get it there, use Key Retrieval at whois.nic.ly.
Can I give a name to another reg.ly customer?
Yes, free. The registration period isn't extended, and the move is final. Open a ticket with the new owner's email and phone number.
Why do people transfer domains?
For different reasons. When cost matters, people move a domain to the registrar with the better price. To move a .ly name here, see the .LY transfer.
Managing a .ly domain
How to Change Domain Nameservers (DNS)?
Sign in, open the name under Domains, My Domains, choose DNS Server Settings, enter reg.ly DNS (ns1.get.ly and ns2.get.ly) or up to 5 name servers of your own, and save. The change spreads across the internet within 2 hours.
How can I renew my .ly domain registration?
Sign in and renew it from your account, or use renew a domain. A one-year renewal is $75.00.
Will you remind me before it expires?
We email about 60, 30 and 7 days before, and 5 days after. They're a courtesy: renewing stays up to you.
What happens if I don't renew?
The name stops working 1 day after expiry. From day 45 it's in redemption for 30 days, when we can restore it at no fee. After that only the registry can restore it, until the registry purges the name. Then anyone can register it.
Paying for a .ly domain
Can I get a refund?
Not once an order is complete and the name is active. The one exception is a transaction that fails because of our technical error: we refund it to your account balance within 30 business days. See section 11.4 of the Terms.
I registered a typo. Can it be fixed?
Possibly, within 3 calendar days of payment confirmation. It's a courtesy, subject to the right spelling being free and to our verification, and the misspelt name is released without a refund. See section 11.5 of the Terms.
Which currency are prices in?
US dollars. See every .LY price.
How can I pay?
By card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amazon Pay or Klarna.
Ask a person
Open a ticket and our support answers, 24/7. Report abuse of a .ly name registered with us the same way.