Unlike most domain extensions, you can’t just buy a .xxx domain the moment it’s available. Registration is limited to a specific group, and there’s a screening step before you get one.
Who qualifies
.xxx is a sponsored top-level domain, meaning it’s restricted by design rather than open to anyone. According to Wikipedia, registration is limited to applicants who are part of the adult entertainment community. Applicants also have to pass a pre-screening process before they’re allowed to register.
What registrants have to follow
Being in the adult entertainment community isn’t the only requirement. Registrants are expected to follow standards set for the domain, including not marketing to minors. There’s also a post-registration challenge process, which means a registration can be challenged and reviewed after the fact if there’s a concern it doesn’t meet the domain’s standards.
Who’s behind the rules
The .xxx domain is run by registry operator ICM Registry, LLC, under sponsorship from the International Foundation for Online Responsibility (IFFOR). IFFOR is the body associated with setting and overseeing these sponsorship standards.
One thing worth knowing
In practice, not every .xxx domain in use is actually pornographic content — Wikipedia notes examples like kite.xxx and popebenedict.xxx, which were registered for non-pornographic purposes, apparently drawn to the suggestive connotation of the extension itself. That said, the eligibility and pre-screening rules above describe the intended registration path for adult-industry applicants.
Before you register
Because the pre-screening process and specific eligibility criteria are administered by ICM Registry directly, check ICM Registry’s own current registration requirements before applying, since exact screening steps could be updated over time.
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