You will find multiple companies offering various types of domain name registration services. Before completing any transaction relating to domain name registration, ICANN offers these general guidelines:

Know who you are dealing with. ICANN has accredited a number of companies for provision of domain-name registration services. We recommend dealing directly with an ICANN-accredited registrar. The full list of accredited registrars is available here. If you choose to register a domain name with a company that is not an accredited registrar, make sure to read the registration agreement carefully to identify any other parties you may also be contracting with,
Research the registrar’s customer service. Does the registrar offer the types of services you require? What type of support do they offer for their services? Do they have readily accessible contact information? Can they answer the questions you have? When you do an online search, do you come up with a list of complaints against them? Checking out this information ahead of time can save you a lot of problems later.
Read and understand the terms and conditions. When registering a domain name online, you will be asked to accept the terms and conditions of a registration agreement. By completing the domain registration, you are agreeing to these terms. The agreement contains important information about the rights you have in the domain name, the use of your personal data, the fees a registrar may charge you, and under what conditions you may switch service to new providers. While it may be tempting to speed through this step and click “I AGREE,” taking the time to read this first can save you from unpleasant surprises later.

Registering a Domain Name

What does it mean to "register" a domain name?

The Internet domain name system (DNS) consists of a directory, organized hierarchically, of all the domain names and their corresponding computers registered to particular companies and persons using the Internet. When you register a domain name, it will be associated with the computer on the Internet you designate during the period the registration is in effect. From that computer, you can create a website which will be accessible to Internet users around the world.

How do I register a domain name?

Domain names can be registered through many different companies (known as "registrars") that compete with one another. A listing of these companies appears in the Registrar Directory on this site.

The registrar you choose will ask you to provide various contact and technical information that makes up the registration. The registrar will then keep records of the contact information and submit the technical information to a central directory known as the "registry." This registry provides other computers on the Internet the information necessary to send you e-mail or to find your web site. You will also be required to enter a registration contract with the registrar, which sets forth the terms under which your registration is accepted and will be maintained.

What are the rules for registration of .biz, .com, .info, .name, .net, .org, and .pro names?

Please contact your registrar for more information or visit the Registry websites listed below.

The .biz domain, operated by NeuLevel, Inc., is restricted to businesses.
The .com domain, operated by VeriSign Naming & Directory Services, is a generic top-level domain originally intended for commercial businesses around the world.
The .info domain, operated by Afilias Limited, is an unrestricted domain for websites containing information about you, your organization, your products or any other information you'd like to make available to a global audience.
The .name domain, operated by Global Name Registry, is reserved for individuals.
The .net domain, operated by VeriSign Naming & Directory Services, is a generic top-level domain used by many types of organizations and individuals globally; it was historically intended for and is still commonly used by Internet service providers.
The .org domain, operated by Public Interest Registry, is unrestricted, but was intended to serve the noncommercial community.
The .pro domain, operated by RegistryPro, is restricted to certified professionals and related entities.

What are the rules for registration of .aero, .coop, and .museum names?

The .aero, .coop, and .museum TLDs are sponsored TLDs and are designed for use within a specified community. Registration restrictions for these TLDs have been developed by the sponsor with input from the community. For more information, contact your registrar or visit the sponsor sites listed below.

The .aero domain, sponsored by Société Internationale de Télécommunication Aéronautiques (SITA), is exclusively reserved for the aviation community.
The .coop domain, sponsored by DotCooperation LLC, is restricted to use by bona fide cooperatives and cooperative service organizations that ascribe to the Cooperative Principles of the ICA, such as member ownership and control.
The .museum domain, sponsored by the Museum Domain Management Association (MuseDoma), was developed exclusively for the museum community.

Can I register a domain name that includes non-ASCii (examples) characters?

Some top-level domains are offering Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) registrations. These can be registered by participating registrars. Contact your registrar for more information.

I've seen domain names ending with two-letter combinations, like .uk. What are the rules for registering in these domains?

Two letter domains, such as .uk, .de and .jp (for example), are called country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) and correspond to a country, territory, or other geographic location. The rules and policies for registering ccTLDs vary significantly and a number of ccTLDs are reserved for use by citizens of the corresponding country.

