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.DE Domains

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Anyone can register a .DE domain, but the German registry, DENIC, requires accurate contact data and can ask for it to be verified, before or after registration. A .DE transfer also resets the expiration date to one year from the transfer date.

Who can register a .DE domain?

.DE domains are open to registrants worldwide, without a local presence. DENIC can ask the registrant for a valid postal address in Germany. A P.O. box is not accepted.

The domain’s name servers must be set up correctly before you register, because DENIC checks them.

DENIC contact data, risk checks, and verification

DENIC requires registrant and contact information for .DE to be accurate and complete. These expectations align with the EU NIS2 directive and related national implementation.

Since 14 April 2026, DENIC applies a risk assessment to new contacts and new domain registrations. If information is considered suspicious or high-risk, DNSimple will ask the account owner to verify or correct it. If required verification is not completed, DENIC may quarantine the domain and may ultimately delete the registration.

The same requirements apply to existing contacts DENIC has already seen. A contact that DENIC flags as suspicious cannot be used to register new .DE domains until you review it and correct the data.

If verification is still outstanding three weeks after a new contact is created, DENIC may also email the domain holder directly.

Keep contact details current in your DNSimple account. To update a person or organization tied to a domain, follow Changing Domain Contacts. For background on how contacts work in DNSimple, see What are domain contacts?.

Note

If we email you about specific .DE contacts or domains that need review, use that message together with this article to decide what to update in your account.

Warning

Ignoring verification requests can lead to loss of eligibility for new .DE registrations on affected contacts, domain quarantine, or deletion under DENIC policy.

Holder verification on registered domains

DENIC can require holder verification after a .DE domain is already registered, not only at registration. This happens when the registry flags the registrant (holder) contact and asks for the holder’s details to be confirmed.

When this happens, you may receive a notice from DNSimple or directly from DENIC. If you receive a notice from DENIC, contact DNSimple Support instead of replying to DENIC directly. We complete holder verification with the registry on your behalf. The domain continues to work while verification is outstanding. If the request is ignored, the registry can apply restrictive statuses that affect the domain. DENIC can also delete the domain. See What Happens When a Registry Deletes a Domain?.

To resolve a holder verification request:

  • Confirm the registrant contact on the domain is accurate, including a reachable email address and telephone number.
  • Correct any wrong or outdated details on the registrant contact by following Changing Domain Contacts.
  • Write to DNSimple once the registrant contact information is correct so we can contact the registry on your behalf and avoid escalation to a restrictive status.

Note

If we forward a registry notice about a specific .DE domain, reply to that message or contact us. We can help you complete verification before any service impact.

Transferring a .DE domain

Unlike standard gTLD domains, .DE has some unique transfer rules.

Following a successful transfer, the expiration of the domain is set to one year from the date of the transfer, not from the previous expiration. Any time left on the old registration is lost. For example, if on 10 Mar, 2020 you transfer a domain that expires on 15 Sept, 2020, when the transfer completes, the new expiration date will be 10 Mar, 2021.

Have more questions?

If you have any questions about registering, transferring, or renewing your .DE domain, contact support, and we will be happy to help. You can also read more about TLDs available at DNSimple.