Domain Management

This chapter offers instructions on how to manage your domain: the registration process, modifications, adding services, renewing, and restoring domains. It equips you with the knowledge and tools needed to handle your domains with ease and confidence.

Registering a Domain Name

How to Register a Domain Name?

If you are interested in a Premium Domain Name, please see also this article: How to Register a Premium Domain

 
1. Go to the Joker.com homepage and enter your desired domain name in the search field.

Click "Search & Register Now."

Most registries require a minimum of 2 characters (excluding endings), and the maximum length we support is 67 characters (including endings). The domain name cannot start with a hyphen "-", and some domains cannot start with "bq-" or have hyphens "--" at the third and fourth position. Refer to the registration policies for .de domains (below) for more information.

 
2. On the next page, you'll see the availability of your desired domain name in different namespaces.

Click here to learn more about which TLDs are available at Joker.com. You can also check our Pricelist to see if a specific TLD is supported.

 
3. Once you've chosen the perfect domain name, add it to your shopping cart and proceed to checkout. 

At this stage, you can also add a Privacy service for your domain. If you're interested in privacy, you can find more information here. Click "checkout," and you'll be prompted to log in. If you don't have an account, you'll have the opportunity to register one.

 
4. On the next page, you'll need to create contacts for your domain name. 

You can either create new contacts or use existing ones. Please note that contact requirements may vary for some ccTLDs (country code top-level domains).

 
5. After adding the contact information, you can choose the nameservice to be used for your new domain.

You can either add external nameservers or use Joker nameservers for free. You can always change nameservers later if needed. More information about nameservice can be found here. Additionally, you can add domain permissions (see roles) and choose to make your Whois information public by selecting "Whois opt-in."

 
6. Review the domain information and make any necessary corrections.

 
7. Select your preferred payment method, agree to our Terms and Conditions, and complete your order.

 
8. Verify your Domain Order. 

To check if your domain has been successfully registered, wait for the email notification. You can also query our 'Search whois' tool by entering the domain name in question. A successfully registered domain will also appear on your dashboard within a couple of minutes after registration. 

 

Registration Policies for .de Domains

Valid characters for a .de domain name include:

With the introduction of IDN registrations, an additional 92 characters are allowed from the character sets Latin Extended-A and Latin-1 Supplement.

Important rules for .de domains:

For more information, please refer to DENIC-Domainrichtlinien.

 

My Order Failed

If your order for domain registration failed for any reason, the specific domain order request has FAILED. Unfortunately, it is not possible to 'reactivate' this order request, so please start a new order.

The reason for the failure is always stated in the email sent after every domain order.

In some cases, you may encounter the error message "The domain is already registered," indicating that the domain was temporarily reserved by your first request.

If this happens, please try again after a few minutes to allow the process to settle on our side. If the issue persists, please contact us and provide your order details.

Privacy Services

Secure your Domain Privacy

Since May 25th, 2018, European and generic top-level domains have limited the amount of Whois data available on the internet to comply with the European data privacy regulation (GDPR).

However, the registrant's data still needs to be submitted to the registries. Some top-level domains require the complete set of Whois data and make it publicly available.

The WHOIS service provides information such as the registrant's name and, depending on the responsible registry's policy, their street address and email addresses. It is important to note that using incorrect, incomplete, or fake data violates the registration agreement with the related registry and Joker.com, and may result in the deletion of the domain name (refer to section 5.c/11.d of Joker.com T&C).

To protect registrants from data abuse, proxy-privacy.com, through IDPS (International Domain Privacy Services) GmbH, a subsidiary of CSL GmbH, offers privacy protection services. These services effectively shield the registrant's information, keeping their data confidential. By using these services, the registrant is represented by alternate contact data provided by IDPS GmbH while remaining compliant with registration policies.

The registrant's own data will still be securely maintained and escrowed by Joker.com to ensure the registrant's ownership of the domain and compliance with ICANN's and the registry's policies.

