Quick answer
Can I register a .ru domain privately?
No — the registry verifies your identity with official documents. Sealname, an ultra privacy-respecting domain registration service paid in crypto, does not sell .ru: we collect one email, nothing else, so we only sell extensions whose registry needs nothing more than that. Private alternatives start at $12.99/year for a .com, privacy included, no ID and no KYC.
.ru privacy at a glance
| Private registration | No — the registry verifies your identity with official documents |
|---|---|
| What the public sees in WHOIS/RDAP | Hidden by the registry. Individuals typically shown as "Private Person" (not confirmed). |
| Who can register | Since 2026-09-01 holders must verify identity via the Russian Gosuslugi portal; foreigners without Russian documents generally need a local trustee; Russian registrars only. |
| Registry | Coordination Center for TLD RU |
| Type | country-code top-level domain |
| Sold by Sealname | No |
| Rules | Rules checked against registry and registrar sources on 2026-10-08 |
Why doesn't Sealname sell .ru?
In short: the registry verifies your identity with official documents. Sealname collects one email per domain, nothing else, and a registrar cannot change the rules of a registry: if the registry needs your name and address, checks identity documents, accepts only local holders or publishes holders, every registrar has to apply that rule. A service that promises a .ru domain with only an email is either wrong or breaking the registry's rules, and the domain can be suspended later.
Registry rule: Since 2026-09-01 holders must verify identity via the Russian Gosuslugi portal; foreigners without Russian documents generally need a local trustee; Russian registrars only.
.ru is the country-code extension of Russia. Its rules come from the national registry and the law of Russia, not from ICANN, so they can be stricter than the rules of .com or .net.
Which extensions can I register privately instead?
If privacy matters more than the country code, choose an extension that anyone can register privately:
- Generic: .com at $12.99/year, .net at $13.99/year, .org at $12.99/year — privacy included.
- Tech and projects: .io at $54.99/year, .xyz at $13.99/year, .app at $16.99/year.
- Personal and short names: .me at $22.99/year and .co at $33.99/year.
If you need .ru itself and accept that its rules apply, register it with a registrar accredited by its registry and read what that registry publishes before you pay.
Private alternatives and their price per year
Frequently asked questions
Can I register a .ru domain anonymously?
No: the registry verifies your identity with official documents. No registrar can make a .ru domain anonymous, because the registry's own rules decide what is published and who may register. What the public sees: Hidden by the registry. Individuals typically shown as "Private Person" (not confirmed).
Does Sealname sell .ru domains?
No. Sealname sells only extensions that anyone can register privately with one email, nothing else. .ru does not meet that rule, so it is not in our price list. You can still search other extensions in the client area, or compare them on the price list.
Who is allowed to register a .ru domain?
Since 2026-09-01 holders must verify identity via the Russian Gosuslugi portal; foreigners without Russian documents generally need a local trustee; Russian registrars only. The registry (Coordination Center for TLD RU) applies this rule to every registrar. Check its website for the current rules before you register, because registries in Europe are adding identity checks under the NIS2 directive.
What is the closest private alternative to .ru?
A generic extension: .com at $12.99/year, .net at $13.99/year or .org at $12.99/year, all with WHOIS privacy included and open to anyone with one email. The privacy index shows the rule of every extension.
Will the .ru rules change?
They can: registries change their policies, and ICANN is reviewing the rules for privacy and proxy services. We re-check every extension each quarter and date every change. Current status: Rules checked against registry and registrar sources on 2026-10-08.
Extensions you can register privately
Sources (2)
- IANA Root Zone Database — .ru registry record — IANA (2026-10-08)
- ICANN Lookup — check any domain's RDAP record — ICANN (2026-10-08)