A .al domain in your own name

Who benefits from a personal .al domain

Registering a .al domain is not only for companies. The regulation also allows an individual, Albanian or foreign, to be the registrant, as long as the details are accurate and come with the required document. A personal address makes sense in cases like these:

• Independent professionals — translators, photographers, designers, developers or consultants who want an address of their own for clients.
• Job seekers — an online CV under your own name makes a better impression than an attached file.
• Artists and creators — musicians, writers or painters who want a place where their work does not get lost between posts.
• Family projects — a travel blog, a wedding album or email addresses for the whole family.

Personal sites and portfolios

A portfolio at your own address is fully under your control. You can show your best projects, references and a contact form, with no ads and none of the limits other platforms impose. When someone types your name into a search engine, a site with your name and an Albanian extension helps them find you more easily, especially when they search from Albania.

For a simple site, WordPress hosting or shared hosting is enough. The guide build a website with a .al domain walks through every step.

Why a freelancer needs an address of their own

Freelancers often work with clients they have never met. In those cases trust is built from small details. A quote sent from [email protected], an invoice that shows your website and a portfolio on the same domain give the impression of an organised professional.

The domain also stays with you when you change platforms. If your site runs on one service today and moves to another tomorrow, you only change the DNS records; clients keep using the same address. The same goes for email, which you can connect to a service such as Google Workspace.

Which document an individual needs

An individual needs a valid identification document. The details on it must match the registrant contact: first and last name must be written exactly as on the document, without nicknames or stage names.

Also fill in your address, email and phone number. The registrant email is especially important, because expiry notices and transfer confirmations are sent there. If the document is unclear or the details do not match, the application is returned for completion and the process takes longer. With a proper document, AKEP approval usually takes 1–3 business days.

Never use someone else's details. Declaring false data or submitting forged documents is a criminal offence under articles 186, 189 or 191 of the Albanian Criminal Code.

How to choose a personal domain name

The most common form is first and last name together, for example firstnamelastname.al. If it is taken, try your surname with your profession, or a short form you already use. Keep in mind that the .al registry does not accept the letters ë and ç, so a name like “Çela” is written without them. Read more in how to choose a domain name.

Do not forget the usage rule: under the regulation, if the domain is not put into use for one year from registration or renewal, it may be released. Even a small page with your contact details is better than an empty domain.

Frequently asked questions