Some ICANN-accredited registrars provide registration services in the ccTLDs, however, ICANN does not accredit registrars or set registration policies for ccTLDs. For details about ccTLD registration policies, you should contact the designated country code manager.

View a list of all delegated ccTLDs & their designated managers

When I register a domain name, will my name and contact information become publicly available?

Information about who is responsible for domain names is publicly available to allow rapid resolution of technical problems and to permit enforcement of consumer protection, trademark, and other laws. The registrar will make this information available to the public on a "Whois" site. It is, however, possible to register a domain in the name of a third party, as long as they agree to accept responsibility -- ask your registrar for further details.

How long does a registration last? Can it be renewed?

Each registrar has the flexibility to offer initial and renewal registrations in one-year increments, provided that the maximum remaining unexpired term shall not exceed ten years.

I have seen advertisements for domain-name registration by companies not in the accredited registrar directory. Are these legitimate?

Many companies that are not accredited by ICANN offer domain registration services - some are reselling names obtained from accredited registrars. ICANN recommends that you deal directly with an accredited registrar.

View a complete list of ICANN-Accredited Registrars

I just registered a domain name. How do I turn this into a working website?

In order for a domain name to resolve on the Internet, you will need to secure hosting services for the domain.

In general terms, you'll need to obtain a static (fixed) IP address for your computer from your ISP (although there are work-arounds for dynamically-assigned IP addresses). You'll need to arrange for two external computers acting as nameservers to point your domain at your IP address. Your registrar can then point your domain at the two nameservers which have been configured with your information.

For more detailed instructions, please ask your ISP, registrar, or search the web or Usenet for advice.

Am I required to sign up for hosting services from the same company where I registered the domain name?

No. Some registrars may offer hosting services or include them as part of a package when you register the name, but you are not required to use these services.

The domain name I want is already registered by someone else. How do I go about obtaining this name?

If you are interested in obtaining a domain name that has been registered by somebody else, there are at least four alternatives:

Work out an agreement with the current registrant.
Wait and hope the current registrant lets it expire.
File a lawsuit in court against the current registrant.
If you believe the domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which you have rights, and the current registrant has registered and is using the name in bad faith (and has no rights or legitimate interests in the name), you can begin an administrative proceeding under the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy. (Note: this is a narrow category, so you should proceed with caution.) For more details on this option, please see <http://www.icann.org/udrp/udrp.htm>.

Before you decide which of these or other options is best in your case, you may want to consult an attorney. ICANN cannot give you legal advice.

Managing Your Domain Name

How do I transfer the rights in my domain name to someone else?

The exact procedure to be followed varies by registrar. Please contact the domain's sponsoring registrar for details. Since a domain-name registration is simply a contractual right with the sponsoring registrar, the "buyer" should obtain a contract with the registrar.

As part of the registrar's transfer process, it should send a contract that defines the buyer's rights with respect to the name.

If the buyer is paying money to receive a transfer, it should take special care to ensure that the transfer documentation is acceptable to the registrar before paying money. Sometimes escrow devices are used.

I already have a domain name registered, but I don't know who the sponsoring registrar is. How can I find out which company I registered my domain with?

To access information regarding registered domains; please go to the InterNIC Registry Whois Service. For some top-level domains, the results of a successful search will contain only technical information about the registered domain name and referral information for the registrar of the domain name. In the Shared Registration System model, registrars are responsible for maintaining Whois domain name contact information. Please refer to the registrar's Whois service for additional information.

How do I update the contact information associated with my domain name?

You can update your contact information through your registrar. Some registrars offer an online system through which you can directly access your information. Otherwise, you can make such changes by contacting the registrar’s customer service.

I need to change the nameservers for my domain. How do I do this?

You can update nameserver information by contacting your registrar. Some registrars offer an online system through which you can directly access and update your information. Otherwise, you can make these changes by contacting the registrar’s customer service.

My domain name has recently expired, but the domain still exists in the Whois information. When will it disappear?

