.ax

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**.ax**
Image:Dotax.jpg
Introduced	2006
TLD type	Country code top-level domain
Status	Active
Registry	Landskapsregeringen
Sponsor	Landskapsregeringen
Intended use	Entities connected with the Image:Flag of Aaland.svg Åland Islands
Actual use	Popular on the Åland Islands
Documents	IANA delegation report
Dispute policies
Web site	Registration site

.ax is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) of the Åland Islands, introduced in 2006. Previously, most Åland websites were under the .aland.fi subdomain.

1 History
2 Registration requirements
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

On February 17 2006, the Finnish parliament approved a modification of the laws regulating Finnish domain names to include the .ax top-level domain. During a three year period, the aland.fi subdomain will be phased out while .ax will be used in parallel; no new registrations under the aland.fi subdomain will be accepted, and all current owners of domains under the aland.fi subdomain will receive registrations for the corresponding .ax domain.^[1]

On March 17 2006, Finnish president Tarja Halonen signed the bill into law, effective as of March 27, 2006.^[2] The government of Åland began accepting registrations immediately following the changing of the law.

On June 9, ICANN approved delegating the .ax top-level domain to the government of Åland.^[3] The .ax domain was added to the root zone on June 21, 2006, and became active on August 15, 2006.^[4]

[edit] Registration requirements

Domain names can be granted to:

A legal person with a set place of business or who is registered on the Åland Islands.
A public sector entity, government owned business, independent public institution or public association that is acting on the Åland Islands or has been registered here.
A person, at least 15 years of age, whose home municipality is on the Åland Islands or who has the Right of Domicile as defined in the Autonomy Act.^[5]