Albanian characters in domains: ë and ç

The rule: .al domains are written without ë and ç

Albanian has two letters that are not part of the basic Latin alphabet: ë and ç. The domain name system works natively with the letters a–z, the digits 0–9 and the hyphen. Some extensions around the world also accept names with other characters, known as IDN (Internationalized Domain Names), but the .al registry does not accept names with special characters. This applies to .al, .com.al, .net.al and .org.al.

In practice, this means “shqipëria.al” cannot be registered, while “shqiperia.al” can, if it is available. When you type a name with ë or ç into the search box, check it in its plain form.

How to write the name

The most widespread approach is the one most people use every day when typing on a keyboard without Albanian letters:

• ë → e: “mësuesi” (the teacher) becomes “mesuesi”, “bukë” (bread) becomes “buke”.
• ç → c: “çelësi” (the key) becomes “celesi”, “çokollata” (chocolate) becomes “cokollata”.

This is the form customers are most likely to type when looking for your website. Some people write “ç” as “ch” or drop the “ë” at the end of a word altogether, so it is worth considering those forms too.

Examples

The examples are for illustration only; they do not show whether these names are available. Check every variant with the domain search.

Which variants to register

The letters ë and ç create ambiguity when a name is said out loud. If someone hears your brand on the radio or over the phone, they may write it in more than one way. For a valuable name, that is a good reason to register several variants:

1. The main variant, usually with ë → e and ç → c. This is the domain you put on business cards, on the website and in email.
2. A second variant, for example with “ch” instead of “c” or without the final “e”, if the name is often written that way.
3. Another extension, such as .com.al, if the business is commercial and you want to protect the name.

The extra variants do not need their own website. You redirect them to the main domain, so anyone who types a variant lands on the same site. See the guide on domain forwarding.

The cost is predictable: .al costs €8.99 per year and .com.al, .net.al, .org.al cost €9.99 per year, renewing at the same price. Prices exclude VAT. See the full price table.

Keep in mind that every .al domain follows the same AKEP rules: it requires the registrant's documents and, under the regulation, a domain that is not put into use for 1 year from the registration or renewal date may become free. A domain that redirects to your main website is in active use.

Brand, email and communication

The rule only applies to the technical address. The brand name in your logo, website text, social media and ads can and should keep the correct Albanian spelling. For example, a pastry shop can write “Ëmbëlsirat e Nënës” on its sign and use “embelsirat.al” as its address.

Email addresses follow the domain too: [email protected], not info@ëmbëlsirat.al. When you give the address out loud, say clearly “without ë”, so the customer does not look for the wrong one.

If your name matches a trademark registered with DPPI, be careful: approved trademark names that exactly match a domain name under .al are reserved for the trademark owner. Read more in brand protection with a .al domain and the AKEP rules.

Frequently asked questions