.post

{{Short description|Internet top-level domain for the postal union}}

{{advert|date=January 2014}}

{{Infobox top level domain

|name=.post

|image=DotPost gTLD logo.png

|introduced=2012

|type=Sponsored top-level domain

|status=Active

|registry=Afilias

|sponsor={{flagicon image|Flag of UPU.svg}} Universal Postal Union

|intendeduse={{Flatlist|

• UPU members
• post offices
• postal sector-related organizations

}}

|actualuse=In use by UPU members

|restrictions=Registrants must be approved as being members of the postal community before registering domains

|structure=Full authentication of verification of eligible registrants with structured naming rules for second and third-level registrations.

|document=[http://www.icann.org/tlds/stld-apps-19mar04/post.htm/ ICANN New sTLD RFP Application]
[http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/post .Post Sponsored TLD Agreement]

|disputepolicy=UDRP

|website={{URL|info.post}}

|dnssec=yes

}}

.post is a sponsored top-level domain (STLD), available exclusively for the postal sector, and is secured by DNSSEC.{{cite web|url=http://www.upu.int/en/activities/post/about-post.html|title=About .post|author=|website=Universal Postal Union|access-date=3 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130710024317/http://www.upu.int/en/activities/post/about-post.html|archive-date=10 July 2013}} The domain aims to integrate the physical, financial, and electronic dimensions of postal services to enable and facilitate e-post, e-finance, e-commerce, and e-government services. ICANN approved the domain on April 8, 2005, as a sponsored TLD in the second group of new TLD applications evaluated in 2004.

In 2004, the Universal Postal Union (UPU), based in Bern, was the first United Nations agency to secure a top-level domain (TLD) from ICANN.

In 2009, ICANN and the UPU signed a historic agreement, giving the UPU managing authority over .post as a top-level domain. The agreement came about after negotiations and public review through ICANN's public comment process, reviews within the UPU governing councils, and consideration by ICANN's Board of Directors.{{cite press release|url=http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-11dec09-en.htm|title=ICANN Signs Two Historic Agreements with UN Agencies|date=11 December 2009|work=Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers}}

Having been delegated authority for .post, the UPU develops, implements, and monitors government rules for it. It is also responsible for attributing domain names to postal-sector stakeholders who meet the eligibility criteria.

The STLD was added to the IANA TLD registry on August 8, 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/post.html|title=IANA — .post Domain Delegation Data|publisher=Iana.org|access-date=2014-02-22}}