If your business is registered with the Ministry of Commerce in Cambodia, there is a rule about domain names that most business owners have never heard of — and most web designers never mention.
This article explains what it says, what it costs, how long it takes, and the one part nobody can tell you for certain.
The rule
In April 2022 the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued Joint Notification No. 0873. It requires every company registered in Cambodia to:
- register a second-level national domain name — the .com.kh type — for the company's electronic address, and
- provide that address to the Ministry of Commerce
The stated compliance deadline was 1 January 2023.
So this is not a new rule or a proposal. It has been in force for years, and a great many registered companies have simply never actioned it.
What it costs
This is where most businesses lose money, because there are two completely different prices for the same thing.
Both give you the identical domain name.
Register directly. The international registrars listing .com.kh at $219, $310 or more are reselling something you can obtain from the ministry for $30 a year. Over three years that difference is $500 to $1,400 — a significant part of the cost of the website itself.
For comparison, an ordinary .com costs roughly $12 to $15 a year from any international registrar. A .com.kh is more expensive, and it is a legal requirement for registered companies rather than a choice.
How long it takes
One to two months for the application to be approved.
This is the part that catches people out, and it is worth saying plainly: it is a scheduling problem, not just an administrative one. A website can be designed, built and finished in two weeks and then sit waiting six weeks for a domain.
If you are planning a website and you are a registered company, start the domain application at the same time as the project, not at the end of it.
Who can register one
.kh domains are only available at the second level — .com.kh, .net.kh, .org.kh. You cannot register something directly under .kh.
Registration is open to companies registered in Cambodia, government agencies, organisations, and Cambodian citizens.
What happens if you stop paying
The documented consequence applies once you hold a domain and let it lapse:
- The domain is temporarily suspended after expiry
- After 60 days without payment it is deleted
Authorities may also request deletion of domain names deemed offensive to local traditions or religious beliefs.
The part we cannot tell you
We do not know how actively the registration requirement is enforced.
The notification is public and the deadline has passed. What the published sources do not say is whether the Ministry of Commerce refuses filings, issues fines, or takes any action against a registered company that simply never registers a .com.kh at all. The penalties described above apply to letting an existing domain lapse — not to never having one.
We would rather say that clearly than imply a threat we cannot evidence. If compliance matters to your business, a phone call to the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications will tell you the current practice better than any article.
Do you need to drop your .com?
No. Most businesses hold both:
- .com — the address you advertise, that international customers expect
- .com.kh — the compliance address, which can point at the same website
Pointing two domains at one site is a five-minute technical job. There is no need to rebuild anything, and no need to choose.
What this means for a website project
Three practical takeaways:
- Budget for it. About $100 up front and $30 a year, on top of the build. It is not included in anyone's website price, ours included.
- Start it early. One to two months of approval time can idle a finished website.
- Register it in the company's name, and keep the login. A domain registered in your designer's name is a hostage. This is our policy on every project and it should be yours regardless of who builds your site.
We build product websites and business systems in Phnom Penh. If you are planning a site and want the domain question handled properly from the start, send us a message.
Comments
Loading comments...