Eligibility Criteria
Are You Eligible to Become an ICANN-Accredited Registrar
Before you begin your ICANN accreditation journey, it's essential to know whether your business qualifies. ICANN has specific eligibility criteria to ensure that only capable, compliant, and technically prepared entities operate as domain name registrars. On this page, we break down those requirements—so you can assess your readiness and take the right next steps.
Core Eligibility Requirements
#1
Financial Requirement
You must operate as a legally established entity—such as a corporation or LLC. Sole proprietorships or informal businesses are not eligible.
#2
Legal Entity Requirement
This is your Education description. Concisely describe your degree and any other highlights of your studies. Make sure to include relevant skills, accomplishments, and milestones gained. Don’t forget to adjust the timeframe in the subtitle.
#3
Demonstrated Operational Capability
Applicants should show technical understanding of domain registration systems (EPP, WHOIS, DNS, etc.) or partner with a backend provider.
#4
Demonstrated Operational Capability
ICANN prohibits accreditation for entities or individuals who are:
> Currently under sanctions or involved in litigation related to domains
> Previously terminated by ICANN for non-compliance
#5
Compliance Capability
You must demonstrate ability to follow ICANN’s Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA), data escrow obligations, abuse response protocols, and verification policies.
Please Read This Carefully
To qualify for ICANN accreditation, you don’t need to be a big tech company — but you do need to be serious, structured, and prepared. First, you must be a legally registered company with a clear business setup; ICANN won’t approve individuals or shell entities. You’ll also need to show you understand how a domain registrar works, either by building the tech yourself or partnering with a backend provider.
Financially, you should be able to cover the application fee, maintain a basic operating reserve, and have insurance coverage in place. ICANN also checks that you aren’t involved in any domain-related sanctions or past compliance issues. If you tick all these boxes, and you're ready to follow the rules laid out in the Registrar Accreditation Agreement, you're likely eligible — and I can help guide you through the rest, step by step.
Learn More About ICANN Accreditation
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive news and updates.