Privacy services are available for most gTLD domain names. The availability of privacy services is indicated in the price list and domain search ( image.png Whois Proxy Privacy available).

Here is an example of what privacy service means to a domain name's public Whois output:

 
Standard Whois Output*
With Privacy Basic
With Privacy Pro
Registrant Name: Max Musterman Max Musterman On behalf of yourdomain.com
Registrant Organization: ACME ACME c/o IDPS International Domain Privacy Services GmbH
Registrant Street: Main Street 123

c/o IDPS International Domain Privacy Services GmbH

Hansaallee 191

 Hansaallee 191
Registrant City: Foo City Duesseldorf Duesseldorf
Registrant State/Province:  
ABC    
Registrant Postal Code: 54321 40549 40549
Registrant Country: DE DE DE
Registrant Phone: +99.110 12345678 +49 211 867 67 448 +49 211 867 67 448
Registrant Fax: +99.110 12345679 +49 211 867 67 6448 +49 211 867 67 6448
Registrant Email: yourprivatemail@email.com      35b27c46c3d9040b881fc4f@proxy-privacy.com   35b27c46c3d9040b881fc4f@proxy-privacy.com  

* Without WHOIS privacy for non-GDPR-compliant TLDs

Please find all details, conditions, and the Acceptable Use Policy here: proxy-privacy.com

And here you find all instructions on how to enable Whois Privacy

Prices are available here: Joker.com Pricelist

Please note the following:

Examples

Transfer with privacy service

Let's assume you have a .com domain with a remaining term of 5 months, and you want to transfer it to Joker.com with a privacy basic service.

This would result in:

mandatory 1-year renewal with transfer:  USD 13.70*
optional 1-year privacy basic service: USD   1.49*
result - 1-year additional domain term, and 17 months of privacy 

USD 15.19*

*The above price is an example only, actual prices are shown in our Price List

Renew with privacy service (I)

Let's say you want to renew a .com domain expiring in 3 months and enable Whois privacy pro:

1-year renewal for the .com domain:  USD 13.70*
1-year privacy pro service: USD   2.49*
result - 1-year additional domain term, and 15 months of privacy  USD 16.19*
the additional 3 months are "rounded down" which means, they are added, but not charged

*The above price is an example only, actual prices are shown in our Price List

Renew with privacy service (II)

Let's say you want to renew a .com domain expiring in 8 months and enable Whois privacy pro:

1-year renewal for the .com domain:  USD 13.70*
2 years of privacy pro service: USD   4.98*
result - 1-year additional domain term, and 20 months of privacy  USD 18.68*
the additional 8 months are "rounded up"  which means, an additional year of privacy is charged

*The above price is an example only, actual prices are shown in our Price List

Acquire privacy service for an existing domain (I)

Let's assume you own a .com domain expiring in 13 months, and you want to add privacy pro:

1-year privacy pro service: USD   2.49*
result - domain term is unchanged, and 13 months of privacy 

USD   2.49*
the additional 1 month is "rounded down" which means, they are added, but not charged

*The above price is an example only, actual prices are shown in our Price List

Acquire privacy service for an existing domain (II)

Let's assume you own a .com domain expiring in 3 months, and you want to add privacy pro. In this case, you will receive a warning because the privacy term cannot exceed the domain's term. We advise considering using the "Renewal" option with privacy in this scenario:

1-year privacy pro service: USD   2.49*
result - domain term is unchanged, and 3 months of privacy 

USD   2.49*
you will only get 3 months of privacy service - you should consider 'renewal' instead

*The above price is an example only, actual prices are shown in our Price List

Adding Privacy Services

Whois Privacy Services are available for most generic top-level domains. You can check their availability in Joker.com's s price list and also the domain search.

Privacy Services can be enabled for new domain registrations, transfers, renewals, and even for existing domains.

For detailed information about the services, pricing, and periods, please visit the Whois Privacy Services page.

