Enter Gibraltar market with a .GI Domain

For the direct .gi level the rules close that door. The «Mandatory Rules» section states: «The .gi top level zone (without any preceding generic zone) is for the exclusive use of Gibraltar registered businesses and organisations and may only be used for their own local services/purposes.» For a company based elsewhere, the level that is open is com.gi: its own rules page does not repeat the Gibraltar registration requirement and defines the zone as being «for the registration of names relating to commercial enterprises».

The rules set it in one line under «Mandatory Rules»: one and two character names are not allowed, so the effective minimum is three. That limit applies in the sub-zones too, because each sub-zone's rules incorporate the common document «in full». No maximum is stated separately; the text says all new domain requests conform to RFC 1034, 1035, 1122 and 1123, so the standard 63-character DNS label limit applies.

There are four bans. The first is length: one and two character names cannot be registered. The second is generic labels: all top level and second level generic names such as co, com and net are barred as second and third level names. The third is content: no .gi name may be used or appear to be used for pornography or any other activity that is illegal in Gibraltar. The fourth rests with the Committee: names that may be considered offensive or defamatory are not allowed. Allocation follows first come, first served.

Yes, in defined circumstances. The rules allow Sapphire, on prior consultation with the Committee, to withdraw or suspend the delegation of a name. The listed grounds are: the name is administered in a way likely to endanger operation of the DNS; the basis on which the name was registered has changed — for example the applicant organisation no longer exists; it is drawn to Sapphire's attention that the name is being used in a manner likely to cause confusion; Sapphire is informed that legal action has begun; the Committee's rules are broken; or Sapphire is of the opinion that one of these is likely to occur.

The rules impose one technical condition, and it is unusually relaxed: there must be at least two name servers for the domain, with addresses specified in the request, operating at the time the request is submitted. The sentence that follows matters: «There is no restriction on the physical location or IP address of these nameservers.» So you are not required to host your DNS in Gibraltar. All new domain requests must also conform to RFC 1034, 1035, 1122 and 1123.

Here honesty is required: the registry's published rules contain no provision at all on term, renewal or the post-expiry chain. Only measurement offers a hint: in registry whois samples read on 12 August 2026, expiry dates fall on the registration anniversary and can span several years. That is an observation, not a rule. We recommend getting written confirmation of the available terms, and of what happens if a renewal is late, before you place an order.