There is a 45-day auto-renew grace period following the expiration of a domain name registration. You have the opportunity to renew it during this period. If you do not renew it, the domain name will begin the deletion process and then become available for re-registration.

I accidentally let my domain name expire. How do I get it back?

You may be able to get it back for 30 days after it has been deleted by the registrar. This period is called the Redemption Grace Period. Only your original registrar can perform this service. The registrar is allowed to charge you a fee to restore your name during the Redemption Grace Period.

I accidentally let my domain name expire, and now it has been registered by someone else. How do I get it back?

If you are interested in obtaining a domain name that has been registered by somebody else, there are at least four alternatives:

Work out an agreement with the current registrant.
Wait and hope the current registrant lets it expire.
File a lawsuit in court against the current registrant.
If you believe the domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which you have rights, and the current registrant has registered and is using the name in bad faith (and has no rights or legitimate interests in the name), you can begin an administrative proceeding under the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy. (Note: this is a narrow category, so you should proceed with caution.) For more details on this option, please see <http://www.icann.org/udrp/udrp.htm>.

Before you decide which of these or other options is best in your case, you may want to consult an attorney. ICANN cannot give you legal advice.

Can I switch registrars after registering a domain name?

Yes, you may change the registrar sponsoring your domain name (beginning 60 days after initial registration). For details on the transfer process, contact the registrar you would like to assume sponsorship of the registration.

How do I transfer my domain name to a new registrar?

If you wish to move your domain name from one ICANN-accredited registrar to another, you may initiate the transfer process by contacting the registrar to which you wish to transfer the name. This registrar is required to confirm your intent to transfer your domain name using the Initial Authorization for Registrar Transfer form. If you do not respond or return the form to the registrar, your transfer request will not be processed.

Your current registrar may also choose to verify your intent to transfer using the Confirmation of Registrar Transfer Request form.

The registrar is asking me for a code to do a transfer. Where do I get this?

The Auth-Info Code is a unique code generated on a per-domain basis and is used for authorization or confirmation of a transfer request. Some registrars offer facilities for you to generate and manage your own Auth Info code. In other cases, you will need to contact the registrar directly to obtain it. The registrar must provide you with the Auth-Info code within 5 calendar days of your request.

The Auth-Info code is applicable to transfers of domain names registered under .biz, .info, .name, .org, and .pro.

What if I don’t know who my registrar is?

If you don't know who your current sponsoring registrar is, you can access information about your domain name by performing a Whois search at <http://www.internic.net/whois.html>.

My registrar is refusing to transfer my name. What do I do?

A registrar may legitimately deny a transfer request in certain limited circumstances, as follows:

Evidence of fraud
Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) action
Court order
Reasonable dispute over the identity of the person authorizing the transfer
Domain name is on hold due to payment owed for a previous registration period
Express written objection from the domain name holder
Domain name is in “Lock” status (Registrars must provide a readily accessible and reasonable means for name holders to remove the lock status. Contact your registrar for assistance.)
Domain name is within 60 days of initial registration
Domain name is within 60 days of a previous transfer

Registrars are required to specify a reason when denying a transfer request. Contact either the current registrar or the registrar you wish to transfer to for assistance.

My registrar is charging me a fee to transfer to a new registrar. Is this allowed?

Yes. Registrars are allowed to set their own prices for this service.

My request was denied for a reason not listed above, or I do not agree with the reason they provided. What do I do?

If you believe that your transfer request was inappropriately denied by your current registrar, please contact the registrar to which you want to transfer for assistance. Disputes between registrars over alleged violations of the Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy may be initiated by any ICANN-accredited registrar.

My domain name was transferred without my authorization. What do I do?

If you believe that your domain name was transferred to a new registrar without your authorization or consent, please contact the original registrar. Disputes between registrars over alleged violations of the Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy may be initiated by any ICANN-accredited registrar.

How do I find out why my transfer request was denied?

If your current registrar denies a transfer request, they are required to provide you with the reason. Contact the registrar for assistance. See above for the circumstances in which a registrar may legitimately deny a transfer request.

My domain has been transferred to some other registrar without my knowledge, and now it shows someone else as the owner. What do I do?

