Overview
This article provides information about ICANN's Domain verification policy and how this applies to your domain registration at DreamHost.
FAQs
General
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Who is ICANN?
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The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a nonprofit organization that coordinates the Internet's global domain name system. ICANN requires that DreamHost implement this verification policy to remain in compliance.
Why do I have to do this?
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All registrars who have signed the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) are required to follow this policy.
When does this policy apply?
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When purchasing a new registration or making a WHOIS update for the First Name, Last Name, Email Address, aka "Contact info"), the domain must be verified by the registrant (owner of the domain registration) in order for it to remain active.
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Suspended accounts
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What happens if my domain is suspended?
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Once a domain is suspended, ICANN takes over the DNS, and a page is placed on your site stating "You have reached a domain that is pending ICANN verification.".
The site will remain this way until the domain registrant (owner) verifies it. No further emails will be sent until the domain registration owner takes action.
Can a suspended domain be renewed or transferred?
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Yes. However, DreamHost strongly recommends un-suspending the domain before proceeding with a transfer. This is because a suspension due to an invalid contact also causes the transfer approval emails to go to an inactive email user, making it unlikely you will be able to approve the transfer.
What happens after it is verified?
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Once a suspended domain is verified, the suspended page displays the verified status. It may then take 24 to 48 hours for DNS changes to propagate before the site is restored.
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WHOIS changes and email verification
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How do I change a domain registration's information?
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You can edit your domain's WHOIS information in the panel.
What is the 60-day transfer lock?
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Due to ICANN's Transfer Policy, any change made to the registrant's name, organization, or email address will put the domain in a 60-day transfer lock (unless you opt-out).
It also triggers notification emails that are sent to the old and new registrants notifying them of the change.
What emails are sent?
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When you change your WHOIS information, two or more emails are sent to notify you of this change.
- The first email is sent from do-not-reply@dreamhostregistry.com.
- The second is sent from support@dreamhost.com.
- If you changed the WHOIS contact email, a third email is sent to the new email address.
How do I verify the domain?
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If you haven't verified your contact info before, you must verify by clicking the link in the email within 15 calendar days.
Within those 15 days, this email is sent 4 times (Day 1, 5, 10, and 15) until the registrant verifies it. If by the 16th day, the registrant fails to verify, the Domain is suspended and a final email is sent to the registrant.
Once a contact is verified, future registrations do not require further verification (so long as the 'Contact Info' is the same).
What address are these sent to?
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This email is sent to the WHOIS contact email address you have added to your registration's WHOIS information.
Do NOT use an email address associated with your domain as the WHOIS contact address. For example, if your domain is example.com, do NOT use an address on the same domain, such as contact@example.com as this may prevent the email from being delivered.
Resend the verification email
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Contact support if you need the verification email resent.
This email can only be resent to the WHOIS contact email address you have added to your registration's WHOIS information.
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