Enabling Privacy Services for Existing Domains

To order Privacy Services for your existing domains, please:

 

Registering New Domains with Privacy Services

To register a new domain with Privacy Services, simply add the domain to the cart as usual. In the cart, you'll find the new privacy options under "Add Privacy." Just click on it to make your selection.

 

Renewing a Domain and Adding Privacy Services

When renewing your domains, you can use the "Renew Domains" option in the Service zone or a direct link on the Joker.com home page. In the new renewal dialogue, you'll find easy-to-use checkboxes to enable Privacy Services for applicable domains.

 

Transferring a Domain and Adding Privacy Services

We now offer the option to apply Privacy Services to domains during a transfer. If a domain already had privacy services with the previous registrar, the Whois data will never be disclosed. To choose privacy options, initiate a transfer as usual, and find the selection under the "Additional Products" section below the AUTH-ID.

Domain Trustee Service

Some domain types, particularly country domains, have regulations regarding the residency of the domain holder. For instance, for .EU domains, the registrant's contact country must be a member of the EU, including Norway and Liechtenstein.

To allow clients who don't meet these requirements to register such domains, they can utilize trustee services. A trustee acts as the official registrant on behalf of the client. The trustee-client relationship is governed by a trustee contract, which outlines responsibilities and ensures the client's ownership of the domain. Sample contracts can be found under "My Joker" -> "Downloads" after logging in to Joker.com.

In addition to privacy services, IDPS GmbH offers trustee services for Joker.com. In our price list, you'll find the domains for which a trustee service is available.

Registering a Domain With a Trustee Service

When ordering a domain with an available trustee service, you can choose to include this service along with the domain name.

 

Adding Trustee Service to an Existing Domain

Trustee agreements can also be added to existing domains by accessing the "Domain Management" section.

Domain Has Expired - What to Do?

Domain Stopped Working

The most common reason for this is that the domain has expired. According to the ERRP regulation by ICANN, we are required to set the domain status to 'inactive' when it expires as a final reminder.

If you missed the renewal reminders we sent before the expiration, please check the email addresses associated with your Joker.com account and the domain data for accuracy.

To check the domain status, go to 'My Domains' or use the 'Whois Search' on Joker.com.

If you see that the domain name has expired, please renew it as soon as possible. For most domain types, Joker.com provides an additional grace period of up to 30 days* for renewing the domain. During this period, you can still renew this domain at the regular renewal price.

To renew a domain, visit 'Renew a Domain' in the 'Domains' menu. Learn more about the renewal procedure here.

Grace Periods for Expired Domains

Most domains can be renewed within a grace period of up to 30 days* after the expiration date. During this period, we keep the domain reserved, but it will not be usable due to its "expired" status.

However, post-expiration renewal may not be available for all the domain types as it depends on the registry.

Please note that you can always use the Simple Renewal procedure to renew a domain, even if regular renewal is not currently possible.

After the grace period mentioned above, most domains will enter the Redemption Grace Period (RGP), which is explained here.

* Please keep in mind that the data provided above are indicative, and the exact times are specified by the registries, which may vary. Additionally, there are technical requirements for some deadlines that may allow for processing within slightly shorter periods. Therefore, we strongly recommend not waiting until the theoretical maximum, such as the "expired grace period," before renewing a domain.

Domain Renewal

Renewing a domain involves extending its lifetime by adding years. The duration can range from 1 to 10 years, depending on the domain type (TLD). When you renew before the expiration date, the added time is appended to the existing term, ensuring you don't lose any remaining validity.

Domain owners can renew their domains using the regular renewal procedure, which can be initiated right from the dashboard:

Notifications are sent before a domain's expiration to remind them of the upcoming renewal. More information about these renewal reminders, including recipients and timing, is provided below.

In cases where roles are assigned to a domain, the 'Admin' and/or 'Billing' roles also have the authority to renew the domain. To learn more about 'roles' and 'permissions,' please click here.

