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Domain Names:FAQs about ICANN-required email verification for domain names

Last Updated:Sep 17, 2025

This topic provides answers to FAQs about email verification for domain names, helping you understand operational policies set by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and guiding you through the verification process.

Category

Question

Policy overview

Verification operations

Troubleshooting

Policy overview

What are ICANN's major requirements on email information about domain name registrants?

The ICANN requires that:

  • Domain name registration information, including all WHOIS information for the registrant, must be accurate and complete.

  • The registrant's email address must be valid and able to receive emails.

To comply with these requirements, Alibaba Cloud implements an email verification process. For detailed policies, see the ICANN WHOIS ACCURACY PROGRAM SPECIFICATION.

How does Alibaba Cloud enforce ICANN's policies?

To complete the following operations, you must use a verified email address or a registrant profile with a verified email address. Otherwise, you cannot proceed:

  • Acquire domain names:

    • Register domain names

    • Transfer domain names to Alibaba Cloud.

    • Trade domain names.

  • Manage domain names:

    • Update information for a single domain name. This information includes the registrant, administrative contact, technical contact, and billing contact fields.

    • Batch update information for multiple domain names.

Verification operations

How do I verify an email address?

  1. Go to the Email Verification page in the Domain Names console and enter the email address to verify.

  2. Submit the verification request.

  3. Log in to the email account and find the verification email.

  4. Click the verification link in the email to complete the process.

For more details, see Verify the email address of a domain holder.

Note

If you cannot open the link directly from the email, try opening the link in a browser.

How long does email verification take?

  • The email address is verified as soon as you click the verification link in the email.

  • The verification link is valid for 3 days. If the link expires, you must submit a new request.

My domain name is locked as clientHold. How do I resolve it?

  • Cause: The registrant's email address is not verified.

  • Solution: Verify the email address and the system will automatically remove the clientHold state and unlock the domain name.

Once an email address is verified, will it need to be verified again?

Case

Re-verification required

For regular use after successful verification

No

Use an email address again after it is deleted from the verified list

Yes

Note

Email verification is tied to your Alibaba Cloud account. The same email address can be verified under multiple accounts.

Are there limits on the number of email addresses that can be verified?

  • Total limit: None.

  • Daily limit: Each Alibaba Cloud account can verify a maximum of 500 email addresses per day.

Why do I see verified email addresses that I did not submit for verification?

To prevent redundant verifications, the system automatically adds email addresses from the following sources to your verified list:

  • The email address associated with your Alibaba Cloud account.

  • The email address verified during a domain name transfer-in.

  • The email address verified through the console for a single domain name.

Troubleshooting

What do I do if I do not receive a verification email?

Step 1: Perform basic checks

  • Check if the email address is spelled correctly in your verification request.

  • Test if the email account sends and receives other emails normally.

Step 2: Troubleshoot email delivery issues

Possible cause

Solution

The email account is configured to block certain senders.

Check your email settings. Cancel block rules or add Alibaba Cloud's email address to your allowlist.

The verification email was marked as spam.

Check your spam or junk folder for the verification email.

Some email providers automatically categorize system notifications, which moves the verification email to another folder.

Check all folders in your mailbox.

Step 3: Resubmit a verification request

If none of the preceding solutions work, submit a new email verification request.