The Qatar Domains Registry (QDR), operated by Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), moves to a new technical platform and a new set of domain policies on 22 October 2026. The change touches every .qa registrar, reseller and registrant, including clients who manage .qa domains through BIGBANG ITS. This page explains what changes, what it means for domains you already own, why we are pausing new second-level .qa registrations for now, and what to do before the migration window.
Quick Answer
From 22 October 2026, a second-level .qa domain (yourname.qa) can no longer be registered by anyone in the world without a connection to Qatar. New applications go through eligibility verification and a document review before the registry approves them, so availability no longer means approval and payment no longer means instant activation. Existing .qa domains are not cancelled, but any change to their registration details, including DNS updates at the registry, triggers the same eligibility check. The registry itself is offline for a migration that starts at 00:00 Qatar time (UTC+3) on 22 October, with no announced completion time. BIGBANG ITS is holding new .qa orders from that date until the document-verification process is confirmed with our registrar partner; renewals and existing domains are not affected by our pause.
New Eligibility Requirements for .qa
Until now, second-level .qa names were open to individuals and companies worldwide. Under the revised registry policies, every new application is assessed against an eligibility category, and the registry may ask for supporting documents before it decides. Depending on the category, the file may need to include:
- A valid Qatar ID (QID).
- Proof of residency in Qatar.
- A Commercial Registration (CR) or trade licence.
- A qualifying trademark registration.
- Other official documents that demonstrate eligibility.
International applicants can still qualify when they satisfy one of the categories, for example through a registered trademark, but open worldwide registration can no longer be assumed.
No more guaranteed instant registration
- A domain showing as available does not guarantee that the registration will be approved.
- Placing an order or paying for it does not guarantee immediate activation.
- The registry may ask for additional documents after the order is placed.
- Applications that do not meet the requirements can be rejected.
- Processing times vary with the registry’s review.
BIGBANG ITS Pauses New .qa Registrations From 22 October 2026
From 22 October 2026 we hold new second-level .qa registration orders instead of processing them automatically. The exact technical procedure for submitting and validating eligibility documents through the new registry platform has not yet been finalised for the registrar channel we use, and accepting orders that could stall or be rejected would serve nobody. The hold is precautionary and voluntary:
- It applies only to new second-level .qa registrations placed through BIGBANG ITS.
- Domains that are already registered are not affected by the hold.
- Renewals and other domain-management operations continue, subject to the registry’s availability and its updated policies.
- We are not announcing a hold on .com.qa, .net.qa or the other restricted Qatar extensions, which remain subject to their own requirements.
- If the arrangements are finalised before 22 October, the hold is withdrawn; otherwise it stays in place until further notice.
If you order a .qa domain through our portal during the hold, the order is kept in a queue and nothing is registered automatically. We contact you with the document list as soon as the procedure is confirmed, and you can cancel for a full refund of the domain fee at any time while the order is waiting.
Registry Migration and Full Downtime on 22 October
The registry migrates to its new platform in a maintenance window that starts on Thursday, 22 October 2026 at 12:00 AM Qatar time (UTC+3). During the window the registry processes no transactions at all, which blocks:
- Registrations and renewals.
- Transfers between registrars.
- Restoration of deleted domains.
- Nameserver changes.
- Registrant and contact changes.
- Any other operation that depends on the registry.
Our own .qa registration and management tools are unavailable for the same period. The registry has not announced when the migration finishes. Websites, email and DNS that already resolve are not expected to stop simply because the registry is offline; what cannot happen is a change that needs the registry. Complete any urgent .qa transaction before 22 October.
Other Policy Changes in the New Registry Rules
| Area | New requirement |
|---|---|
| Registrar transfers | Automatic transfer window grows from 2 to 5 calendar days |
| Transfer restriction | No transfer for 60 days after registration or after the latest registrar transfer |
| Transfer pricing | Every incoming transfer carries a mandatory one-year renewal; no separate transfer fee is allowed |
| Registration grace period | Increased from 3 to 5 days |
| Renewal grace period | Increased from 3 to 5 days |
| Registry auto-renewal | New 45-day auto-renew grace period |
| Redemption | 30-day recovery period for eligible deleted domains |
| Pending delete | One day after the redemption period |
| Domain passwords | Minimum length rises from 6 to 8 characters |
| Resale | Restrictions on selling, renting or leasing second-level .qa names |
Changes that affect domains you already own
The new platform renews existing registrations automatically at registry level. However, any change to the registration details of an existing .qa domain, including nameserver and DNS updates made through the registry, triggers the new eligibility requirements. Registrants may therefore be asked for documents when they modify a domain. This matters most to registrants outside Qatar who registered under the old open rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone in the world still register a .qa domain?
No longer by default. Applicants must fit an eligibility category, which may require Qatar residency, a commercial registration or qualifying trademark rights. International applicants can qualify under some categories, but worldwide eligibility can no longer be assumed.
