The last segment of a domain name is known as the top-level domain (TLD). It usually identifies the website by type or geographical area. For example, .com.sg the TLD is ".sg" The different TLDs have registries managed by designated organizations. Common TLDs include .com, .net, .com.sg, .org etc. Certain TLDs require certification or verification, such as .edu.sg TLDs that require an official certification from the Ministry of Education.

Registration period of domain names depends on the TLD. Some domain names can be registered for up to 10 years. While .com.sg can only register up to 2 years.

For .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info, .name, and .us domains, your domain must be registered for at least three months before you can transfer it.

Any domain transfer to Cosmo will include a mandatory one-year renewal. Domain renewal fees will be based on our domain price list.

You will have full access to the domain ownership, information, name server, registrar lock, and domain transfer password.

In order to transfer a domain, you must have the EPP Code. It can be easily obtain from your existing provider.

You are not required to buy hosting through Cosmo. You may host your domain name and email account with a different hosting provider by editing the Domain Name System (DNS) settings through the Domain Name Control Panel.

Domain private registration is optional. You can protect your personal information from being obtained from the public WHOIS system using Cosmo's Domain Privacy service. With Domain Privacy, your contact details will not be visible through a public search, helping you to keep unwanted attention and email spammers away. Cosmo provide Domain Privacy for .com domains Free of Charge

Please do note that Domain Privacy is not prorated, and the expiration date will be the same as that of the domain name.

Due to registry restrictions, Domain Privacy cannot be used with .asia, .bz, .ca, .cn, .uk, .co.uk, .de, .eu, .in, .me.uk, .nu, .li, .ch, .fr, .sg, .com.sg, .org.uk, .us, .es, .com.es, .nom.es, .org.es, .com.au, .net.au, .nyc, or .org.au domains.

For .sg domain name registration, Singapore registrants' information is hidden by default.

If your domain name expired, visitors will not be able to visit your website. This will affect your business operations and also affect your reputation. On top of that, you may have to pay a redemption fee to "re-register" the domain.

Once the domain name expires, the domain will go through a 29-day expiration phase. Within this expiration phase, you can still renew your domain.

If you do not renew it, the domain name will go into a 30-day redemption period. You will still be able to renew the domain name, but you will be required to pay a redemption fee on top of the renewal fee.

All business/company (entity) that are registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) can qualify for the discount on condition that they have not made a reservation or activated a reserved name under the SME scheme before. Also, important to note that the entity who has an expired reserved name under the scheme has disqualified itself from the scheme.

A reserved name has a 90 days reservation period, therefore, it is important to activate the name before expiry. For example, if ABC Pte Ltd has reserved the name on 5 October 2015, they can enjoy the discount if their domain name is activated by 2 January 2016.

2. How do I reserve a domain name? Go to https://cosmo.com.sg/solutions/free-sg-domain-name

(a) First check if the domain name (ending with ".com.sg" or ".sg") you want is still available for reservation.
(b) If it is still available, you will be guided with instruction on your selected registrar's website on how to reserve for the name and to activate the name.

Once you have reserved your domain name, you may choose to immediately "activate" the domain name or wait for a maximum of 90 days to "activate" your domain name with the same registrar who reserved the name for you. Please also read Q10 on "If I have reserved a domain name, how do I activate the reserved domain name?"

3. Can I reserve more than one domain name?
No, you can reserve only one domain name for each entity registered with ACRA in Singapore.

5. Can I reserve a "org.sg", "net.sg" or "edu.sg" domain name? No, this promotion is for “com.sg” and “.sg” domain names only.

6. How much does it cost to reserve a domain name? No fee is charged for reserving a domain name (ending with "com.sg" or ".sg").

To use the domain name for website or for email, you will need to "activate" or register the reserved domain name with the registrar who reserved the name for you. Please also read Q10 on “If I have reserved a domain name, how do I activate the reserved domain name?" and Q13 on “How much do I have to pay to activate the reserved domain name?”

7. What happens after the reservation period?
Your reservation will lapse if no activation was made within the 90 days reservation period. You are not able to re-activate the reservation and your reserved domain name will be moved to the available pool of names for others to reserve or register on a first-come-first-served basis.

8. I have forgotten whether my reservation period has ended. What should I do?
Go to www.sgnic.sg and type the domain name in the “Whois” box found on the top right-hand corner. On the WHOIS result page, look for the “Expiration Date” for the ending date of reservation and the Domain Status will show that it is “Pending Activation”. You may approach the registrar who helped you to reserve the name to activate the reserved name.

9. Do I have to pay after the reservation period ends? No, there will be no penalty payment for not activating your reserved domain name.

10. If I have reserved a domain name, how do I activate the reserved domain name?
To activate the domain name you have reserved, please approach the registrar who helped you to reserve the name with the following documents/information:

(a) For Businesses: Your reserved domain name, ACRA Registration Number, date of incorporation, and the NRIC number of any of the business owners.
(b) For Companies: Your reserved domain name, ACRA Registration Number and the NRIC number of any company shareholders or directors.

Please also read Q13 on “How much do I have to pay to activate the reserved domain name?

11. I have forgotten the domain name that I have reserved. What should I do?
If you wish to activate your domain name, but you are unable to recall the domain name that you have reserved, please approach the registrar who helped you to reserve the name to query for the name with your business/company's ACRA registration number, date of incorporation, and NRIC number of the owner/shareholder/director.

Alternatively, you may also contact SGNIC hotline at (65) 6659 2534 or email [email protected] for more information. Please have the ACRA registration number, date of incorporation, and NRIC number of the owner/shareholder/director on hand to facilitate checking.

12. What if I want to change the reserved domain name?
Please approach the registrar who helped you to reserve the name. Please provide them with your ACRA Registration Number and the NRIC number of any of the owners/shareholder/director.