How to register a .com.tr domain: 2026 guide to document-free registration

For a business operating in Türkiye, a .com.tr domain is the digital identity that most directly tells customers "we are a local and trustworthy company". For many years, obtaining this extension required preparing documents such as a trade registry gazette, a tax certificate or a trademark certificate, and then waiting for approval. Today the process is much simpler: you can find a suitable name and complete the registration within a few minutes. Still, "simple" does not mean it can be done carelessly. Below, we walk step by step through how .com.tr registration works as of 2026.

What is TRABİS, and who manages .com.tr?

Domains with the .tr extension are managed through TRABİS (the .tr Network Information System), operated by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK). TRABİS is the registry authority for the extension; end users, however, do not apply to TRABİS directly but through registrars accredited by BTK.

In practice this means that whichever accredited registrar you buy your domain from, the registration is kept in the same central database. The differences between registrars lie in price, ease of use of the control panel, DNS management, quality of technical support and additional services.

What changed with document-free registration?

Under the .tr Domain Names Regulation, as of 14 September 2022 many .tr extensions, led by .com.tr, began to be allocated without documents. With this change:

• The document requirement was removed: No company incorporation document, trademark registration certificate or proof of trade name is required to obtain a .com.tr domain.
• The "first come, first served" principle applies: An available domain is registered by the person or organisation that first completes a valid application.
• Registration became faster: Instead of waiting days for approval, the process is usually completed within minutes.

While the document-free period has made things much easier for businesses, it has also brought a risk: someone else may register the .com.tr domain matching your brand before you do. For this reason, when you decide on a new brand or product name, it is advisable to register the corresponding domain without delay.

Who can register a .com.tr domain?

Document-free registration does not mean "anyone can register under any circumstances"; the applicant's identity must be verifiable. In general terms, the following individuals and organisations can register a .com.tr domain:

• Turkish citizens: Can apply as individuals with their Turkish national ID number.
• Legal entities with a tax identification number in Türkiye: Companies, associations, foundations and other organisations can register with their tax identification number.
• Foreign nationals resident in Türkiye: Individuals with a foreigner identification number or a tax identification number can also apply.

Additional conditions may apply to applicants abroad who do not have such a connection with Türkiye. In that case, the safest course is to consult your registrar before registering.

An important note: the name under which you register the domain is one of the issues that causes the most problems later on. Registering a domain that belongs to your company in the name of an employee or your agency can cause you to lose control of the domain in the event of a separation or dispute. Always register corporate domains under the company's own trade name and tax number.

Other .tr extensions and document requirements

Besides .com.tr, there are many other .tr extensions. Some of these are allocated without documents, while extensions reserved for specific professions or institutions still require documents or verification of eligibility.

Since the rules for extensions may be updated from time to time, it is advisable to check the current conditions before applying, especially if you plan to obtain a profession- or institution-specific extension.

Step-by-step .com.tr registration

In the document-free period, .com.tr registration consists of a few simple steps:

1. Domain search: Search for the name you want using the registrar's search tool. If the domain appears to be available, it can be registered.
2. Choosing the term: Decide for how many years you want to register the domain. For critical domains, multi-year registration reduces the risk of forgetting to renew.
3. Registrant details: Enter the information completely and accurately: the Turkish national ID number for individual applications, and the company's trade name and tax identification number for corporate applications.
4. Identity verification and payment: Complete the verification steps required by the registrar and make the payment.
5. DNS settings: Set the nameservers to connect your domain to your hosting account. DNS changes may take a few hours to propagate across the internet.
6. Email and SSL setup: Create MX records for business email, and SPF, DKIM and DMARC records for deliverability; publish your site over HTTPS with an SSL certificate.

Transferring a .com.tr domain

If you are not satisfied with your current registrar, you can move your .com.tr domain to another accredited registrar. The transfer process generally works as follows:

1. Obtain the domain's transfer code (authorisation code) from your current registrar's panel, and remove the transfer lock if there is one.
2. Create a transfer request with the new registrar and enter this code.
3. Once the registrant's approval and the relevant checks are completed, the domain moves to the new registrar.

Before the transfer, check that your domain is not about to expire and that the registrant details are correct. Also back up your DNS records, so that your website and email are not interrupted if a nameserver change is needed.

A transfer is not the same as a change of registrant

A transfer is the move of a domain from one registrar to another; the owner of the domain does not change. Handing the domain over to another person or company, on the other hand, is a separate process known as a change of registrant, and it requires the approval of both the transferring and the receiving party. For example, if you want to move a domain you registered in your own name to a company you later founded, this is the process you need. In such a handover, having both parties' identity details correct and being able to access the approval emails speeds up the process.

How to keep your domain secure

• Use a strong password and, where possible, two-factor authentication to access your registrar panel.
• Request the transfer code only when you are actually going to transfer, and do not share it openly with anyone by email.
• Add your domain's expiry date to your calendar and keep automatic renewal turned on.
• If you work with a web agency, rather than handing panel access over to the agency, prefer that they make the necessary DNS changes with your approval.

What to consider when choosing a domain name

As the technical process becomes easier, the truly difficult part is finding the right name. A good domain is an asset you will use for years; the following criteria make the choice easier:

• Keep it short and memorable: When said over the phone, it should be possible to write it correctly the first time.
• Consider the Turkish character issue: Names containing "ç, ğ, ı, ö, ş, ü" may be read differently when written in Latin letters. If necessary, also register likely spelling variations.
• Avoid hyphens and numbers: Unless necessary, using hyphens and numbers increases the chance of your name being misspelt.
• Make it consistent with your brand: The domain should be the same as, or very close to, your trade name or brand name.
• Protect extensions together: Registering the .com extension alongside .com.tr makes it harder for competitors or malicious parties to mislead your customers with similar addresses.
• Respect the rights of others: Registering a domain that contains a well-known brand name can lead to legal problems, even in the document-free period.

The annual fee for the .com.tr extension is generally lower than for international extensions. At Kilitkutu, a .com.tr domain is registered for ₺1,280 per year and a .com domain for ₺1,490 per year (+VAT). To check availability and register, you can visit our domains page.

The relationship between domains and trademark registration

One of the most frequently confused topics is whether owning a domain gives you trademark rights. The short answer: it does not. Domain registration only gives you the right to use that internet address for a certain period. What protects your name commercially is trademark registration with TÜRKPATENT (the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office).

In the document-free period, this distinction has become even more important. In the past, since obtaining a .com.tr usually required a trademark or trade name document, there was a natural link between domain ownership and the right to a name. That link no longer exists. If you have a registered trademark, you have a strong basis when taking legal action against domains that use your brand without permission. If you do not have a registered trademark, whoever acts first wins.

That is why, when starting a new business, the ideal order is: decide on the name, research domain and trademark availability together, then register the domain immediately and file the trademark application without delay. For details of the trademark process you can read our How to register a trademark guide, and for professional support you can explore our trademark registration consultancy service.

In summary

Registering a .com.tr domain is now a fast, document-free process. However, the "first come, first served" rule means you need to protect valuable names without delay. Register the domain in your company's name, keep your contact details up to date, eliminate the risk of expiry with automatic renewal or multi-year registration, and complement your name with trademark registration. The Kilitkutu team is with you throughout the entire process, from domain registration to DNS and business email setup.