Understanding KYC Requirements for Domain Registration
KYC (Know Your Customer) verification is a mandatory process required by domain registries and ICANN policies to confirm the identity of domain registrants. This guide explains why KYC is required, which domains require it, what documents are accepted, and how the verification process works at Domain India.
Why Is KYC Required?
Domain registries worldwide require registrars to verify the identity of domain holders for several reasons:
- Prevent fraud and abuse — Ensures domains are registered by legitimate individuals or businesses
- Regulatory compliance — Indian registries (like NIXI for .in domains) mandate identity verification under government regulations
- ICANN requirements — The global domain authority requires accurate registrant information (RAA policy)
- Dispute resolution — Verified identity information helps resolve domain ownership disputes
Tip: Completing KYC early ensures your domain is fully activated and protected. Incomplete KYC may result in domain suspension.
Which Domains Require KYC?
Always Required
- .in and all .in variants (.co.in, .net.in, .org.in, .gen.in, .firm.in, .ind.in) — Required by NIXI (National Internet Exchange of India)
- .भारत (.bharat) — Required by NIXI
May Be Required
- Generic TLDs (.com, .net, .org, etc.) — ICANN may require verification through a Registrant Verification email. You must click the verification link within 15 days or the domain will be suspended.
Typically Not Required
- Most new gTLDs (.online, .store, .tech, etc.) do not require additional KYC beyond standard registrant information, though policies may change.
Accepted KYC Documents
For Individuals
You will need to provide one of the following identity documents:
| Document | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar Card | Front and back, or Aadhaar number for eKYC |
| PAN Card | Clear, readable copy |
| Passport | First and last page |
| Voter ID | Front and back |
| Driving License | Front and back, must be valid (not expired) |
For Organizations / Companies
| Document | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Incorporation | For private/public limited companies |
| GST Registration Certificate | Must show company name and GSTIN |
| Partnership Deed | For partnership firms |
| Trust Deed | For trusts and NGOs |
| Shop & Establishment Certificate | For sole proprietorships |
Tip: Documents must be clearly legible. Blurry, cropped, or edited documents will be rejected. Upload color scans or high-quality photos.
How the KYC Process Works
Step 1: Register Your Domain
Place your domain order through the Client Portal and complete payment. Your domain will be registered but may be in a "Pending Verification" state until KYC is complete.
Step 2: Provide Contact Information
- Go to Domains > click on the domain name
- Ensure your Contact Profile has accurate details:
- Full legal name (as it appears on your ID)
- Valid email address
- Phone number
- Full postal address
- For organizations, ensure the organization name matches your registration documents
Step 3: Submit KYC Documents
- Navigate to your domain management page
- Look for the KYC / Verification section or banner
- Upload the required documents in the supported format (PDF, JPG, PNG — max 5 MB per file)
- Click Submit for Verification
Step 4: Verification Review
- Documents are reviewed by the registry or our verification team
- eKYC (Aadhaar-based) — Instant or near-instant verification (see our eKYC guide)
- Manual document verification — Typically takes 24-72 hours for .in domains
- ICANN email verification — You will receive an email; click the link within 15 days
Step 5: Confirmation
- You will receive an email confirming successful verification
- Your domain status will update to Active in the Client Portal
- WHOIS records will reflect your verified registrant details
What Happens If KYC Is Not Completed?
| Scenario | Consequence |
|---|---|
| .in domain — KYC not submitted within 15 days | Domain may be suspended by NIXI |
| ICANN verification email not clicked within 15 days | Domain will be suspended (website and email stop working) |
| Documents rejected | You will be notified and can resubmit corrected documents |
Tip: If your domain is suspended due to incomplete verification, it can usually be restored by completing the KYC process. The domain is not deleted — just suspended until verification is done.
Troubleshooting
- KYC documents rejected? Check the rejection reason in the notification email. Common reasons include blurry images, name mismatch, or expired documents. Resubmit with corrected documents.
- Did not receive ICANN verification email? Check your spam/junk folder. Ensure the registrant email on the domain is correct. You can resend the verification email from the domain management page.
- Domain suspended after verification deadline? Complete the KYC process and the domain will be unsuspended automatically within a few hours.
- Name on ID does not match domain registrant? Update your contact profile to match your ID, then resubmit. The registrant name must exactly match the submitted identity document.
Related Articles
Need help? Contact our support team at https://domainindia.com/support/client/support or email [email protected].<h2>Registrar hold or registry hold? They need different things from you</h2>
Added August 2026. This is the distinction that most often sends people down the wrong path.
A .IN domain can be stopped by two different holds. They look identical from the outside — the website and email simply stop working — but what clears them is not the same. Doing the wrong one means waiting for something that will never happen.
| Hold | Who applied it | What clears it | Who acts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registrar hold clientHold |
Us, as your registrar | Completing eKYC — nothing else. No documents need to be sent to anyone. | We release it ourselves, automatically, as soon as verification succeeds. |
| Registry hold serverHold |
The registry (NIXI) | eKYC and a copy of your Aadhaar sent to us, which we submit to the registry on your behalf. | Only the registry can lift it, once the evidence is filed. |
How to tell which one you have
- A new domain that has never worked is almost always a registrar hold. Complete eKYC in your client area and it will start working on its own.
- A domain that worked before and has now stopped, where eKYC is already complete, is almost always a registry hold. Send us your Aadhaar through a support ticket and we will file it.
- If you are not sure, raise a ticket with your domain name and we will tell you which it is. You do not need to work it out yourself.
One thing worth knowing: we cannot lift a registry hold by request, however urgent the situation. It is not a matter of authorisation — the registry controls that status and releases it only when the evidence has been submitted and accepted. What we can do is file it for you the same day we receive it.
Before you start verification — check the name matches
The name on your identity document must match the registrant name on the domain. If they differ at all — a missing middle name, a different spelling, initials rather than a full name — the check fails silently and the hold stays in place, usually with nothing to tell you why. Correct the registrant name first, then verify.
If you are outside India
The online verification is built around Indian identity documents and will not work from abroad. Your route is a signed declaration of your connection with India plus a copy of your passport, sent to [email protected], which we file with the registry for you. It is normally verified within one to three business days.
Please check Who Can Register a .IN Domain before purchasing — a .IN domain does require a genuine connection with India.