A registrar may only initiate a transfer if it has obtained a completed Form of Authorization (FOA) from either 1) the registrant or 2) the administrative contact for the domain. The registrar must be able to produce a copy of this documentation when it is requested. Failure to do so is grounds for reversal of a transfer in the event that a complaint is filed under the Transfer Dispute Resolution Policy.

Thus, the first step should be for your previous registrar to request from the new registrar a copy of the form used for authorizing the transfer. The registrar can then proceed with initiating a dispute as appropriate. Contact your previous registrar for assistance.

My domain name has just expired. Can my registrar require me to pay for a renewal before I can transfer to a new registrar?

No. Your new registrar of choice can initiate a transfer request on an expired domain name once they receive the required authorization from you. Expiration or nonrenewal of a domain name is not a valid reason for denial of a transfer request.

Note that if the registrar has already begun the deletion process on the domain name and its status shows it to be within a 30-day Redemption Grace Period, the name must be .restored. by your current registrar before it can be transferred.

My registrar is listed as the Administrative Contact for my domain name and this is preventing my transfer from going through. What do I do?

If you are listed as the Registrant for the domain name, you can ask your new registrar of choice to send the required Form of Authorization to you rather than the Administrative Contact.

You can also update the data associated with the domain name and name a different Administrative Contact. Some registrars offer an online interface tool for you to manage this data yourself; others can make these updates if you contact their customer service.

Where can I go if I have a question on transfers that is not answered above?

If you have questions about the transfer policy, please contact your registrar or email ICANN at transfer-questions@icann.org.

Complaints and Disputes

If I have customer service questions or problems related to my domain name registration, whom should I contact?

You should contact the registrar that registered your domain name.

If I'm having a problem with my registrar, should I report it to ICANN?

If you have a problem with one of the registrars, you should first try to resolve it with that registrar.

If you cannot resolve your complaint with the registrar, you should address it to private-sector agencies involved in addressing customer complaints or governmental consumer-protection agencies. The appropriate agency will vary depending on the jurisdiction of the registrar and the customer.

Although ICANN's limited technical mission does not include resolving individual customer-service complaints, ICANN does collect and monitor such complaints to discern trends. If you would like to submit a complaint about a registrar for ICANN's records, please use the Registrar Problem Report Form located at the InterNIC website. As a courtesy, ICANN will forward your complaint to the registrar for review and further handling. (Please note that there is no guarantee that the registrar will reply.)

Find registrar contact details in the Accredited Registrar Directory
Submit a registrar complaint through the Registrar Problem Report Form

Where do I file a complaint about a registrar that I believe should be investigated for violation of its agreement with ICANN?

If you believe one of the ICANN-accredited registrars is in violation of its agreement with ICANN, please submit an email to registrar@icann.org with as many details as you have available regarding the specific areas of the accreditation agreement that you believe are being violated.

Review the Registrar Accreditation Agreement

Where do I file a complaint about a registry that I believe should be investigated for violation of its agreement with ICANN?

If you believe that a gTLD or ccTLD registry operator is in violation of its agreement with ICANN, please submit an email to registry@icann.org with as many details as you have available regarding the specific areas of the agreement that you believe they have violated.

Review the gTLD Registry Agreements
Review the ccTLD Registry Agreements

Someone else has registered my company's name as a domain name. What is the process for resolving my complaint?

All ICANN-accredited registrars follow a uniform dispute resolution policy. Under that policy, disputes over entitlement to a domain-name registration are ordinarily resolved by court litigation between the parties claiming rights to the registration. Once the court rules on who is entitled to the registration, the registrar will implement that ruling.

In disputes arising from registrations allegedly made abusively (such as "cyber-squatting" and “cyber-piracy"), the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) provides an expedited administrative procedure to allow the dispute to be resolved without the high cost and delays often encountered in court litigation. In these cases, you can invoke the administrative procedure by filing a complaint with one of the dispute-resolution service providers.

How do I file a UDRP complaint?

To initiate a UDRP proceeding, a trademark owner should select an approved dispute-resolution provider from the list, and then follow the instructions on the provider's website to submit a complaint.