Automatic Domain Renewal

Note: In order to use automatic renewals, a Joker.com payment account is required, which you can activate easily and free of charge if you do not already have one. Deposits to this account can then also be made by bank transfer. 

All domains you marked as "to be auto-renewed" will be automatically renewed when due to expire. The auto-renewal status for domains can be enabled or disabled at any time. 

You will still get the usual renewal reminders, which additionally contain the auto-renewal status. Please find the complete schedule of renewal notices below. Additionally, 2 special auto-renew messages are sent 4 and 2 weeks before expiration. 

The actual renewal will happen 30 days before the expiration of the given domain.

For Resellers, the renewals are executed 7 days before expiration, and this can be changed in the Joker.com user profile.

Domains with the status "expired" (grace period) can not be included in auto-renewal, they have to be renewed manually.

If your account does not have sufficient funds at the selected time of auto-renew, automatic renewal will not take place, and you will have to renew manually. 

Notifications will also be sent before and after an automatic renewal - so you are always up-to-date! 

Auto-renew can be configured in the following sections: 

Simple Renewal

If you encounter difficulties while renewing a domain, such as login issues or your designated administrator failing to renew it for you, you have the option to use Simple Renewal. With this method, you can renew a domain for one year without needing to log in.

Initiate simple renewal in three easy steps:

1. Choose "Renew" from the "Domains" menu in the top left corner
2. Provide the domain name under the "Simple renewal" section, and add it to your shopping cart 

You can even add multiple domains to your shopping cart, and further options like Privacy Service.

3. Complete the payment.

Learn about accepted payment methods here. This renewal process extends the domain's validity for one year without making any changes to other data, permissions, claims, or aspects of the domain.

Renewal Reminders

Expired Registration Recovery Policy (ERRP)

According to the ICANN policies, all ICANN-accredited Registrars like Joker.com are obliged to establish certain procedures for communication with domain owners (the registrants) in the event of due renewals.

As of 9/01/2013, each Registrar has to comply with certain minimum requirements regarding the notification of domain owners (the registrants) about the expiration of their domain.

This is part of the ERRP, the "Expired Registration Recovery Policy", and this also includes the obligation of the registrar to send at least two notices to the registrant before, and one notice after the eventual expiration of a domain.
Please find more details at ICANN.

Timing and number of notices to be sent are defined by ICANN. Of course, ERRP emails will not be sent if a renewal has been already performed.

Resellers do have the option to set their own sender's address for these reports in the reseller's profile, which allows to connect to their customers.

The complete schedule of all renewal notices issued by Joker.com for domains
Renewal Notices
 Sent when Recipient ( role )
 60 days before the expiration creator (or DA, who ordered a domain)
 30 days before the expiration creator, admin, billing
 26 days before expiration* owner* (registrant in Whois), creator
 10 days before the expiration creator, admin, billing, owner*
 2 days before the expiration creator, admin, billing, owner*
 2 days after expiration owner, creator

*) new mailing, or new addressee

Beware of Fake Renewal Offers

Some unauthorized parties send false renewal announcements to domain holders, often with inflated prices and concealed transfer attempts. Further details and examples of these scams can be found in the following resources:

Domain Management Section

Domain Management Tools

1

General domain information and current status

2

Current domain owner (registrant) details

3

"Edit" button for domain owner information - update Whois details for your domain

4

"Edit" button for nameservers

Connect external nameservers or switch to Joker free nameservers, for more information and instructions please refer to this article

5

DNS configuration - add necessary records

This option is available only with Joker free nameservice

6

Apply current nameservice to multiple or all domains at once

7

Grant roles for your domain

Find more information about roles here

8

Indicator showing enabled protection and "lock" status for the domain

9

Remove the domain protection button

Unlock the domain with a click if preparing for transfer

10

Request AuthId for domain transfer

AuthId will be sent to the current registrant's email - Remember to unlock the domain first (button 9)

11

Add privacy service to your domain

Learn more about privacy here

12

Information about domain contacts

Find more details about domain contacts here

13

Domain contact details

14

"Edit" contact button

15

Swap contact

Connect another already existing contact handle if desired

16

Apply these contacts to multiple domains at once

17

Additional information about your domain

18

Renew your domain by clicking this button

Creating and Modifying Contacts

To add or modify Domain Contacts, follow these steps:

1. Log in to Joker.com using your login name and password.
 
2. In the menu "My Joker", select "Contacts".

 
3. You will see a list of all your contacts. 

To create a new contact, click on the "Create New Contact" button located at the top right corner (1). To modify any of them, click on "Modify" (2).

