SGNIC-IPOS Programme FAQ

SGNIC-IPOS Programme FAQ

Last updated: May 26, 2026

Outline

SGNIC-IPOS Programme

This section covers the specialized integration program between SGNIC and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS). It provides step-by-step instructions for eligible applicants to claim, activate, and manage a free companion domain name for brand protection.

⚡ Eligibility Framework & Domain Options

The SGNIC-IPOS Programme is a strategic joint initiative between SGNIC (the central registry for .sg domain names) and IPOS. This collaboration enables an automated workflow directly within the IPOS Digital Hub platform, allowing intellectual property filers to check domain availability and immediately lock down an accompanying domain name.

Who Qualifies for a Free Domain?

The Rule: Any applicant who completes an official IP filing for a Trademark, Patent, or Industrial Design via the IPOS Digital Hub e-service system automatically qualifies for one (1) free .sg or .com.sg domain name.

The Unique Token: Qualification requires a unique, system-issued IPOS Application Number generated immediately upon successful payment of your IP filing fees.

Filer Entity Adaptations:

Corporate Registrants: Companies filing an IP application can select either a .com.sg or a .sg domain name.

Individual Registrants: Private individual operators filing an IP application are eligible to claim a .sg extension only.

Administrative Routing: The person executing the IP filing via Singpass inside the IPOS Digital Hub is automatically mapped as the initial Administrative Contact for the domain name, using the local Singapore contact parameters supplied during the IP application.

📂 The Two-Step Reservation and Activation Lifecycles

Securing your brand protection asset involves a strict two-stage process spanning across the IPOS environment and Vooju’s registration node.

Reservation and Activation Process

[ Step 1: File IP & Reserve ] ➡️ Unique Application No. Issued ➡️ [ 90-Day Clock Starts ] ➡️ [ Step 2: Activate via Vooju ]

Reservation on IPOS Digital Hub

  1. Complete your Trademark, Patent, or Design application on the IPOS Digital Hub portal and settle filing fees.
  2. Once the checkout clears, the portal prompts you with an optional field to check domain name availability.
  3. If your preferred corporate or brand name is free, confirm the reservation. The IPOS system will safely log the reservation, tethering it to your unique IPOS Application Number.
  4. You have 90 days to activate your domain name.

Activation via Vooju

No fees are charged to reserve the domain name. To bring the reserved domain live on the internet, you must choose a participating registrar like Vooju to execute the setup:

  1. Log into your Vooju Account Panel.
  2. Navigate to the utility menu and click on the explicit link: Activate Free IPOS .SG Domain.
  3. Input your Reserved Domain Name precisely alongside your matching IPOS Application Number.
  4. Click Activate Domain Name.
  5. The platform establishes an automated cross-reference handshake with the registry. Your domain name is provisioned free of charge for the 1st year of registration.

Activated Domain

Once the domain name has been activated, all requirement of a .sg domain name needs to be fulfilled. Please ensure that the Admin Contact of the domain name verifies the domain name.

The domain name will also expire after the 1 year of free registration, please follow the normal domain renewal process to renew the domain name before expiry to prevent any disruption to your domain services.

🎛️ Timeline Boundaries & Troubleshooting

Because the SGNIC-IPOS program is designed for active brand deployment rather than passive speculation, the registry maintains rigid timing gates:

The 90-Day Activation Window:

  • Once you successfully reserve a domain string inside the IPOS ecosystem, a fixed 90 calendar day reservation window begins.

  • You must complete the activation sequence inside your Vooju panel before this 90-day countdown lapses.

  • The Expiration Consequence: If you fail to activate the domain within 90 days, the reservation automatically lapses. The domain is permanently purged from the holding pool and released back to the general public pool on a standard first-come, first-served basis.

    Critical Notice:

⚠️ One-Time Token Validity: An IPOS Application Number can only be used to reserve and attempt activation exactly once. If your 90-day reservation period window expires without activation, that specific application token is dead. You cannot re-use it to request another reservation.

📋 Volume Allocation: Exactly one (1) single domain registration reservation is permitted per distinct IPOS filing number. You cannot distribute a single trademark application across multiple variations or capture both .sg and .com.sg strings off a single token.

🛑 Excluded TLD Extensions: This promotional program applies exclusively to primary .sg and .com.sg assets. Special suffixes like .org.sg, .net.sg, or .edu.sg are entirely barred from this automation track.

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