I received a notification from my registrar that the trust management service for .EU domain names is no longer available. Consequently, individuals who are not citizens or residents of the EU cannot register or own .EU domains. This policy applies to both new and existing .EU domains. The updated regulations are accessible on Eurid.eu's "News" section, and the new rules will take effect on October 18, 2022.

Have you also been cautioned about this development? Do you have any suggestions for managing .EU domains as a non-EU citizen?

After Brexit, approximately 80,000 domain names were lost from the .EU zone, according to a report from the EURid registry responsible for managing the domain zone. This was not unexpected, as two years ago the registry announced that British individuals and legal entities would lose their .EU domain names after the Brexit process was completed. Consequently, the number of British registrants in the domain has been gradually declining, affecting the registry's performance.

Since the Brexit procedure concluded, EURid has imposed restrictions on British registrants, and their domain names are "blocked," meaning that their associated websites and email addresses do not work. In order to reactivate these domain names, a legal entity or an individual from an EU country must re-register them, or the registrant must provide evidence of being an EU citizen residing in the UK. If neither condition is met by April 1, the status of these domain names will change to "deleted," and by 2022, they will be available for new registration.

Before Brexit, British registrants owned 140,114 domain names in the .EU zone, of which approximately 80,000 are now blocked. Analysts expect this number to decrease further, possibly by about 2%. This significant loss may affect the .EU domain's overall performance in the future.

For existing .EU domain owners who are not EU citizens, it's essential to review the updated regulations provided on the Eurid.eu website. Understanding the specific requirements and timelines outlined in the new rules will be crucial for compliance. Additionally, it might be necessary to consider transferring the ownership of the .EU domains to eligible EU citizens or entities before the new regulations take effect on October 18, 2022.

For those who were planning to register .EU domains but are not EU citizens or residents, alternative domain extensions could be explored. As a web designer, I would recommend considering other top-level domains (TLDs) that are open to registration by individuals and businesses regardless of their location. TLDs such as .com, .net, .org, and country-code TLDs like .io, .co, or others could be viable alternatives to .EU domains.

It's important to update any branding materials, websites, and marketing collateral that may currently feature .EU domains to reflect the change if necessary. This includes updating links, email addresses, and ensuring that any SEO considerations related to the domain change are addressed.
Non-EU citizens who have significant online presence and business operations tied to .EU domains may need to reassess their digital strategies and consider the implications of this change on their audience reach and brand identity.