.ac Domain
.ac is the ccTLD of Ascension Island, a remote South Atlantic territory, registered with IANA on December 19, 1997. Despite belonging to a territory with barely 800 inhabitants, it is a fully open registration extension worldwide, managed by Internet Computer Bureau Limited (NIC.AC).
Domain registration with professional infrastructure
About the .AC domain
What is the .AC domain?
Despite formally being the national domain of a territory with fewer than 800 inhabitants — mostly military and scientific base personnel — in practice .ac is one of the most open ccTLDs that exist: it requires no local presence, no company registered on the island, and no proof of professional or academic affiliation (a theoretical academic-qualification requirement exists for the second level in the regulations but is not actually enforced). Only third-level subdomains require genuine residency on the island. This combination of total openness and a short, memorable two-letter abbreviation has made it a common alternative to .com and .io for tech and brand projects.
Uses of .AC
Who is the .AC domain for?
These are the most common situations where .AC is the ideal extension.
Startups and tech projects
A short, memorable alternative to .com or .io, with no requirement of any connection to the island.
Brands evoking "academic"
The letters .ac visually recall "academic," though there is no real restriction to educational entities.
Unrestricted international projects
Anyone or any company in the world can register .ac with no local presence.
Content about Ascension Island
The most direct, geographically coherent use: tourism, history, or information about the territory.
Scientific and research projects
The "academic" connotation makes .ac a symbolically coherent choice for scientific outreach.
Defensive brand registration
Companies securing short variants of their name across less conventional ccTLDs.
.AC vs other extensions
Which extension suits you best?
Each extension has its own profile. Here we compare .AC with the most common alternatives to help you choose.
| Extension | Best for | Restrictions | Registration price |
|---|---|---|---|
| .ac This page | Any project, with no real restrictions | None in practice | Check price |
| .io | Tech startups (very popular alternative) | None | Check price |
| .com | Any project | None | $14.99/year |
Registration process
How to register your .AC domain at miHosting
Check availability
Type the name you want in the search bar. We show you in seconds whether it's available or if you need to look for alternatives.
Complete registration
Fill in the registrant details and choose whether to add hosting. The entire process takes less than 5 minutes.
Your domain is live
Within minutes your .AC domain is active and visible from anywhere in the world. DNS propagates in under 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions about the .AC domain
Do I need a connection to Ascension Island to register a .ac domain?
No. Despite being the ccTLD of a remote territory, second-level registration (yourdomain.ac) is open to anyone or any company in the world, with no residency requirements.
Is it true that .ac requires academic qualifications?
The formal regulations mention this for the second level, but in practice it is neither required nor verified. Only third-level subdomains require genuine residency on the island.
Who manages the .ac domain?
Internet Computer Bureau Limited, through NIC.AC, administratively based on Ascension Island itself with technical operations from the UK. It was registered with IANA on December 19, 1997.
Why do many startups use .ac instead of .com?
Because it is a short two-letter combination, with no restrictions, and a visual connotation of "academic" that can appeal to tech or educational brands.
How much does a .ac domain cost?
The price varies by registrar. Check with our miHosting team to confirm the current price.
Can I register my .ac domain with miHosting?
Yes. Contact our team to confirm availability and the current price for this extension.
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