View a list of ICANN's Approved UDRP Providers

How much does it cost to file a UDRP complaint?

The providers set their own fees, which generally start in the range of US$1,000 to US$2,000 for a single panelist proceeding, but are higher for cases involving multiple domain names, or where one or both parties opt to use a three-member panel to decide the case.

How long does it take to decide a UDRP case?

Administrative proceedings under the UDRP generally progress faster than a regular court lawsuit. A decision is typically rendered in about two months.

Where do I file a formal complaint about ICANN?

ICANN’s Ombudsman office can conduct an independent internal evaluation of complaints by members of the ICANN community who believe that the ICANN staff, Board or an ICANN constituent body has treated them unfairly. Contact this office at ombudsman@icann.org.

Where do I complain about material I have found posted on someone’s website?

If you have concerns about the content of a website, you should address your complaint to the site's author, or the applicable Internet Service Provider depending on the circumstances. If you believe that the content is of an illegal nature, you should contact an appropriate law enforcement agency (which will vary depending on jurisdiction) or consult an attorney for legal advice.

ICANN is the private, not-for-profit technical coordination responsible for coordinating the unique assignment of Internet domain names and IP addresses. The content of an e-mail message, ftp file, or web page bear no inherent relation to the assigned domain name, and therefore fall outside of ICANN's policy-making scope.

Where do I report problems with spam (unsolicited commercial email)?

If you have a problem with the way somebody is using the Internet, you should take it up directly with that person or with the applicable Internet Service Provider or governmental agency depending on the circumstances.

If you believe that Whois data was used as the source of address data for this mailing, we encourage you to complain to the associated domain name’s sponsoring registrar. Use of Whois data to send spam is a violation of every ICANN-accredited registrar's terms of use for Whois data.

Also, if the content is of an illegal nature, or you believe that you are being spammed in violation of the law, you may want to seek legal advice and/or bring your concerns to the attention of a relevant governmental law enforcement agency. ICANN is a private, non-profit technical coordination body for the Internet's name and numbering systems. The content of an e-mail message, ftp file, or web page bear no inherent relation to the assigned domain name, and therefore fall outside of ICANN's policy-making scope.

About ICANN

What is ICANN?

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is responsible for managing and coordinating the Domain Name System (DNS) to ensure that every address is unique and that all users of the Internet can find all valid addresses. It does this by overseeing the distribution of unique IP addresses and domain names. It also ensures that each domain name maps to the correct IP address.

ICANN is also responsible for accrediting the domain name registrars. "Accredit" means to identify and set minimum standards for the performance of registration functions, to recognize persons or entities meeting those standards, and to enter into an accreditation agreement that sets forth the rules and procedures applicable to the provision of Registrar Services.

ICANN's role is very limited, and it is not responsible for many issues associated with the Internet, such as financial transactions, Internet content control, spam (unsolicited commercial email), Internet gambling, or data protection and privacy.

Learn more about ICANN

What is the Domain Name System?

The Domain Name System (DNS) helps users to find their way around the Internet. Every computer on the Internet has a unique address - just like a telephone number - which is a rather complicated string of numbers. It is called its "IP address" (IP stands for "Internet Protocol"). IP Addresses are hard to remember. The DNS makes using the Internet easier by allowing a familiar string of letters (the "domain name") to be used instead of the arcane IP address. So instead of typing 207.151.159.3, you can type www.internic.net. It is a "mnemonic" device that makes addresses easier to remember.

What is InterNIC?

The InterNIC website is operated by ICANN to provide the public information regarding Internet domain name registration services.

Visit the InterNIC website to:

Search domain records in the Registry Whois
Find registrar contact details in the Accredited Registrar Directory
File a registrar complaint through the Registrar Problem Report Form
Report inaccurate Whois data through the Whois Data Problem Report Form

How do I find out about becoming an ICANN-accredited registrar?

Click here for an explanation of what you need to do to become an ICANN-accredited registrar and ICANN's accreditation policies.

View ICANN's Registrar Accreditation Agreement