About .bw domains

About .bw domains

.BW is a country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) in the DNS root zone. It is designated for Botswana. The IANA root zone lists the registry manager as Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA). Registration policies (who may register, local presence, pricing) are set by the registry and its accredited registrars — not by IANA.

.bw is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Botswana. It is officially administered by the Botswana Communication Regulatory Authority since 2013, previously being administered by the University of Botswana.

Who can register .bw domains?

Eligibility is defined by the registry operator and its registrars. Most gTLDs are open to anyone worldwide. Many ccTLDs are also open globally; some require local presence, citizenship, or trademark rights. Always confirm current policy with the registry or your registrar.

Registration restrictions

Character rules below follow common ICANN LDH conventions. Individual registries and registrars may impose extra eligibility, length, or residency rules.

Length

2 – 63 characters (label before .bw)

Can use

Letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), and hyphens (not first/last or consecutive in restricted cases)

Cannot use

Special characters (e.g. & # @) in standard LDH labels

IDNs

Varies by registry — check IDN support with the registry or your registrar

Features

Operational features (privacy, parking, protection) are registrar-level, not defined by the IANA root zone record.

Registry information

Sponsor / manager

Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA)

Registration services

http://nic.net.bw

WHOIS server

whois.nic.net.bw