7 Things to Check Before Registering Your .PH Domain

You’ve found the perfect Filipino brand name and you’re ready to grab your .PH domain. But before hitting that Pay button, a thought crosses your mind: what if you’re about to make a costly mistake?

Registering a .PH domain comes with specific local requirements and regulations. One wrong step could mean losing money, getting stuck in verification delays, or even risking your domain ownership later.

This guide walks you through seven critical things to check before registering. Think of it as your pre-registration checklist. It ensures your domain is secure, compliant, and ready to help your brand thrive in the Philippine market.

Let’s go through each checkpoint together.

1. Make Sure Your Domain Name Is Truly Available Including Variations

That dream name you’ve found, the one that feels perfect for your brand, might not be as available as it looks.

When checking availability, don’t stop at yourbrand.ph. Make sure to also check:

• yourbrand.com.ph
• yourbrand.net.ph
• yourbrand.org.ph
• Common misspellings or close variations

You could launch your business with yourbrand.ph, only to discover later that someone registered yourbrand.com.ph and is diverting your traffic or worse, confusing your customers.

Always prepare three to five solid backup names before starting the registration. Domain availability changes fast: what’s open this morning could be gone by afternoon.

Your alternatives should be strong enough that you would be happy to use any of them, not last-minute compromises.

Once you’ve confirmed availability for your main domain and its key variations, it’s time to look at what you’ll actually be paying.

2. Learn the Real Cost Beyond the Introductory Price

A first-year offer like “₱299 for your domain” sounds great until renewal time comes around.

Your true cost isn’t the first-year price; it’s the renewal rate. Some registrars attract you with low introductory prices, then quietly triple them the following year.

By then, your domain is already tied to your email, website, and marketing, making it hard to switch.

The Smart approach is to:

Calculate your three-year total cost. Multiply the renewal rate by three and add the first-year promo price. That’s what you’re really signing up for.

You can also consider multi-year registration. That is paying for 3, 5, or even 10 years upfront. This locks in your rate, protects you from price hikes, and saves you from the yearly renewal hassle.

With pricing sorted, the next step is to make sure you actually qualify to own the domain.

3.) Confirm You Meet the .PH Registration Requirements

Unlike some global domains, .PH domains have eligibility rules and they’re strictly enforced.

To register, you must have a verifiable link to the Philippines. Typically, DotPH requires:

• Proof of Philippine citizenship or residency
• A valid government-issued ID
• Proof of local address (like a utility bill or bank statement)
• Business registration documents if you’re registering as a company

These documents protect the integrity of the .PH space by ensuring it’s used by legitimate Filipino individuals and businesses.

Before you start:

• Prepare and scan all your documents.
• Make sure the details match — especially your address and ID.
• Double-check that nothing is expired and that the file sizes meet upload requirements. 

Clean, ready documents mean faster approval, usually within 3–7 business days. 

Once you’re eligible, your next step is protecting what’s rightfully yours: ownership.

4.)  Make Sure You’ll Have Direct Ownership

This is where many small businesses slip up.

Maybe your web developer or agency offers to handle the domain registration for you.

It sounds convenient until you realize the domain was registered under their account, not yours.

That means they legally own it. If they disappear or stop responding, you could lose access completely.

Avoid this by registering your domain yourself, under your own name and email address. After registration, verify that:

• The domain appears in your registrar dashboard
• You are listed as the primary contact
• You have your authorization or EPP code

That code proves ownership and allows transfers. Store it safely, ideally in a password manager along with your registrar credentials. Now that your ownership is secure, make sure it stays that way.

5.) Set Reliable Renewal Reminders

Imagine waking up to find your website and email down because your domain expired unnoticed. And  it happens more often than you think.

Renewal reminders can get lost in spam, and registrars aren’t responsible for tracking you down. Once your domain expires, it can be resold to someone else within days.

Here’s how to prevent this:

• Turn on auto-renewal but still keep manual reminders.
• Add renewal reminders to your calendar- 60, 30, and 1 day before expiry.
• Make sure your payment method is up to date.

For long-term peace of mind, consider prepaying for 5–10 years. It’s a one-time expense that removes the risk of accidental lapses.

With renewals handled, let’s move to your privacy.

6) Make Sure Your Privacy Is Protected

When you register a domain, your contact details: name, email, phone, and address are added to the public WHOIS database. 

Without privacy protection, that information becomes visible to anyone online.

Privacy protection hides your details and replaces them with generic registrar info. You’ll still be reachable via proxy email, but your personal data stays private.

This protects you from:

• Spam calls and emails
• Unwanted solicitations
• Identity theft risks
• Exposure of your home or office address

Some registrars include WHOIS privacy for free, while others charge ₱200–800 per year. Check if it’s included before purchase, and if not, budget for it. Once your privacy is secure, one final check remains: your flexibility.

7.) Ensure You Can Transfer Your Domain Easily

At some point, you might want to move to another registrar for better pricing or customer service. Before registering, make sure your provider allows easy domain transfer.

Check that:

• You can request your EPP code anytime
• There are no hidden exit fees or penalties
• The transfer process is clearly explained on their site
• Reviews from other users confirm smooth transfers

Be cautious if a registrar hides transfer instructions, delays EPP requests, or locks you into long-term commitments. Your domain is your property, any registrar making it difficult to leave isn’t one you want to stay with.

Your Final .PH Domain Checklist

Before clicking “Register Now,” go through this quick list:

• Domain and its variations are available
• Renewal pricing is clear and fair
• All required documents are ready
• You’re registering under your own account
•  Renewal reminders are set up
• Privacy protection is confirmed
• Transfer process is flexible and transparent

These seven checks take less than 30 minutes and save you weeks of stress, wasted money, and even the loss of your domain.

Most people skip them, rushing through registration. But you’re doing it the smart way,  protecting your investment from the start.

Ready to register?

Head to TrueHost.ph, where pricing is transparent, privacy is included, and support is always available. 

Follow this checklist, and you’ll register your .PH domain.