Why Documents Are Required to Register a Domain Name

In some cases, registering a domain name may require supporting documents, such as a government-issued ID or business registration. This is typically due to a mismatch between the registrant’s details and the domain extension’s requirements, such as geographical or legal presence. These checks help prevent fraud, ensure secure registration, and meet registry policy requirements*.

* These checks are not just best practices — they are required under ICANN policies. Under the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA), registrars must verify contact details. They may also request government-issued ID to confirm identity when needed. The WHOIS Data Reminder Policy further requires annual confirmation of registrant information.

Note: Document requests are a standard industry practice and do not indicate any wrongdoing on the customer’s part.

Some domain names, especially country-code TLDs (like .ph, .jp, or .sg) or industry-specific extensions, require documents to verify the registrant’s identity.

Documents may be required to:

• Prevent fraud or identity misuse
• Ensure legal or local presence requirements are met
• Comply with ICANN and registry policies

What documents might be required?

The required documents vary depending on the domain extension and registrant type. Examples include:

• Valid government-issued ID (passport, driver’s license, etc.)
• Business registration documents (for company domains)
• Proof of address or legal presence in a country (for ccTLDs)

How to submit your documents securely?

To protect your personal information:

• Only submit documents through a support ticket. Files uploaded via tickets are stored securely and will be deleted at your request.
• Do not send your ID through LiveChat or email. These channels are not secure for document handling.

Why is an order held on fraud alert?

An order alert appears when your domain registration requires further verification or documentation. Learn more about order alerts here.