How long does a domain name take to register?

How long does a domain name take to register?

After you have registered your domain name and paid for it, it is reserved immediately. From then on, it is attributed to you and is not available for purchase by anyone else for the term of the registration. The domain name then has to be technically available. This will happen within 24 to 72 hours later, assuming you have provided the correct technical parameters such as valid DNS servers.

At one time or another, you may have wondered, “why is my domain name taking so long to be registered?”. The answer is that not all domains are registered the same. Every domain is owned and operated by an entity called a Registry. For example, Verisign is one of the world’s most notable Registries because it operates two of the most popular domain endings .com domain and .net domain as well as others. Every domain is a unique brand and therefore has its own requirements and processes for registration so there are different time phrases for the question of how does long it takes to register a domain.

Step 1: Registration requirements

Some domains are easier to register than others. While many domains are unrestricted and open to all to register, others are held to a stricter standard. There are verified domains that require documents and go through a verification process to make sure the intention of the domain registration aligns with the domain brand’s policies. Some Country Code domains require a local presence or proof of business registration in order to register a domain name in that country.

Step 2: Check requirements

When a domain is registered it goes through our team of domain service specialists who make sure all registration requirements are met and all necessary documents submitted. When everything is in order, it is passed along to the Registry for activation and release of the domain name.

Step 3: Get with the Registry for approval

This stage is where the answer to how long does it take to register a domain varies the most. A domain registration can take anywhere from 24 hours to 3 months, however, a majority of domains can be registered within a day as you can see in the breakdown below. The chart below shows, in general, how long does it take to register a domain.

Step 4: Propagate the domain name

The final step is to push the domain name to the root servers, once this is done your domain name will be live. The DNS root name servers translate URLs into IP addresses so that instead of typing a string of random numbers into our web browsers we can type in the URLs we are used to seeing. These root servers are a network of hundreds of servers in countries around the world. However, together they are identified as 13 named servers.

So when we are asked how long does it take to register a domain you can see there’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes of the domain name system than you would imagine, including a narrative of 14 people in the world who hold and protect 7 keys that safeguard the mechanism for authenticating the data in the domain name system (no, really) but we aren’t going to go down that rabbit hole today. Just know that we are doing everything we can to ensure your domain name is registered first and promptly so you can get to doing the things you want to be doing online.

Additional considerations

The time it takes to register a domain name can vary depending on several factors. In general, the registration process typically takes anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of days. Let’s explore the factors that can impact the registration time:

1. Domain Registrar:

The domain registrar you choose plays a significant role in the registration process. Some registrars offer instant domain registration, allowing you to secure your domain name within minutes. Others may require manual verification or additional steps, which can prolong the registration process.

2. Payment Processing:

The time it takes for your payment to process can affect the domain registration timeframe. Online payments are usually processed quickly, allowing for immediate registration. However, payments made by check or other offline methods may require additional processing time, resulting in a delay in registering your domain name.

3. Domain Availability:

The availability of your desired domain name also impacts the registration time. If the domain name you want is available and not already registered by someone else, the registration process can be completed swiftly. However, if the domain name is already taken, you may need to consider alternative options or negotiate with the current owner, which can extend the registration timeline.

4. TLD Requirements:

Different top-level domains (TLDs) have varying registration requirements. Some TLDs have specific restrictions or eligibility criteria that need to be met, such as country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) that may require proof of residency or business registration in a particular country. Fulfilling these requirements may involve additional steps or documentation, leading to a longer registration process.

5. DNS Propagation:

Basically, Once the domain registration is complete, it takes time for the Domain Name System (DNS) to propagate the new domain information across the internet. DNS propagation can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours or more. During this time, the domain may not be fully accessible to all users worldwide.

To ensure a smooth and timely registration process, it is recommended to choose a reputable domain registrar, have your payment information ready, and conduct prior research to check the availability and requirements of your desired domain name. By being well-prepared, you can expedite the registration process and secure your domain name efficiently.

Register Your Domain Name Today!

Domain Name Registration or Transfer

Domain names are essential to having an online presence. They are an easy way for people to know where to find your website and to send you emails. A domain name is a human-readable “address” on the Internet. Domain names usually have extensions, like .com, .net, or .org, e.g. example.com. Fun Fact: The most expensive internet domain name was sold for $13 million. Without a domain name, it would be necessary for everyone to know the exact IP address of the machine where your website is currently hosted (need hosting?). That might be fine if there was just one, but eventually everyone would have to start making a list somewhere, with the names of websites and their corresponding IP addresses they want to remember just so they could keep track of them all.
Registering a domain name is easy. First, you will need to check if your domain is available, which can be done using the domain name checker. Once you have confirmed that your domain is available, you can register it by simply following the prompts.
Each country around has its own country code. In the United Kingdom the country code is .uk, while the New Zealand code is .nz. The ccTLD for Australia is .au and makes up the .com.au, .net.au, .org.au, .asn.au and id.au domain names.These ccTLDs allow simple identification of the domain name registry in a particular region. For example, an email or webpage request for an Australian domain is sent to the Australian registry (AusRegistry) database. This contains the DNS server records of the web hosting company, and will then forward the request there. The request is then resolved by the DNS servers, which then directs traffic to the correct hosting server location.
Yes, of course! Moving your domain to FASTDOT is quick and easy. Simply follow the instructions on our Domain Transfer page to get started.
Your EPP code (aka Domain Password) is a password that is attached to your domain. This password is required to transfer the domain to another domain name registrar .
Find EPP Code for Generic TLD’s (.com, .net, .org .. )
  1. Go to whois.sc (external link)
  2. In the first text field, enter your domain name and click the orange magnifying glass.
  3. Next, select the Registration tab.
  4. In the Registration Tab, next to ICANN Registrar, you will find your current domain registrar’s name.
Once you have located your current domain name registrar, simply contact them to retrieve your domains EPP code / domain password.
Find EPP Code for Australian gTLD (.com.au, .net.au, .org.au ..)
  1. Firstly, ensure that your domain has domain privacy disabled, and the email address attached to your domain is active. This is where your domains EPP code will be sent.
  2. Go to AUDA  at https://pw.auda.org.au/
  3. Enter your domain name (without the www) in the first text field
  4. In the second text field called "Requestor Name", enter the domain owners name.
  5. Select the Recover button
  6. Your domains EPP code will arrive via email shortly
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