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.va ccTLD

The .va top-level domain is the country-code domain for Vatican City State, assigned under ISO 3166-1. It is strictly reserved for official institutions of the Holy See and is not available for public registration.

Registry:Holy See - Vatican City State
Introduced:1995-09-11
Updated:May 26, 2026
Restrictions:

Restricted to official organs of the Holy See and the Vatican City State; not available for public or commercial registration.

.va Domain Overview

The .va extension is a country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) in the Domain Name System (DNS). It is managed by Holy See - Vatican City State. .va was introduced in 1995.

Registration Info

Registration pricing for .va is not publicly listed. Contact an ICANN-accredited registrar for availability and pricing.

Security Features

  • DNSSEC

What Is the History of .va?

The .va ccTLD was registered in the IANA database on September 11, 1995. Archbishop Joseph Patrick Foley of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications initiated the registration to ensure authentic digital representation of the Holy See. The first Vatican website went live on Christmas Day 1995, created by Sister Judith Zoebelein to serve as an official digital presence.

Did you know?

The .va TLD serves a specific purpose in the domain ecosystem, providing users with clear context about the websites using this extension.

What Is .va Used For?

The .va TLD is commonly used for the following purposes:

Official Holy See communications

Vatican administrative websites

Pontifical council portals

Digital archives of Vatican documents

www.vatican.va
www.news.va
www.vatnews.va
www.vaticannews.va
www.holysee.va

How Do I Register a .va Domain?

Eligibility

Registration is limited to entities officially recognized by the Holy See, such as dicasteries, councils, and pontifical commissions. Documentation and authorization from the Directorate of Telecommunications are required.

Open Registration

The .va TLD is available for registration through accredited domain registrars.

Registration Process

  1. Choose an accredited domain registrar that offers .va domains
  2. Check domain availability using the registrar's search tool
  3. Complete the registration process and provide required information
  4. Pay the registration fee (typically )
  5. Manage your domain settings through your registrar's control panel

How does .va compare to similar top-level domains? This comparison covers pricing, type, and availability to help choose the right domain extension.

View the full TLD Directory to browse all 1,900+ top-level domains with pricing, registration density analysis, and DNSSEC adoption rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Is This .va Data Compiled?

DNS Checker maintains a comprehensive TLD directory covering all 1,900+ active top-level domains. The data on this page combines multiple authoritative sources to provide information not found in standard TLD listings.

Zone File Analysis

Domain registration counts and density analysis are computed daily from TLD zone files, providing accurate registration statistics rather than estimates.

DNSSEC Adoption Tracking

DNSSEC deployment percentages are measured by scanning actual DNS records across all registered domains in each TLD zone.

Registrar Price Monitoring

Registration, renewal, and transfer prices are checked hourly across multiple accredited registrars and compared automatically.

Provider Market Share

DNS provider distribution is calculated from nameserver records, showing which hosting providers serve the most domains in each TLD.

Use DNS Checker tools to inspect any .va domain: run a full DNS health check, check DNS propagation, look up WHOIS records, or verify email authentication.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is sourced from IANA, ICANN, and respective registry operator publications, then structured and formatted with the assistance of AI. While accuracy is a priority, details such as pricing, registration requirements, and policies may change. Always verify with the official registry or an accredited registrar before making registration decisions.