What happens to .qa domains registered before 22 October?
They continue under the registry’s new automatic-renewal process. The new rules do not cancel existing registrations simply because the eligibility criteria changed. Registrants remain bound by registry policy, especially when they request modifications such as DNS or ownership changes.
What about existing .qa domains owned by people or companies outside Qatar?
They are not cancelled automatically. If changes are requested to the registration details, including DNS updates, the new eligibility requirements apply, and a registrant who cannot demonstrate eligibility may be unable to modify the domain.
Can existing customers still renew their .qa domains?
Yes. Registry-level auto-renewal does not remove your obligation to pay the renewal invoice on time through the portal, and our hold on new registrations does not include renewals.
Do I need documents to renew an existing domain?
The registry has indicated that existing registrations renew automatically and that the eligibility requirements are triggered by changes to registration details. Keep your contact details accurate and be ready to provide documents if the registry asks.
Can I change nameservers or DNS records on an existing domain?
Nameserver changes and other modifications at the registry trigger the eligibility check and may need supporting documents. Managing DNS records inside an external DNS provider, such as our hosting DNS or Cloudflare, is technically separate from a registry transaction, so it may not be affected. The outcome depends on the operation and on how the registry implements the rule.
Will BIGBANG ITS suspend or delete existing .qa domains?
No. Our hold applies only to new second-level registrations. Existing domains remain subject to the registry’s policies, renewal requirements and normal compliance procedures.
Can I still register a new .qa domain before 22 October?
Orders placed before the migration depend on current registry availability. We hold new .qa orders from 22 October unless the arrangements are finalised sooner, and we advise against time-critical commitments around the migration date.
When will new .qa registrations resume?
There is no confirmed date yet. We are reviewing the requirements with our registrar partner and will announce the resumption as soon as registrations can be processed in line with the new rules.
Can I send my eligibility documents now?
Not yet. The document-submission and verification process has not been finalised. Please do not send identity documents until we request them through a ticket in the client portal.
Will .qa registrations be instant once the new platform is live?
No. New applications go through eligibility assessment and document review before approval, and processing times vary.
Do .qa transfers remain free?
The new policy attaches a mandatory one-year renewal to every incoming registrar transfer. A separate transfer fee is not permitted, but the renewal fee applies.
Can a newly registered domain be transferred immediately?
Generally no. A 60-day restriction follows the initial registration and each registrar transfer.
What if I forget to renew?
The registry introduces a 45-day auto-renew grace period, but registry-level renewal does not mean a free renewal or guaranteed continuity without payment. Renew before the due date on your invoice.
Can a deleted .qa domain be recovered?
Eligible deleted domains enter a 30-day redemption period during which restoration can be requested through the sponsoring registrar, subject to conditions and fees, followed by a one-day pending-delete period.
Does the migration affect my website and email?
The downtime affects registry operations and the management systems that depend on them. Existing domain resolution is not expected to stop, but nameserver changes and other registry operations cannot be completed during the window.
Are .com.qa and .net.qa also affected?
The new platform and lifecycle policies apply to Qatar extensions generally. Our hold specifically concerns new second-level .qa registrations; other extensions remain subject to their own eligibility and documentation rules.
Will .qa pricing change?
The new policies add documentation, compliance and manual-review work. We are reviewing the commercial impact with our registrar partner; any price change is announced in the portal before it takes effect, and a manual order-review step is likely.
What We Recommend
- Finish urgent work before 22 October: registrations, renewals, transfers and nameserver changes on .qa domains.
- Keep renewing on time: registry auto-renewal does not replace your invoice.
- Prepare documents: QID, residency proof, commercial registration or trademark certificate, depending on your category.
- Review your .qa portfolio: if you are outside Qatar, decide now whether you can demonstrate eligibility before you need to modify a domain.
- Avoid time-critical launches on a new .qa name until registrations resume.
- Watch the portal announcements: we publish the resumption date and the document procedure there first.
Official Sources
The updated Qatar Domains Registry policies are published by the CRA and take effect with the new registry system on 22 October 2026: Qatar Domains Registry Policies on the CRA website. The official policies and the registry’s implementation instructions take precedence over this summary.
A Note on the Short Notice
The formal registry notification reached the registrar channel on 14 October 2026, eight days before implementation. The timeline was not set by BIGBANG ITS or by our registrar partner, and several practical aspects of the new requirements are still being established across the registrar ecosystem. We chose to hold new registrations rather than accept orders we may be unable to complete. Our priority is to protect the services of existing clients, keep disruption to a minimum and resume new .qa registrations under a clear, compliant process. For questions about a specific domain, open a ticket in the client portal or message us on WhatsApp.
Talk to us directly — we usually reply within minutes during business hours.
