Has the geo-restriction on.UK domain ownership been revamped? I dug into the zone registry's dоcumentation, specifically the Nominet UK website, and didn't turn up any intel on this topic.
I also scoured Namecheap's resources, but didn't find any red flags or caveats. It's possible that the requirement to demonstrate residency in England to secure a.UK domain has gone under the radar or hasn't been updated publicly.

Nominet, the registry responsible for managing .UK domain names, has indeed relaxed some of its residency requirements in recent years. While previously, registrants were required to provide proof of address in the UK, this is no longer a strict prerequisite. However, this doesn't mean that the geo-restrictions have been completely revamped or abolished.

In the current landscape, Nominet allows registrations from outside the UK, provided that the registrant adheres to the registry's terms and conditions. These include ensuring that the domain name is not being used for illegal or malicious activities, and that the registrant's contact details are accurate and up-to-date. This is where the term "use it or lose it" comes into play - if Nominet suspects that a domain name is not being actively used or that the registrant's details are incorrect, they may reserve the right to suspend or delete the domain.

Now, let's talk about Namecheap, a popular domain registrar. As a hosting specialist, I can assure you that Namecheap's resources are indeed a treasure trove of information, but they might not explicitly highlight the nuances of .UK domain geo-restrictions. This is where a bit of digging and understanding of the registry-registrar dynamic comes into play.

Namecheap, as a registrar, is bound by Nominet's policies. While they might not explicitly mention the relaxed residency requirements, they do provide clear guidelines on how to register a .UK domain. This includes ensuring that the registrant's contact details are accurate and that the domain name is not being used for illegal activities. This is where the term "/ICANN accredited registrar" comes into play - Namecheap, being ICANN accredited, is bound by these rules and regulations.

Why the lack of public updates or clear caveats? As a programmer with a knack for domain management, I'd argue that this could be due to a few reasons. Firstly, Nominet might be focusing more on educating registrars about the changes rather than directly communicating with end-users. Secondly, the changes might not be as radical as they seem, with the focus still being on ensuring that domain names are used responsibly and accurately.

While the geo-restrictions on .UK domains might not have been publicly revamped, there have been some changes in Nominet's residency requirements. However, this doesn't mean that the domain name space is a free-for-all. Registrants still need to adhere to the registry's terms and conditions, ensuring that their domain names are used responsibly and that their contact details are accurate.

I registered the .UK domain around 6 years ago and didn't encounter any issues. Back then, there were already 'trusty agents' and other 'proxies', hinting at the futility of this dying condition (residency).

Now, even a Pokemon from Pakistan could register a UK domain. There was a period of priority registration, and the 'British' protected their citizens at the time. And now - register whatever you want, to whomever you want.

By the way, you've touched on an interesting topic.

More and more countries worldwide are abandoning the practice of 'protecting national cCTLDs', as it even looks outdated in terms of image, reminiscent of the Middle Ages.

As I recall, the hubbub surrounding priority domain registrations in the.uk namespace started to unfold in 2011 and eventually wrapped up. Fast forward to the present, and it's business as usual, with no constraints in place, as domains have been widely utilized across various sectors for quite some time now.