Domain Verification Policy

=Background=

What is this new Verification Policy?
Starting January 1, 2014, any gTLD New Registrations or Contact Modifications (WHOIS update for First Name, Last Name, Email Address, aka "Contact info") must be verified by the Registrant.

Who is ICANN?
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers – ICANN – is a nonprofit organization that coordinates the Internet's global domain name system, and they require that we implement this verification policy in order to be in compliance.

You can read more about ICANN here.

Why do we have to do this?
This is the largest set of changes that are included in the RAA policy as required by ICANN. All registrars who have signed the latest RAA agreement are required to do this.

What are gTLD's?
The Verification Policy is required for gTLD's (Generic Top Level Domain, such as .com, .net, .info, .org, etc. You can see the rest here).

=Verification Process=

Receiving the email confirmation

 * An email will be sent to the Registrant from do-not-reply@dreamhost.com.
 * The content of that email varies slightly depending on if this is a New Domain Registration or a Contact Modification, but the process is identical.


 * You can see the content of those emails below (click the following thumbnail images to enlarge):

You must verify the Contact Info by clicking the link in the email within 15 calendar days of the domain's registration/Contact Modification. Within those 15 days, this email will be 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 Contact Info, then the Domain will be suspended and a final email will be sent to the Registrant.


 * You can see a flowchart that describes this process here:

Other info about the Verification Process

 * The verification emails will be sent by do-not-reply@dreamhost.com.
 * Once a contact has been verified, future registrations will not require further verification (so long as the Contact Info is the same).

=Suspended Domains=

On Suspension

 * Once a domain is suspended, in accordance with ICANN policy, the DNS will be taken over and we will put up a page stating that the domain is not verified, with instructions for the owner to verify. You can see the content of the suspend page below.
 * Once a site is down, the site will remain down indefinitely until the Registrant verifies the domain. No further emails will be sent until customer takes action.
 * Suspended domains can be renewed and can also be transferred.


 * You can see the content of the suspend/not verified page below (click the thumbnail image to enlarge):

After Verification

 * Once a suspended domain is verified, the suspended page will reflect the Verified status. It will take 24 to 48 hours for DNS changes to propagate before the site is restored.


 * You can see the content of the suspend/verified page below (click the thumbnail image to enlarge):