How to register free .hr domain?

If you have a company or registered sole proprietorship in Croatia and plan to build a website, you will need a domain name.

A domain is the address people use to visit your website. For example, in web-dance-development.hr, “web-dance-development” is the domain name, while “.hr” is Croatia’s national domain extension.

What many new business owners do not know is that legal entities and individuals with a registered independent professional activity in Croatia are entitled to one free .hr domain.

In this guide, we explain who can register a free domain, which rules apply to its name, and how to complete the registration process.

Who Is Eligible for a Free .hr Domain?

One free .hr domain may be registered by:

• legal entities registered in the Republic of Croatia, including companies, associations, and other organisations with legal personality
• individuals carrying out a registered independent activity in Croatia, including sole proprietors, doctors, and artists

Each eligible user may hold only one free .hr domain.

If you already use a free .hr domain, you can register an additional paid domain through an authorised registrar.

What Name Can You Use for a Free .hr Domain?

You cannot choose just any name for a free .hr domain. The name must be connected to the registered name or activity of your business.

For legal entities, the domain name may contain:

• the full name recorded in the relevant register
• the registered abbreviated name
• an abbreviation formed from the initial letters or syllables of a multi-word name

For sole proprietors and other individuals carrying out an independent activity, the domain may also contain a description of the activity together with the person’s first or last name.

For example, if your business is registered as “Studio Primjer”, one possible domain could be studio-primjer.hr, provided that it is available and complies with the registration rules.

Before registering, consider how the domain will look in advertisements, on social media, on business cards, and as part of your professional email address. A good domain name should be:

• short and simple
• easy to remember
• easy to pronounce and type
• as close as possible to your business name
• free from unnecessary numbers and complicated characters

If you have several possible names, ask which one would be clearest to someone hearing about your business for the first time.

How to Register a Free .hr Domain

Free domains are registered through the official domene.hr registration portal.

1. Check Whether You Meet the Requirements

Before starting the registration, confirm that you have a registered legal entity or independent professional activity in Croatia and that you are not already using a free .hr domain.

If you already have one free domain, you cannot register another one free of charge. Instead, you can choose a paid .hr or .com.hr domain, or another available domain extension.

2. Choose Your Domain Name

You can use the domene.hr website to check whether your preferred name is available.

The name must correspond to your registered business name or activity. A domain cannot be reserved in advance. If the name is available and you meet the requirements, you can submit your application immediately.

Check the spelling carefully before continuing with the registration.

3. Enter the User’s Details

The registration form requires information about the company, sole proprietorship, or other business entity. Depending on the type of user, you may need to provide:

• the type of applicant
• the Croatian personal identification number (OIB)
• the registered business name
• the registered address and city
• a telephone number
• an active email address
• a verification document

Use a correct email address that you check regularly. CARNET uses it to send the registration confirmation, administration links, and domain renewal reminders.

4. Specify the Administrative and Technical Contacts

The administrative contact is authorised to manage the domain on behalf of its holder. The technical contact is responsible for technical information and DNS servers.

For a small business, the domain holder and the administrative and technical contacts may all be the same person. If an external provider builds and maintains your website, you may list that provider as the technical contact.

However, the business owner should remain the official domain holder and use an active email address under their control. This ensures that you retain control of the domain if you later change your hosting provider or website maintenance partner.

5. Enter the DNS Information

DNS records connect your domain to the server where your website is hosted.

If you already have hosting, you can enter the DNS information during registration. Your hosting provider or web developer will give you the required details.

If your hosting is not ready yet, you can add the DNS information later. The domain will be registered, but your website will not be accessible until the domain is connected to the correct server.

6. Submit the Application and Wait for Confirmation

After checking all the information, submit your registration application.

The confirmation will be sent to the email address provided in the application. According to CARNET, the domain should be registered no later than the second business day after the application is submitted.

If the confirmation does not arrive, first check your spam folder. If you still have not received it by the third business day, you can contact the CARNET Helpdesk.

Does a Free Domain Include a Website?

No. A domain, hosting, and a website are three different things.

A domain is your website’s address.

Hosting is the space on a server where your website’s files, images, and database are stored.

A website is the content and system visitors see when they open your domain.

Registering a free .hr domain gives you the right to use that domain name. It does not automatically include hosting, website design and development, or a professional email address.

To make a website available through the domain, you need to arrange hosting, build the website, and configure the DNS records correctly.

Does a Free .hr Domain Need to Be Renewed?

Yes. Although the domain is free of charge, it must be renewed once a year.

During renewal, you confirm that the holder’s information is still correct and that you want to continue using the domain. Before it expires, CARNET sends reminders to the email addresses of the domain holder and the administrative and technical contacts.

If you do not renew the domain on time, it will first be deactivated. Your website and any email addresses connected to the domain may then stop working. If the domain is not renewed within the specified period, it may eventually be deleted.

For this reason, use an email address you check regularly and update your contact details whenever they change.

Is Registering a Free .hr Domain Worth It?

If you are starting a business in Croatia and meet the requirements, a free .hr domain is usually a good choice.

It can reduce your initial costs, connect your website with your registered business name, and give you a professional address intended for the Croatian market.

Before registering, make sure the permitted name fits the way you want to present your brand. If you want a completely different name that is not connected to your registered business, a paid domain may be a better option.

Do You Need Help with Your Domain or Website?

Registering a domain is only the first step towards creating a professional business website.

If you need help choosing a suitable name, connecting your domain to hosting, or building the complete website, feel free to contact us. We can help you turn a registered domain into a fast, functional, and professional website that presents your business clearly.