The Document-Free Registration Era: What Changed?
For many years, anyone wanting to register a .com.tr domain had to apply with supporting documents such as a trade registry gazette, a trademark registration certificate, or a tax plate. That requirement was removed once the TRABİS system went live: .com.tr, .net.tr, and .org.tr domains can now be registered without documents on a "first come, first served" basis, just like .com.
This change brought two major consequences: individuals and sole proprietors can now register a .com.tr domain too, while at the same time a new urgency has emerged for trademark owners, since good names are being snapped up quickly.
.gov.tr (government), .edu.tr (university), .bel.tr (municipality), .pol.tr, and .k12.tr still require institutional verification. Document-free extensions include: .com.tr, .net.tr, .org.tr, .info.tr, .biz.tr, .gen.tr, .web.tr, .tv.tr, and plain .tr.
What Is TRABİS?
TRABİS (the .tr Network Information System) is the national system that manages .tr domain registrations. This role used to belong to nic.tr, operated within METU; since September 2022, management has moved to TRABİS under the supervision of BTK, Turkey's telecom regulator.
Under TRABİS, registrations are carried out through accredited registrars authorized by the system. In other words, you don't apply to TRABİS directly to get a .com.tr domain — you go through one of the authorized domain/hosting providers in Turkey. Thanks to the resulting competition, prices and panel quality vary from provider to provider — you can compare .com.tr prices side by side on our domain price comparison page.
Who Can Register a .com.tr Domain?
In the document-free era, the rules have become much simpler:
- Individuals: Anyone with a Turkish national ID number can register a .com.tr domain in their own name. There's no requirement to own a company.
- Companies: Corporate registration is done using a tax ID number. For corporate projects, having the company itself as the registrant makes future transfers and legal matters much easier.
- Foreign nationals: Foreign individuals and legal entities can also register a .com.tr domain using a passport number.
Step-by-Step .com.tr Application
The process is nearly identical to registering a .com domain and takes about 10 minutes:
- Choose an accredited registrar: Most large domain/hosting providers in Turkey are TRABİS-accredited. Choose based on price and panel quality.
- Check availability: Check whether the name you want is available under the .com.tr extension.
- Enter your identification details: Individual registrations require a Turkish national ID number, while corporate registrations require a tax ID number. This information must be accurate — a false statement can lead to the domain being cancelled.
- Choose a term and pay: You can register for anywhere between 1 and 5 years. After payment, the registration is usually activated within minutes.
- Configure your DNS: Point your domain to your hosting server. You can use our hosting comparison tool to help choose a host.
For more detail on the general registration process, choosing a name, and WHOIS privacy, you can read our domain registration guide.
.com.tr Prices [2026]
As of 2026, registering a .com.tr domain in Turkey costs roughly ~₺250-500, with renewal prices ranging from about ~₺300-600 depending on the provider. For comparison, .com registration runs around ~₺300-650, and its renewal is usually even higher. That means .com.tr is somewhat more economical than .com at most providers.
The reason for the price gap: .com pricing is tied to a dollar-based global wholesale rate, while the wholesale price for .tr extensions is set by TRABİS in Turkish lira — making it less exposed to currency fluctuations.
.com vs .com.tr: SEO Comparison
The two extensions each have their own strengths:
| Criterion | .com | .com.tr |
|---|---|---|
| Target-audience signal | Global | Turkey (a strong local signal for Google) |
| Advantage in local search | Neutral | Slight advantage |
| Targeting international markets | Suitable | Not suitable (ccTLD restriction) |
| User trust perception (Turkey) | High | High — strong corporate/local perception |
| First-year price | ~₺300-650 | ~₺250-500 |
The clear rule for SEO: .com.tr is a ccTLD, and Google automatically treats it as a Turkey-targeting signal. That's an advantage if you're only selling into the Turkish market. If you're also planning to expand abroad, use .com as your primary domain. What actually drives rankings is content quality, site speed, and hosting infrastructure — see our article on how hosting affects SEO for more.
The ideal strategy: register both extensions, make one your main site, and 301-redirect the other to it. That way you protect your brand while keeping the advantages of both worlds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a company to register a .com.tr domain?
No. Under TRABİS, any individual with a Turkish national ID number can register a .com.tr domain without documents. Companies can register corporately using a tax ID number.
How long does .com.tr registration take?
In the document-free era, registration is usually completed within minutes of payment. The days-long approval wait from the old document-based era no longer exists.
What can I do if someone else has registered my brand's .com.tr domain?
If you hold a registered trademark, you can apply to TRABİS's dispute resolution mechanism (UÇHS). If bad-faith registration is proven, the domain is transferred to you. The process is much faster and cheaper than going to court.
Is .com.tr better than .com for SEO?
For searches targeting Turkey, .com.tr sends Google a strong local-targeting signal and can provide a slight advantage. However, what really matters is content, speed, and authority — the extension alone doesn't guarantee rankings.
Can I register a plain .tr domain?
Yes, the plain .tr extension (e.g., brand.tr) has also been opened for registration through TRABİS. Because it's short and prestigious, demand is high, and it's typically priced higher than .com.tr.