Digital··4 min
.lu domain names: registration rules and pitfalls to avoid
Before registering or renewing a .lu domain, Luxembourg business leaders and marketing managers need to know the Charte de nommage (naming charter), the renewal deadlines and the options available in a dispute.
Translated from French · Lire l'original en français
Registering a .lu domain for your company looks like a formality, but the Luxembourg registry sets precise rules on naming, renewal and dispute resolution. This guide is for business leaders and marketing managers who register or manage one or more .lu domain names.
Who can register a .lu, and on what conditions
The .lu registry is run by the Fondation Restena, through the dns.lu platform for registration rules and the my.lu platform for the administrative management of domains. Registration is open to individuals and legal entities alike, on a first come, first served basis, with no specific eligibility condition linked to nationality or place of establishment (dns.lu). One point deserves attention from companies before any registration: the acceptance of a registration request does not constitute recognition of an acquired right to the domain name for its holder, which means that a successful registration does not automatically protect against a later challenge based on a prior trademark right.
The pre-registration checklist: Charte de nommage and potential conflicts
The Charte de nommage .lu (the .lu naming charter), in its version revised in February 2025, sets three prohibitions to check before any registration. The requested name cannot correspond to a Luxembourg municipality listed in the official 1995 register, unless the request comes from the municipality itself. It cannot be identical to a domain already registered. It cannot be manifestly contrary to public order or morality (Charte de nommage .lu, dns.lu). Before launching a new brand or a new website, the recommended check comes down to four points:
- the intended name does not appear in the 1995 register of Luxembourg municipalities
- it is not already registered under .lu, including under a very similar spelling
- it does not reproduce a trademark registered by a third party, otherwise the registration will not prevent a challenge
- the holder's details (company name, address) are accurate and up to date from the moment of registration
This last obligation is not a one-off: the holder must update their data within 30 days of any change, under their sole responsibility (general terms and conditions, my.lu).
Choosing a registrar: free pricing, no single price list
Contrary to a widespread belief, there is no single official price for a .lu. More than 50 accredited registrars around the world sell .lu domains, and each one freely sets its own prices and service conditions (restena.lu). Comparing several registrars before registering or transferring a domain therefore remains worthwhile, particularly on renewal and transfer fees, which are often less visible than the headline price. As a factual reference point: a new price list for .lu operations (registration, renewal, restoration) came into force on 1 March 2024, the first change since 2010 according to Restena. This change dates back more than two years at the time this article is published: it is no longer immediate news, but a useful reference for understanding the current price level on the market.
Planning renewal so you do not lose your domain
The initial registration period for a .lu is 1 or 2 years, at the holder's choice. Renewal is then automatic on the anniversary date. If payment is not made, the domain is deleted, and no refund is granted in the event of deletion, transfer or termination, even before the anniversary date (my.lu, general terms and conditions). The reminder system before expiry works as follows:
| Time before expiry | Action |
|---|---|
| 60 days | First renewal reminder |
| 30 days | Second renewal reminder |
| 2 days | Final reminder before expiry |
| After expiry without payment | Deletion of the domain, with no possible refund |
For a company, this means checking that the administrative contact email address linked to the domain remains active and monitored, and is not just the address of a former service provider or an employee who has left.
In the event of a dispute: the courts or ADR
A conflict can arise after the fact, for example if a third party considers that a .lu infringes its trademark. In that case, the holder or the aggrieved third party has two options: conventional court proceedings, or an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedure where the registry offers one. Decisions issued under ADR are enforceable (Restena factsheet, July 2022). This information is provided for guidance only: it does not replace legal advice suited to a specific situation, in particular for assessing the chances of success of an action or choosing between the two options.
For companies that register their .lu when they set up, the process is often part of a wider set of digital formalities, starting with the procedures via MyGuichet.