 
4. Fill out the form, and click "Proceed."

Please note the following:

Cancel a Domain Name Registration

We understand that sometimes you may need to cancel a domain name registration. However, it's important to note that once a domain is registered, it cannot be canceled or refunded.

Domain registrations occur in real-time, and therefore, it's crucial to double-check the domain name you intend to register to avoid any future complications.

If you made a typo or an error while registering a domain, unfortunately, you will need to start the registration process again with the correct information.

While it is possible to delete a domain name, it's essential to be aware that doing so will not result in a refund. Once a domain is deleted, any fees or charges associated with the registration will not be reimbursed.

Please note that resellers may receive a refund for deletions of generic top-level domains (gTLDs) within 72 hours after the initial registration.

Deletion of a Domain

To delete a domain, please: 

Please note: Most domain names are not immediately available after a deletion. They usually enter a "pending delete" status determined by the domain's registry. Here you find more information regarding the Redemption Grace Period, and a domain name's life cycle.

The Redemption Grace Period (RGP)

Most gTLD domains, which are domains under ICANN regulation, have a special status called the Redemption Grace Period or RGP.

What does this mean?

When a domain is deleted, it is not immediately removed from the registry's database. Instead, for up to 30 days* following the deletion, the domain cannot be registered again. During this time, the registrar responsible for the domain can "reanimate" or restore it on behalf of the registrant, typically in cases of renewal problems.

Please note that Joker.com also adds a grace period of approximately 30 days* for expired domains. Therefore, the 30-day* Redemption Grace Period starts after approximately 30 days* of Joker.com's grace period for regular expired domains.

The availability of the Redemption Grace Period and the specific timeline depend on the domain type and the registry operating the domain.

A domain in Redemption can be restored or re-registered either through the Redemption Restore Procedure or by browsing the pool of available domains in the RGP. Please be aware that this procedure usually has different pricing based on the domain type. Refer to the price list for more information.

How to restore the domain:

1.  Log in to your account, and choose "Restore - RGP" from the "Domains" menu


 
2. Enter the domain name and add it to the shopping cart

After clicking "Proceed", you will be directed to the payment page. The total fee will be calculated as follows: restore fee + 1-year renewal fee. For the exact amount, please check our price list.


Please note, after successful restoration of a domain from RGP, transferring it to another registrar is not possible for another 30 days.

 

End of Redemption Grace Period (RGP)

After approximately 30 days* in RGP, the domain's status changes to "pending delete" for 5 days*. During this period, restoration is no longer possible.

On the 6th day after the deletion, the domain becomes available for registration again. The exact time for when a new registration is possible is randomly chosen to ensure fair conditions for all.

For more information about a domain's life cycle, please refer to the Joker.com Terms and Conditions.

Please note that before a domain enters RGP or is deleted by Joker.com, the responsible contacts associated with the domain will receive multiple email notifications. The exact notification scheme can be found here.

* Please keep in mind that the data provided above are indicative, and the exact times are specified by the registries, which may vary. Additionally, there are technical requirements for some deadlines that may allow for processing within slightly shorter periods. Therefore, we strongly recommend not waiting until the theoretical maximum, such as the "expired grace period," before renewing a domain.

