WHOIS lookup

See who a domain is registered through, when it was created and when it expires, straight from the official registry.

WHOIS and RDAP

“WHOIS” is the traditional name for looking up who a domain is registered to. Registries now publish that information through RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol), a newer standard with structured data. ICANN made RDAP the definitive source for generic domains such as .com, .net and .org on January 28, 2025.

This tool asks the official RDAP service for the domain’s ending directly, so what you see is the registry’s own record rather than a copy.

.ca domains and privacy

For .ca domains, the registry is CIRA. If the owner registered as an individual (a Canadian citizen or permanent resident), CIRA keeps their name and contact details private automatically. Businesses may also use privacy protection through their registrar. That’s why many .ca results show a registrar but no owner.

To contact a private .ca owner, use CIRA’s message form. CIRA passes your message on without revealing their details.

Reading the results

  • Registrar: the company the domain was registered through. Go there to renew or transfer it.
  • Expires on: if a domain isn’t renewed by then, it can lapse and eventually become available to others.
  • Name servers: the DNS servers that answer for the domain. Changing these moves the domain’s DNS to another provider.
  • Status: codes such as “client transfer prohibited” are normal locks that stop unauthorised transfers.
  • DNSSEC: whether the domain’s DNS answers are cryptographically signed.

Why some domains can’t be checked

Every registry decides whether to publish RDAP. Most do, including .ca, .com, .net, .org and many country endings. A few, such as .io and .de, don’t publish one. For those, use the registry’s own website or your registrar.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find out who owns a .ca domain?

Look it up here. If the owner is an individual, CIRA keeps their details private, but you can contact them through CIRA’s contact a domain holder form.

How do I check when a domain expires?

Enter the domain above. The expiry date comes from the registry, along with how many days are left.

Is WHOIS the same as RDAP?

They answer the same question. RDAP is the newer standard that registries use to publish registration data, and ICANN made it the definitive source for generic domains in January 2025.

Why is the owner’s name hidden?

Privacy rules. CIRA hides individual .ca owners automatically, and many registrars offer privacy protection for other domains.