Registry Onboarding
Once your ICANN accreditation is approved, the real work begins — onboarding with TLD registries. ICANN doesn’t automatically connect you to .com, .org, or any other domain extension. Each registry operator has its own onboarding process, and as a registrar, you’ll need to sign a Registry-Registrar Agreement (RRA) with every TLD you intend to sell. This is a formal contract outlining your obligations, pricing terms, and technical integration responsibilities. Without this, you won’t be able to transact on that TLD.
After signing the RRA, registries typically require you to complete an OT&E (Operational Test & Evaluation) phase. This involves passing EPP-based functional tests in a sandbox environment — proving your system can create, renew, transfer, and delete domains as per the registry’s protocol. You’ll also need to fund your registry account, often called a wallet, in advance before being allowed to transact in production. Once OT&E is cleared and your funding wallet is loaded, you’ll receive production credentials and your EPP connection will go live — officially making you an active registrar for that TLD.
Registry List
Registry Onboarding
RRA Signing
Once your ICANN accreditation is approved, the first step toward selling domains is signing the Registry-Registrar Agreement (RRA) with each registry operator. This is not a one-size-fits-all contract — every registry (Verisign, PIR, Identity Digital, etc.) has its own version, and you must sign separately with each one you want to integrate. The RRA governs your business relationship, covering everything from pricing terms and service-level expectations to compliance obligations and dispute handling. Without a signed RRA, you won’t get access to their TLDs, no matter how technically ready you are.
OT&E Testing
After RRA signing, registries will ask you to complete OT&E — Operational Test and Evaluation. This is a technical certification phase where you demonstrate your system’s ability to handle standard domain operations like registrations, renewals, transfers, updates, and deletions. Each registry provides a testbed (sandbox environment) and expects you to script and execute specific EPP commands. Some registries make this automated, while others will manually review your logs. Passing OT&E shows the registry that your registrar platform is production-ready and stable.
Funding Wallets
Registries operate on a prepaid model. Before you can go live, you’re required to fund your account — often referred to as your registry wallet. This ensures you have credit to cover domain transactions (e.g., registrations, renewals, restores). Each registry sets a minimum funding threshold, and you can top it up anytime. The wallet operates like a running balance — every domain action deducts an amount based on registry pricing. You’ll need to coordinate with your finance team and set up wire transfer or ACH mechanisms, depending on the registry’s billing system.
Production EPP Connection (Go Live)
Once OT&E is passed and your wallet is funded, the registry will issue production credentials. This includes your live EPP username, password, and connection details. Your technical team can now point your registrar system to the production EPP server and begin real-time domain transactions. This is the final step — once connected, you're officially “live” on that TLD. From this point forward, you’re visible in WHOIS outputs as the sponsoring registrar, and your customers can start registering domains under that extension via your platform.
Registry Onboarding Infograpic
