.INFO Domain Registration Guide (Generic)

The .INFO extension is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) launched in 2001 as part of ICANN’s highly publicized expansion of the domain name system. Derived from the word information, it was originally designed to signify intuitive, resource-rich, and informative websites. Today, it has evolved into one of the most popular and universally recognized alternatives to .COM, used broadly by businesses, blogs, map services, and educational projects globally.

Managed by the registry Afilias (a subsidiary of Identity Digital), .INFO operates under standard ICANN regulations with no geographic boundaries. Below are the operational and technical guidelines needed to manage .INFO domains within the mybox wiki.

Eligibility and Local Presence

• Unrestricted Registration: There are no qualification requirements, corporate criteria, or local presence constraints to register a .INFO domain. It is completely open to any individual, business, or organization worldwide.
• No Verification Barriers: Registrants do not need to provide proof of operating an informational platform, corporate documentation, or national tax identifiers during the ordering process.

Domain Registration and Lifecycle

• Registration Periods: Domains can be registered and renewed for fixed periods ranging from 1 to 10 years.
• Real-Time Activation: Registration commands execute in real time. The domain is allocated and active immediately upon successful submission to the registry system.
• IDN Support: Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) are fully supported, permitting the use of localized, non-ASCII characters across a diverse selection of scripts and languages.

Domain Renewal, Expiration, and Deletion Lifecycle

The .INFO lifecycle adheres precisely to the standardized ICANN timeline for generic extensions, transitioning through predictable administrative phases if left unpaid:

1. Expiration Date: If a renewal fee is not collected by the expiration date, the domain is instantly deactivated. The registry removes the authoritative name servers from the root zone, causing associated web routing and email delivery to go offline.
2. Auto-Renew Grace Period (0 to 45 Days): Following expiration, the domain enters an initial grace window. During this phase, the original owner can renew the domain via the mybox portal at standard, non-penalized renewal rates.
3. Redemption Grace Period / RGP (30 Days): If the domain is explicitly deleted or remains unpaid past the initial grace window, it moves to the registry-level Redemption Grace Period. To rescue a domain in RGP, the client must pay a mandatory, premium registry restoration fee in addition to the base renewal cost.
4. Pending Delete (5 Days): If no restoration occurs during the RGP, the domain enters a final 5-day “Pending Delete” state. In this lock phase, the domain cannot be recovered, altered, or saved under any circumstances. At the end of the 5-day countdown, it is purged entirely from the registry database and returned to the public pool for open registration.

Domain Transfer (Registrar Transfer)

Moving a .INFO domain to mybox follows standard ICANN-compliant secure transfer handling:

• Authorization Code: The client must request an Authorization Code (Auth-Code, AuthInfo, or EPP code) from their current registrar.
• Domain Unlock: The domain’s status must be set to unlocked (Status: Active or Ok in the public WHOIS). If it is locked under a clientTransferProhibited string, the request will be automatically denied.
• 60-Day Lock Rule: Under ICANN rules, domains cannot be transferred if they were initially registered or transferred from another registrar within the last 60 days.
• Transfer Finalization: Once submitted with a valid code, the losing registrar is granted 5 days to approve or reject the request. If they remain silent, the transfer completes automatically on the 5th day. A successful transfer adds exactly 1 year to the domain’s current expiration date.

Domain Trade (Ownership Transfer)

• Instant Updates: Modifying ownership details for a .INFO domain is direct and fast. Updates are completed instantly by altering the registrant contact card data fields inside the control panel.
• ICANN Change of Registrant Lock: Be aware that a material modification to the registrant’s name, organization, or primary email address will automatically trigger a 60-day inter-registrar transfer lock under standard ICANN anti-hijacking rules, unless the client explicitly checks the box to opt out of this lock during the confirmation process.

Technical Specifications

• Domain Name Length: Between 2 and 63 characters.
• DNS Configuration: The registry accepts between 1 and 13 name servers. There are no technical pre-configuration runtime checks that block initial setup, but name servers must be active for the zone on your host for the domain to resolve online.
• DNSSEC Support: The .INFO registry natively supports Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC). Secure Delegation Signer (DS) records can be passed or removed smoothly via standard system interface controls.