.bv Domain
.bv is the ccTLD of Bouvet Island, an uninhabited Norwegian territory in the South Atlantic, delegated on August 21, 1997. Despite being technically active in the IANA database, it has never been opened for public registration, and Norway maintains a policy of not commercializing it.
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About the .BV domain
What is the .BV domain?
Despite appearing technically delegated and operational in the domain name system, .bv has never been opened for public registration. Norwegian policy considers the .no domain sufficient for any institution connected to Bouvet Island, and maintains a principle of not commercializing this resource. There was a genuine attempt to change this: in March 2012, Norid began a collaboration with the Dutch registry SIDN to study the possibility of exploiting .bv in the Dutch market, where "BV" (Besloten Vennootschap) is the most common form of limited company. The collaboration ended in June 2016, when Norway's Ministry of Transport and Communications recommended against opening the domain for sale. Any future policy change would, according to Norid, require a careful evaluation and consequence analysis before any decision.
The .bv domain has never been opened for public registration since its delegation in 1997. Norway considers the .no domain sufficient for any institution connected to Bouvet Island, and maintains a policy of not commercializing this resource. It is not available to individuals or companies.
Uses of .BV
Who is the .BV domain for?
These are the most common situations where .BV is the ideal extension.
Not available for public registration
The current, sole status: no individual or company can register a .bv domain.
Reserved for Norwegian institutions (via .no)
Norway considers .no sufficient to cover any institutional need related to Bouvet Island.
Possible Dutch commercial use (abandoned project)
Use tied to "BV," the Dutch limited-company form, was explored but the project was abandoned in 2016.
.BV vs other extensions
Which extension suits you best?
Each extension has its own profile. Here we compare .BV with the most common alternatives to help you choose.
| Extension | Best for | Restrictions | Registration price |
|---|---|---|---|
| .bv This page | Not available for public registration | Yes — never opened since 1997 | Not available |
| .no | Norway and its institutions (genuine alternative) | Connection to Norway | Check price |
| .com | Any project | None | $14.99/year |
Registration process
How to register your .BV 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 .BV domain is active and visible from anywhere in the world. DNS propagates in under 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions about the .BV domain
Can I register a .bv domain?
No. The .bv domain has never been opened for public registration since its delegation in 1997, and Norway maintains a policy of not commercializing it.
Why does .bv exist if it cannot be registered?
It is the ccTLD technically assigned to Bouvet Island, an uninhabited Norwegian territory, but Norway considers the .no domain already covers any institutional need related to the island.
Was there ever an attempt to open .bv to the public?
Yes. Between 2012 and 2016, Norid collaborated with the Dutch registry SIDN to explore commercial use in the Netherlands, where "BV" is the common limited-company form, but the project was abandoned on the recommendation of Norway's Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Who manages the .bv domain?
Norid A/S, the same entity that administers Norway's .no domain. It was delegated with IANA on August 21, 1997.
What extension should I use instead?
If you are looking for an extension tied to Norway, consider <a href="/en/domains/no/">.no</a>, or an unrestricted generic extension like <a href="/en/domains/com/">.com</a>.
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