brexit.eu* and the Jack Charlton rule

EURid, the .eu domain manager, recently clarified the post-Brexit position for UK registrants.

As from 1 January 2021, 00:00:00 CET, EURid will NOT allow the registration of any new domain name by UK registrants. From that date, EURid will allow neither the transfer, nor the transfer through update, of any domain name to a UK registrant.

If you are a UK registrant of .eu domain, you should have received an email from EURid on 1st October 2020 to advise that you will not be eligible to retain it unless you can update your registration details before 31st December 2020 to show your entitlement. You’ll get a reminder on 21st December 2020. Once your .eu domain is withdrawn, it will not be available to another registrant for 12 months after which your registration will be revoked, and the domain made available to eligible registrants.

Similar provisions will apply to other top-level domains (TLDs) within the EU such as .fr and .it.

If, however, you are an EU citizen resident in the UK, your eligibility will not be affected. You may need to update your registration to evidence this. Similarly, if you are a UK citizen resident in the EU your eligibility will not be affected. However, a UK citizen resident outside the EU will no longer be eligible.

Think of it as akin to the Jack Charlton rule:  if you have an Irish granny, you may be allowed to hold on to your .eu domain.  The easiest way to evidence this would be with an Irish Passport.

If you still can’t evidence eligibility, you’ll need to think about continuity arrangements. This may include an alternative TLD such as .com, .co.uk or .net. Don’t forget to review your email address which you may need to access other websites.

*By the way, the brexit.eu domain is currently available for a mere €9,999!

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