Become a Domain Name Registrar

When you become a registrar, you can establish a steady, recurring revenue stream for your business and provide your customers with more services.

HOW TO BECOME A REGISTRAR

To register domain names in Top Level Domains (“TLDs”) supported by Verisign, such as .com and .net, you must first become a domain name registrar.

Different TLDs supported by Verisign have different requirements and processes. Most businesses start with .com and .net certification, and then add more TLDs.

	.com, .net, .name, .cc  Registrar	Verisign IDNInternationalized Domain Names TLD Registrar
Become a Registrar	Get started	Get started
ICANN Accreditation	Required (.com, .net, .name)  None (.cc)	Required (2013 RAA)
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the non-profit organization that has responsibility for managing the Domain Name System (DNS). Businesses must be accredited as a registrar by ICANN before beginning the registrar onboarding process with Verisign. Already accredited registrars who wish to offer gTLDs under ICANN’s New gTLD Program must enter into the 2013 version of the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (“RAA”) with ICANN and meet other ICANN requirements. Verisign has no control over how long the ICANN accreditation process may take. The Verisign-operated ccTLDCountry Code Top Level Domains .cc does not require ICANN accreditation.
Non-Verisign gTLD Registry Registrar Agreements
Verisign performs back end registry services for a number of gTLDs. To become a registrar for any of these gTLDs, you will need to execute a Registry-Registrar Agreement (“RRA”) with the Registry Operator for the gTLD prior to beginning the registrar onboarding process with Verisign.
Authentication	Required	Conditional
Before establishing an account, Verisign requires each business to be authenticated. Authentication means providing proof of your business and your authority to represent and act on behalf of your company. After you have been accredited by ICANN and have initiated the onboarding process with Verisign, a Verisign vendor will contact you and request documents to complete the authentication process. If you have been authenticated by Verisign for a TLD before, you may not need authentication to add another TLD.
Establish an Account (legal agreements and data forms)	Required	Required
Each TLD has its own set of required agreements and forms. Complete the required documents and return them to Verisign. When approved, Verisign will send you a username and password for the Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) environment.
Financial Requirements (credit account and payment security)	Required	Required
Verisign requires registrars to establish a payment security based on expected monthly registrations. Existing registrars may use their existing payment security to support additional TLD transactions. If you expect a considerable increase in your monthly transaction volume or plan to offer premium TLDs, you must re-evaluate the amount of your payment security and adjust it accordingly.
Technical Readiness (integration testing)	Required	Conditional
Registrars must demonstrate full and correct operation of client systems within the Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) environment before connecting to the Verisign Shared Registration System (SRS). Verisign offers Software Development Kits (SDKs) and implementation guides to assist registrars. Verisign Support is available 24/7 with assistance in more than 150 different languages.
Internationalized Domain Names	Optional	Optional
Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) enable internet users to navigate and communicate online in their preferred script or language, transforming the internet into a truly global and multilingual tool. By adding IDNs to your TLD domain name options, registrars have the opportunity to expand services and potentially increase revenues. Not all gTLDs offer IDNs.

Learn features and benefits of the domain names powered by Verisign.

Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs)

As the world’s economy becomes increasingly globalized, Verisign offers IDNs to enable businesses and individuals in non-English speaking communities to access the internet in their own native script.

Become an IDN Registrar

How Domain Name Registration Works

Domain names are registered for a period of 1 to 10 years by an individual or an organization. A user contacts a registrar to register a domain name. The registrar verifies that the domain name is available by checking with the registry that manages the corresponding TLD. If the domain name is available, the registrar registers the domain name with the registry, which adds it to the domain registry database.

Find a Registrar

Unmatched Reliability and Scale

Verisign makes it easy for registrars to register domain names for their clients. Verisign, a trusted registry operator, has maintained the Verisign DNS for .com and .net with 100% operational accuracy and stability for more than 21 years. As the registry operator for multiple TLDs.com, .net, .name, .tv, .cc, .コム, .닷컴, .닷넷, Verisign’s network routes millions of domain names and billions of queries daily.

Registrar FAQ

What is a registrar?

Registrars process name registrations for domain name registrants and then send the necessary domain name system (DNS) information to a registry for entry into the centralized registry database.

What are the financial requirements established by Verisign for becoming a registrar for one of the TLDs supported by Verisign?

Verisign requires registrars to complete a credit application and establish a payment security based on expected monthly registration volume. The payment security is held without action unless invoices are not paid in accordance with the terms of Registry-Registrar Agreements.

What are the technical requirements established by Verisign for becoming a registrar for one of the TLDs supported by Verisign?

Registrars must demonstrate full and correct operation of their systems within the Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) environment before connecting to Verisign’s Shared Registration System (SRS). Verisign offers Software Development Kits (SDKs) and implementation guides to assist registrars. Verisign Support is available 24/7 with assistance in more than 150 different languages.

If I am ICANN-accredited for .com and .net, can I add other TLDs?

Registrars for all gTLDs operating under ICANN's New gTLD framework are required to sign the 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) with ICANN. The .cc registry is a ccTLD and does not require registrars to be ICANN accredited. Verisign requires registrars to complete account information, meet financial requirements and demonstrate technical readiness to become a .cc registrar. The .name registry is a gTLD and does require ICANN accreditation as well as Verisign authorization to become a .name registrar.

What is the Shared Registration System?

The Shared Registration System (SRS) is a system of associated hardware and software developed by Verisign that permits multiple registrars to provide internet domain name registration services within the top-level domains (TLDs) administered by Verisign.

What other services does Verisign provide to support registrars?

Verisign has tools, resources and registry products for current registrars to help keep pace with industry trends about the domain names you manage, and provide administrative tools to improve renewals and offer more relevant domain name suggestions.