HN Explorer

Ask HN: How do you buy foreign domain names without an address?

3 points by jfornear ↗ HN
1) I would like to buy a foreign domain name, but an address in the host country is required. How do you get around this?

I know some missionaries in this country, but I don't want to get caught up in some legal misunderstanding and risk losing the domain.

2) Also, how much risk is involved in using a foreign domain?

4 comments

[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 15.4 ms ] thread
maxdemarzi
Go to something like http://www.101domain.com (or any of the other foreign url providers) and see if they can get it for you.

If they can't, then its not worth trying to get around the system. Just pick a different name and stop trying to be too creative with your domain name.

Frazzydee
Chances are they won't really check the address. Why not just put a fake one?

You could also look for a mail forwarding service in the jurisdiction.

Giving you a proper answer requires that we know more details– are you expecting that somebody will want to take this site down? Or is it a potentially valuable domain?

Another solution is registering under a local's name and address, and have a contractual arrangement with them limiting their rights.

You could also set up a corporation, and run the domain with the corporation. It all depends how safe you want to be.

byoung2
I've used http://www.europeregistry.com/ to register foreign domain names in the past. Much like anonymous/private registration in the US, the registrar uses one of their addresses to create the record.
filmstreet
http://www.eurodns.com has a solid selection of international domains and provides local addresses/affiliates to enable registration in certain countries. It's a bit expensive for some domains. But they've got a good selection and have been reliable.