.MUSEUM - General FAQs

What is .museum?
.museum is a Top Level Domain (TLD) created exclusively for the museum community. ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has approved .museum as a Top-Level Domain. The Museum Domain Management Association (MuseDoma) administers the museum registry.

Who can register a .museum domain name?
The .museum domain registration is exclusively for Individual museums, professional associations of museums, individual members of the museum profession and virtual museums.

What domain names can I register in .museum?

• Every name in .museum must be clearly and recognizably derived from the name by which the entity to which it is assigned is other wise widely known (ex. If your museum is named the Allentown Art Museum, you may NOT register Jonestown.naturalhistory.museum).
• You may not use the word museum, other than in the top level (ex. Museum.allentown.museum is NOT valid).
• You may not string more than two words together in each level (ex. Allentown.paintingdrawingsculpture.museum is NOT valid).
• You may register third level and higher domain names. Some examples of this are:

  3rd level: generic.location.museum
  4th level: generic.specific.location.museum
  5th level: generic.specific.specific.location.museum

• You may appeal to MuseDoma for a second level domain name. You may submit your request at https://ens.museum/giveid.html.
• For more detailed information on MuseDoma's Naming Conventions, please click here.

What is the benefit for a museum community member to register a .museum name?
Museum community members benefit from a structured and controlled TLD meaning .museum is your TLD, specifically created for the museum community.

How is .museum securing Internet exchanges for the museum community?
The main advantages are that the authentication of all domain name holders protects the integrity of the community, while enhancing the level of trust in Internet transactions.

Will my .museum web address be able to co-exist with my current .Com websites and web addresses?
Yes, .museum domains work just like a .com domain name. If your domain administrator configures your DNS accurately, your .museum address will display the desired web site. The same principle applies for email service. See your DNS or email administrator for more information. Conversely, Domain Bank offers free web redirect and forwarding service of all .museum registrations to existing .com web addresses upon request.

How can I obtain a .museum domain name?

1. Complete the Registration Process on our web site to request the specific .museum names you would like to register.
2. We submit your .museum domain requests directly to the .museum registry.
3. Once the domain name(s) you requested are registered, we will notify you by confirmation email.

Who sets the eligibility criteria for .museum names?
Eligibility criteria are set by the registry. The restrictions are based upon the definition of a museum, as adopted by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), in the .museum charter.

How much will it cost to register a .museum domain name?
The cost is $100.00 per year per .museum domain name. Initially, there is a minimum registration term of 2 years and a maximum registration term of 4 years.

When can I start using my .museum domain name?
As soon as you receive the email confirming the registration, you may start using your .museum domain name.

How can I find an index of registered .museum domain names?
Musedoma has provided an incredible tool to index categories of registrations. Simply go to yourchoiceofwords.museum to find all .museum names registered using "yourchoiceofwords." The index even includes links to the active websites, if available (ex. Browse to art.museum).

How long does the application process and registration take?
The registration may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The registration process is not immediate because MuseDoma must approve all registration requests.