How to register a new domain

Choose the right domain

• .co.za is the standard choice for a South African business. Webway registers .co.za directly with ZACR, the registry.
• .com works everywhere, and many other extensions are available. The full list and pricing is at webway.host/website-domains.
• Keep it short, easy to say aloud, and free of hyphens and numbers where possible.
• If your main domain is .co.za, consider registering the .com too and redirecting it, so nobody else can trade on your name.

Webway doesn't offer WHOIS privacy, so use a business address and a role email address (such as domains@) rather than personal details if that matters to you.

Have ready

• The exact spelling you want.
• Registrant details: legal name or company name, postal address, phone and an email address you check. Approval and verification emails go there.
• A payment method: card (Stripe) or PayFast.

Register the domain

1. Log in to the client area at portal.webway.host.
2. Go to Domains → Register a New Domain.
3. Type the domain you want, without www, and search. Results show whether it's available and the price.
4. Choose the extension(s) you want and continue.
5. Domain configuration:
   • Registration period: one year or more. Multi-year registration protects against forgetting to renew.
   • Nameservers: leave the defaults (dns1.webway.host and dns2.webway.host) if the domain will be used with Webway hosting.
6. Continue to the cart. Add hosting here too if you need it: a domain alone doesn't give you a website or email.
7. Checkout: confirm your registrant details and choose a payment method.
8. Complete the payment.

What happens after payment

The domain is registered within minutes of a card or PayFast payment. You'll get a confirmation email, and the domain appears under Domains → My Domains.

International domains send a verification email to the registrant address shortly after registration. Click the link in it. Unverified domains can be suspended by the registry after 15 days.

Next steps

1. Point it at your hosting. If you ordered hosting with the domain, this is done. If you already had hosting, add the domain in your control panel (cPanel Domains → Domains; DirectAdmin Account Manager → Domains). See How to add another domain or a subdomain.
2. Set up email on the domain. See How to create an email account.
3. Turn on auto-renew for the domain in the client area, so it never lapses.
4. Allow a few hours for DNS to spread before the website and SSL certificate work everywhere. See How long does DNS propagation take?

Common questions