The Russian government has established new rules for registering domain names.

Beginning September 1, 2026, a new procedure for registering domain names in the .RU , .РФ, and .SU top-level domains will be in effect in Russia. The Russian government approved the requirements for the domain name structure, the deadlines for making decisions on applications, and the grounds and procedure for registering or denying registration. The new rules were established by Russian Government Resolution No. 1119 of August 31, 2026, and are valid until September 1, 2032.

The document defines the requirements a domain name must meet for registration. Specifically, the rules establish requirements for the number, composition, and arrangement of characters. This formalizes the technical criteria an application must meet and establishes a uniform process for registrar review.

Domain Name Requirements

.RU top-level domain, the domain name must contain between two and 63 characters. It must begin and end with a letter or number. Latin letters, numbers, and hyphens are permitted.

A separate restriction concerns the placement of hyphens: a hyphen cannot simultaneously appear in the third and fourth characters of a domain name. Therefore, when choosing a domain name, it is important to consider not only its uniqueness and availability, but also the established technical requirements.

Similar rules stipulate requirements for registering domain names in other designated domain zones. In practice, this means that the applicant or registrar must verify that the chosen designation meets the established criteria before entering the information into the registry.

The main requirements for designation in the .RU zone include:

• from 2 to 63 characters;
• beginning and ending with a letter or number;
• use of Latin letters, numbers and hyphens;
• the absence of a hyphen in both the third and fourth characters of the proper designation.

Application review period

The new rules establish a specific deadline for making a decision on a domain name registration application. The registrar must make a decision within three business days of receiving the application.

Following the review, a decision is made to either register the domain name or deny it. If the registration is approved, the relevant information is entered into the domain name registry.

Establishing a uniform deadline is of practical importance for website owners and companies planning to launch a new online resource. Domain registration becomes a procedure with a specific, statutory deadline, allowing it to be taken into account when preparing to launch a website, online service, or other digital project.

Who can act as a registrar?

Domain name registration is not carried out by just any legal entity. A registrar is defined as a Russian legal entity included in a special list .

Along with the registration rules, the Russian Government approved separate requirements for the creation and maintenance of lists of legal entities registering domain names. These requirements were established by Russian Government Resolution No. 1120 of August 31, 2026.

Thus, the regulation includes not only requirements for domain names themselves, but also requirements for organizations that are authorized to register them. This should ensure a unified procedure for registrars and the maintenance of relevant registries.

What has changed for users

For business owners, online stores, and other digital projects, the new rules primarily mean the need to consider the established requirements when choosing a domain name. If a domain name does not meet the technical criteria, registration will not be processed.

When planning to register a new domain, it makes sense to check in advance:

• does the designation correspond to the established length;
• Are the symbols used acceptable?
• does the designation begin and end with a letter or a number;
• is there a prohibited combination of hyphens?
• whether the selected registrar is included in the established list.

The new rules are valid from September 1, 2026, to September 1, 2032. They apply to the registration of domain names in the .RU , .РФ , and .SU top-level domains and establish uniform procedural requirements for their registration and entry of information into the registry.