ICANN Domain Verification Email: Why Ignoring It Can Suspend Your .com

What ICANN is and why it asks for verification

ICANN is the organisation that coordinates the global domain name system. It sets rules for generic top-level domains such as .com, .net, .org, .info and many newer endings. One of those rules is that the contact details of the domain owner must be accurate and reachable.

To prove this, every registrar must confirm that the email address on a new registration, or on a registration whose contact details have changed, really belongs to the owner. The registrar does this by sending an email with a verification link. Clicking it completes the check.

Which domains need the verification email

The step applies to global domains that follow ICANN policy. It does not apply to Tanzanian domains, which follow the rules of the national registry, TZNIC.

Some country-code endings outside Tanzania have their own rules, so ask support if you register something unusual.

What the verification email looks like

The email is short and plain. It states the domain name, asks you to verify your contact details, and contains a button or link. It is sent by the registrar's system, so the sender name is usually not SakuraHost. That is normal. It goes to the email address on the domain registration, which is the one you typed during checkout.

Because it comes from an unfamiliar sender, spam filters sometimes catch it. Search your inbox, spam and promotions folders for the domain name you registered and for words such as "verify" and "registration".

What happens if you ignore it

ICANN rules normally give you around 15 days to verify. If the email stays unverified after that, the registrar is required to suspend the domain. A suspended domain stops resolving, so your website and any email on it stop working until you verify.

The domain is not lost, and verifying later restores it. But downtime on a new site or a new email address costs you customers and credibility, so it is much better to do it at once.

How to verify your domain in one minute

I did not get the email: what now?

Most missing emails have a simple cause. Work through this list before you worry.

• Check spam, junk and promotions folders in every email account you may have used.
• Check the email address on the registration. A typo at checkout sends the email nowhere. Review it in the client area under your domain contact details.
• Check that your mailbox is not full, which makes it reject new mail.
• Open a support ticket with the domain name. We will check the contact email and arrange for the verification email to be sent again.

Our help article on the ICANN verification email has the same steps, and domain contact details explains how to correct the email on a registration.

Changing contact details triggers it again

The verification is also required when the registrant email or name changes. If you update your contact details on a global domain, expect another verification email and complete it promptly. This is another reason to keep your registration details correct from the start.

Why .co.tz domains are simpler

Tanzanian domains are managed by TZNIC and do not use the ICANN verification step, which is one reason many local businesses find a .co.tz domain straightforward. You still need correct contact details, a secure account and an on-time renewal. Read how to register a .co.tz domain and how to protect your .co.tz domain for the full picture.

Frequently asked questions