Premium Domain Name Registration

Here is how you register a premium domain name:

1. You send a request to our support team to register a premium domain name. 

2. Additionally, you will need to provide us with the following information:

3. Make a payment prior to registration:

Whois Data Accuracy

With the introduction of new generic top-level domains (new gTLDs), ICANN established fresh criteria for registrants' data when registering a domain. You can find the official specifications for these new requirements here. Due to the enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), no personal data is disclosed in the Whois records for gTLDs.

For all generic top-level domains (gTLDs), the registrar is required to perform Whois data validation in the following instances:

Upon registration, transfer, or modification of the registrant details, an email will be promptly sent to the Registrant's specified email address for the domain.

This email will contain a link that, when clicked, will register the associated email address as verified.

It is important to verify the email within 15 calendar days; otherwise, the domain associated with the Registrant's email address may be temporarily suspended. In such cases, the domain will redirect to a special landing page.

The landing page will notify you of the issue and provide information on how to resolve it.

Additionally, you will receive at least three (3) additional email notices before the end of the 15-day period.

Role of Domain Owners in Maintaining Up-to-Date Whois Data

When it comes to maintaining the accuracy of whois data, and the information associated with a domain name, it is the responsibility of the domain owner. The domain owner has to ensure that the contact information provided, such as email and postal addresses, remains valid and up to date. It is crucial that any notices or communications sent to these addresses are promptly received and read.

Consequences of Invalid Whois Data

Having invalid contact information in the whois data can result in the cancellation of the domain. This policy is enforced by ICANN, and most domain registries, and is also outlined in Joker.com's Terms & Conditions.

You Received a Warning: Wrong Whois Data or "Invalid Address"

If we receive a complaint from an authoritative party (such as ICANN, Registry, or local authorities) regarding potential issues with the Whois data of a domain, we typically initiate a process to request the domain owner to review the information and make necessary corrections to rectify any inaccuracies.

Please note that if this process leads to a change in the registrant's Whois data, there may be applicable fees involved.

To correct your data after the "Invalid Address" process is started, please:

1. Choose "Ownership/Permissions" from the "Domains" menu

2. Enter the domain name with "Invalid Address" status, choose "Change an incomplete or wrong Whois address record", and click "proceed"

Additional Information for Specific TLDs

General Guidelines for ccTLDs

Distinguishing Person and Organization Handles

For the majority of ccTLDs, we classify handles into two categories: person (format = 'COTO-P-xxxxx') and organization (format = 'COTO-O-xxxxx'). For instance, a person handle might look like 'COTO-P-1234567'.

Mandatory Contact Types: the roles of admin, tech, and billing contacts are exclusively assigned to person-type handles.

Creating Person-contact Handles

When generating person handles, follow these rules:

    If the new person handle is created, it will adhere to the format 'COTO-P-XXXXX'.

Exception for .FR Domains:

Creating Organization-contact Handles

For generating organization handles, follow these steps:

If the newly created handle is an organization type, it will follow the format 'COTO-O-XXXXX'.

The policies and registration rules for many country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) differ from those of generic top-level domains (gTLDs), and they also vary among themselves. If you are considering registering a ccTLD, we recommend checking the additional information in our Terms and Conditions (T&C):

5) Addendum of T&C if you register one of the following domains: 

.ag .at .army, .navy, .airforce      
.be .berlin .biz .build .bz  
.ca .ch .cn .courses .cz  
.de .dk .doctor      
.eco .ee .es .eu    
.fi .fr        
.hamburg .hn        
.ie .im .in .info .io .it
.koeln/.cologne          
.lc .li .london .lu    
.me .mn .mobi      
  .net .nl .nu    
.sc .se .sk .study    
.tel .travel        
.uk .us        
.vet .vc        
.xxx .xyz        
Renewals

One of the most important aspects to consider is the renewal timeframe. This refers to the period within which you must renew your domain if you wish to keep it before it expires. When we send you a renewal reminder, we provide the latest renewal date along with the expiration date. It is crucial to renew your domain before the "latest renewal date." Failure to do so may result in the need to pay a restoration fee in addition to the renewal fee, even if the expiration date has not yet been reached.

