Policy and Rules

By applying to register a .ST domain name or other services offered by us, or by asking us to maintain or renew a .ST domain name registration, you agree to the policies and rules stated below. In addition you agree to the price and payment terms stated on our web-site www.nic.st

You agree that, if your agent (e.g. an Internet Service Provider, domain portal, employee, etc.) purchased our service(s) on your behalf, you are nonetheless bound as a principal by all terms and conditions below.

Who can register a .ST domain?
Anybody in the world can register a .ST domain. Although the .ST domain is the country code top-level domain for Sao Tome and Principe, any corporation or individual in the world can register a domain ending with .ST. The global consensus of the use of ST domains varies - e.g. .ST used for street address, words ending with .ST or as a new standard for registering telephone numbers as domain names. Those and similar interpretations of .ST is already well established among thousands of users all over the world and we see no reason to change this in the future. ST also offers domestic services for residents - local support, reserved address space, education for students, etc. in co-operation with the authorities of Sao Tome and Principe.


Which domain can I register?
The ST Domain Registry operates on a first come, first served basis. You can register almost any domain ending with .ST as long as it is available. Please observe our rules for reserved domain names stated below.


What characters and how many characters can a ST domain have?
You can register domain names with as few as one (except for the reserved address space - characters A - Z) and as many as 23 characters are permitted. Names may not begin or end with a dash. Upper case and lower case are treated as lower case only. Spaces and any other characters in a name will not be accepted. Accented names are not accepted.


Are there any special domains that are reserved?
Yes. The reserved address space maintains the integrity of the .ST domain on a specific country basis for residents of Sao Tome and Principe. The purpose is also to establish a solid framework for any future use of the ST top-level domain for Sao Tome and Principe.


Which specific .ST addresses are reserved?
GOV.ST (Government of São Tomé and Principe)
SAOTOME.ST (Island of São Tomé)
PRINCIPE.ST (Island of Principe)
CONSULADO.ST (São Tomé and Principe consulates)
EMBAIXADA.ST (São Tomé and Principe embassys)
ORG.ST, EDU.ST, NET.ST, COM.ST, STORE.ST, MIL.ST, CO.ST
One characters A-Z are reserved (Please note that figures are not reserved). A small number of addresses are also reserved for the international duty free zone in Sao Tome. Certain addresses originating before June 11, 1999 could collide with the policy of reserved address space. Our goal is to meet your needs as flexible as possible. We will allow a fair amount of time pass before any reallocation.




What rights do I have to the domain name that I have registered?
You are solely responsible for the domain name selected and applied for. Registration of a domain name does not confer any legal rights to that name. By registering a domain name, we do not determine the legality of the domain name registration, or otherwise evaluate whether that registration or use may infringe upon a third party.

What are my responsibilities as a .ST domain holder?
We believe in free speech and the freedom of the Internet. In order to help preserve these rights for you, other .ST domain holders and the Internet Community, we must ask you to comply with certain obligations.

By applying to register a domain name, or by asking us to maintain or renew a domain name registration, you therefore represent and warrant us that:



The statement that you made in the registration process are complete and accurate and that you will maintain and update this information as needed to keep it current, complete and accurate.

To your knowledge, the registration of domain name will not infringe upon or otherwise violate the rights of any third party according to the laws of Sao Tome and Principe or any other applicable jurisdiction.

You are not registering the domain name for an unlawful purpose.

You will not knowingly use the domain name or any other connected service in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, including, but not limited the sending of unsolicited bulk E-mail ("spamming"), flooding, or other abuse of free search engine services.

Please bear in mind that it is solely your own responsibility to determine whether your domain name registration infringes or violates someone else's rights.

How about renewal, modification cancellation and VAT of the domain name?
You are free to renew or modify your registration in accordance with the prices and procedures stated on our web site. Of course you are also free to cancel your registration at any time. However, we will not be able to refund you any fees in such case.

When do you consider a service delivered?
Any order you make from the web-site is considered to take effect immediately. When you approve the terms and make your order the service is delivered immediately. Therefore: there are never refunds on any purchase you make. There is no time span where you will get refunds for your order. Any order is final and delivered immediately.

Can my domain be cancelled?


In the interest of our .ST domain holders and the Internet community, we must also reserve our rights, without further notice and in our sole discretion and with no obligations to refund, to cancel, transfer or modify a registration and suspend use of a domain name under the following circumstances:



If we receive a court decision from a competent court in a relevant jurisdiction requiring such action.

If you fail to pay us the registration fee or any other sums to which we are entitled under these rules.

If the domain name and other services supplied by us are used in clear violation of these rules.

If the information you have provided to us is false or unvalid.



What is the .ST policy concerning disputes regarding trademarks and registrations of domains in the ST top-level domain?
If you reserved or registered a domain name through us, you agree to be bound by the current policy of the Domain Council of Sao Tome and Principe.

Registrants agrees that the conflicting parties in a domain name dispute must bear all costs of the matter - including the cost from the ST Domain Name Registry and / or the Domain Name Council of Sao Tome and Principe. Registrants must also bear any other costs related to that dispute. (For administration of a domain name dispute in the Domain Name Council of Sao Tome there is a minimum fee of €500).
In the event of a trade mark conflict we look at the context in which the argued "trade mark" is used together with a domain name. We look at the actual content of the web-site. Example: A web-site that criticize for example a Telco for bad Internet connections and support - and also contains genuine real editorial material, may under certain conditions bear the same domain name as the criticized company and / or TM.

On the other hand, if the registered domain name only is used in a context where it commercially exploits the TM for own profit, or just passively holds the domain name out of pure speculation - it will immediately be terminated.

Domain Mark protected by local presence: If there is a local connection to Sao Tome and Principe in a registered domain name - it will be strongly protected. Such domains are companies or individuals with a present or registered business in Sao Tome and Principe.


What are the liabilities if these policies and terms are violated?
You hereby agree to jointly and severally defend, indemnify and hold harmless the .ST Registry, its officers, employees, agents and subcontractors, for any loss or damages resulting from any claim, action, or demand arising out of or related to the registration or use of an .ST domain name. Such claims shall include, without limitation, those based upon intellectual property, trademark or service mark infringement, unfair competition, libel, slander, defamation or injury to business reputation.

You understand that even if we use the best and most reliable technologies available to us, we cannot guarantee that our services will always be fully functional. The .ST Registry shall therefore not be held liable for any damages resulting from the disruption or malfunction of the DNS service or any other service supplied by us. In no event shall .ST Registry's maximum liability exceed the amount of one year's registration fee.

Will there be any future changes in terms and policy matters for ST. And if so, how will I be notified?
Any changes of the present terms will be posted publicly through this web site and will be effective immediately unless otherwise noted. Terms and policies will follow the guidelines and decisions from the Domain Council of Sao Tome. They will in applicable parts comply with the general principles set by IANA / ICANN or similar organizations