WHOIS Email Verification

As you may know, ICANN refreshes the agreement, all accredited registrars and domain resellers from time-to-time. As part of the 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA), ICANN began enforcing a new rule requiring registrars to verify Registrant contact information used in WHOIS. You can read here for more details on ICANN’s web site.

How do I know if I need to verify my email address?

Simple. Check your Email for the following subjects: “URGENT ACTION REQUIRED: Domain WHOIS Verification” or “IMMEDIATE VERIFICATION required for..”.

When does WHOIS verification occur?

Our system will email the email address used as the Registrant contact role for all domains immediately upon registration or transfer completion of a domain. Also, removing WHOIS Privacy or updating the contact information used for the Registrant of a domain will trigger verification. We may also re-verify your email address if it has either been brought to our attention or we believe that your email address is no longer valid.

The triggers listed above apply only to email addresses that have not been previously verified for the account holder.

How does WHOIS verification work?

Our system will send an email containing 2 different options for verifying the address (only one is required to be completed):

• A clickable link
• A website address to visit where the email address and a code supplied in the email verification request may be entered.

What happens if I do not verify my email address?

Registrars are required to deactivate any domains for which email verification has not been completed within 15 days of initial notification. Deactivation entails placing the domain on clientHold status which entirely disables the domain including web site, email and any other services used by the domain.

What do I do if I did not receive an email verification request?

Do check your inbox or spam box or contact support for assistance.

How often are reminder emails sent if I do not verify the first email verification request?

Our system will send reminders every 4 days to the Registrant email address up until the 15th day. Also, if the Registrant email address does not match the email address of the account holder, then the account holder will receive a reminder every 3 days.

How long does it take to reactivate my domains after verification?

Any domains deactivated as a result of not verifying an email address happen immediately after verification is completed.

I am a Reseller. How will my customers be notified?

The email verifications use the same system as other system-based notifications (such as transfer approval requests, WDRP notices, etc.). More specifically, our system will send private-labelled notifications to your customers with links referencing the generic website.

Do I need to verify an email address with no domains associated with it?

The only requirement besides what has already been covered above is that your default contact profile email address must be verified in order to have other system emails and notifications sent (including invoice reminders etc).

Is email verification required for other registrars?

Yes, email verification is required by all ICANN-accredited registrars who have signed the 2013 RAA