.AT Renewal and Deletion Policy

To find the service period of an .AT domain, follow these steps:
When .AT domain is deleted by the end of the current service period:
If an .AT domain is explicitly deleted:
To delete an .AT domain:
If an .AT domain is not renewed and has expired:

Registration and Modifications of .DK Domains

Upon completing the registration process, the owner-contact will receive an email with a login ID and PIN code. These credentials are needed to log in to the registry site and activate their domain name. Failure to complete this activation within four (4) days will result in the deletion of the domain.

General modifications including changing name servers for .dk domains can only be performed on the Hostmaster-DK Self-Service: https://self-service.dk-hostmaster.dk/domain

For more information please refer to https://punktum.dk/en/faq

Please see also: .dk Domain Transfer and Change of Registrant

.DK Domains - Registrant's Contact Type Verification

Just like .se domains, the owner contacts for .dk domains also have specific requirements:

It's essential to ensure that the owner's contact information matches the correct type; otherwise, the domain registration will not be successful.

.IT Domains - creating the contacts

The .it registry has specific requirements for the contacts, if these requirements not met, the domain registration will fail:

Additionally, the nameservers for a .it domain must be pre-configured before the actual registration. The registry checks the nameservers for a period of 30 days, if the check fails, the domain will be deleted. 

.BE Domains - Registrant's Verification at Initial Registration

BE-nic activates domain names only after validating the contact details of the domain name holder. Please, refer to this article for more information about contact validation:

https://www.dnsbelgium.be/en/registrant-verification

.SE Domains - Registrant's Contact Type Verification

When registering a .se domain, the registrant is required to provide additional information, specifically the organization or personal identification number of the registrant.

From time to time, the .se registry checks the registrants' records for .se domains. If this ID is incorrect or of the wrong type, they may suspend or even delete the domain. Therefore, at the moment of registration, please ensure the following:

.CN Domains - Real Name Verification (RNV)

After registration, renewal, or transfer of a .cn domain, there are special requirements of the registry CNNIC to meet before the domain will become active.

Update: As of August 1st, 2022, .cn domains can only be renewed when the Registrant Contact ID has passed RNV!

  • A .CN registration or transfer will show a "PENDING" status within the first 5 days from registration submission.
  • A .CN registration or transfer will bypass the PENDING status only if the REGISTRANT ID (see below) has previously been verified (or whitelisted) by CNNIC.
  • Supporting documents (see below) have to be uploaded here after the registration or transfer, or in case the RNV is requested for existing .cn domains (you have to be logged in to upload the documents).
  • In the event that the supporting documentation provided does not match the Registrant Name or if no supporting documentation is submitted, the Real Name Verification will FAIL, and the domain name will then be deactivated until a correct set of supporting documentation is received and accepted by CNNIC.
  • A .cn domain that cannot be renewed because of a missing or failed Real Name Verification (RNV) will be deleted.
Documentation Requirements:

China-based Company Registrations need to provide the following:

  • If the registrant is a business/organization, then the registrant's name and the organization cannot be the same. For this type of registrant, you will need to submit a Business Registration Certificate (BRC). Additionally, the registrant contact also has to provide a personal document/ID.

China-based Individual Registrations need to provide the following:

  • If the registrant is an individual, then the registrant's name and organization name must be the same. For individual registrants, you must submit an ID.

Company Registrations based outside of China need to provide the following:

  • A copy of corporate documentation that shows it is a legal entity (e.g., Articles of Incorporation, business license). Additionally, the CNNIC audit system only allows one page to be uploaded. Only the first page of the license, which mentions the official company name, has to be provided.

Individual Registrations based outside of China need to provide the following:

  • A copy of government-issued identification for the Registrant must match what is listed in WHOIS (must be a valid passport).

Important:

  • All files should be in .JPG format, no less than 100KB and no more than 1MB in size.
  • The CNNIC audit system only allows one page to be submitted.
  • China-based companies should only provide the first page of the BRC.