How to become a registrar

Review the steps to become an authorised .nz registrar. Read how to apply, become authorised, and connect to the registry.

Any legal entity can apply to the Domain Name Commission to become an authorised .nz registrar. Applicants will need experience with customer support services, appropriate technical skills and knowledge, and billing capability.

To become a registrar, you need to apply, become authorised, and connect to the .nz registry.

Step 1: Authorisation:

Authorisation to be a .nz Registrar

In order to offer .nz domains, Registrars first need to gain authorisation from the Domain Name Commission (DNC). This includes:

  • Understanding agreements, policies and procedures governing the .nz space.
  • Ensuring customer contracts meet the minimum requirements specified in the Registrant Core Terms and Conditions document.
  • Complete the application form for authorisation as a registrar (Form AOR1) and send with any attachments.
  • Pay the one-off $3,000 NZD + GST application fee. This fee is non-refundable if your application is declined. 
  • Provide answers to questions asked by the DNC during the application review.
Step 2: Connection to .nz Registry:

 Connection to the .nz Registry

Once authorisation to offer .nz has been granted by the DNC, the following process needs to be followed in order to connect to the .nz Registry:

  • Complete the application form and connection agreement for connection to the .nz Registry, which INZ will send you.
  • Registrars can use the IRS portal to manage their domains (ideally for portfolios of under 1000 domains) or
  • Registrars need to develop their own client application that will interface with the IRS using the EPP XML protocols.
  • Registrars must test the operation of their software to verify the correct handling of requests and responses.

Before InternetNZ grant access to the production systems of the Registry, the Registrar must demonstrate:

  • Comprehension and understanding of the IRS.
  • That the interface with our systems works correctly.
  • Ability to execute all the transactions of the protocol they are using to access the IRS.
  • Technical information for connection and testing in the IRS OTE environment can be found here.

More detailed information regarding the Connection Process can be found on InternetNZ’s website.

Application process

To get started with your application as an .nz Authorised Registrar, follow these steps:

  1. Review the technical information you need to develop an interface to the SRS. You will also understand the agreements, forms and the .nz policies and procedures that apply to .nz.
  2. Ensure that the contract or agreement you require your customers to sign, meets the minimum requirements specified in our Registrant Core Terms and Conditions document. 
  3. Complete the application for authorisation as a registrar form (Form AOR1) and send with any attachments.
  4. Pay the one off application fee of $3,000 + GST. This fee is also non-refundable if your application is declined.
  5. Provide answers to questions asked by the DNC during the application review.
  6. Where authorisation is granted, complete the application for connection to the .nz registry form (Form CON1) and send to the address detailed on the form.
  7. Once approved the registry will contact you to arrange connection to the test SRS to ensure your smooth transition into becoming a .nz Authorised Registrar.
  8. Complete agreement forms
  9. Once connected, we can assist in bulk transferring existing domain names to transfer across to you from another registrar.
Apply to become an authorized registrar

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