Consensus Policies

Please note that the English language version of all translated content and documents are the official versions and that translations in other languages are for informational purposes only.

ICANN's agreements with accredited registrars and with gTLD registry operators require compliance with various specifically stated procedures, "consensus policies", and temporary policies. Sponsors and registry operators of sponsored TLDs may be required to comply with consensus policies in some instances.

The following policies are specifically identified as having been adopted as consensus policies by the ICANN Board of Directors as of the dates shown below.

All policies marked with an asterisk ("*") below were updated 21 February 2024 to reflect changes required to implement the Registration Data Policy. Contracted parties may implement these updated Policies beginning on 21 August 2024 and must implement no later than 21 August 2025.

• Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (adopted by ICANN Board 26 August 1999; form of implementation documents approved 24 October 1999)*
• Registration Data Reminder Policy (previously known as Whois Data Reminder Policy) (adopted by ICANN Board 27 March 2003; implementation documents issued 16 June 2003)*
• Domain Name Transfer Policies *
• Registration Data Marketing Restriction Policy (previously known as Whois Marketing Restriction Policy) (adopted by ICANN Board 27 March 2003; implementation documents issued 12 August 2004)*
• Restored Names Accuracy Policy (adopted by ICANN Board 27 March 2003; implementation documents issued 12 August 2004)*
• Expired Domain Deletion Policy (effective on 21 December 2004, adopted by ICANN Board 31 October 2003; implementation documents issued 21 September 2004)
• Registry Services Evaluation Policy (effective on 15 August 2006, adopted by ICANN Board 8 November 2005; implementation documents posted 25 July 2006)
• AGP Limits Policy (effective on 1 April 2009, adopted by ICANN Board on 26 June 2008; implementation documents posted 17 December 2008)
• Expired Registration Recovery Policy (adopted by ICANN Board on 28 October 2011; implementation documents posted 28 February 2013)*
• Additional Registration Data Directory Services (RDDS) Information (previously known as Additional Whois Information Policy) (adopted by ICANN Board 6 May 2012; implementation documents posted 2 July 2014)*
• Registry Registration Data Directory Services Consistent Labeling and Display Policy (adopted by ICANN Board 7 February 2014; implementation documents posted 1 February 2017) [Updated 1 February 2017 – Note: This policy supersedes the policy that was rescinded on 18 October 2016]*
• Thick RDDS (Whois) Transition Policy for .COM, .NET and .JOBS (effective on 1 May 2018 and 1 February 2019, adopted by ICANN Board 7 February 2014; implementation documents posted 1 February 2017)*

• Protection of IGO and INGO Identifier in All gTLDs Policy

  • Effective on 1 August 2018 for reserved names and 12-months after the release of the INGO Claims System Specification for INGOs; implementation documents posted 16 January 2018.
  • New section 2.3 effective no later than 1 August 2020, adopted by ICANN Board 27 January 2019; implementation documents posted 16 January 2018.*
• Interim Registration Data Policy for gTLDs (effective 20 May 2019 through 20 August 2025, adopted by ICANN Board 15 May 2019; implementation documents posted 17 May 2019)
• Registration Data Policy (effective 21 August 2025, adopted by ICANN Board 15 May 2019; implementation documents posted 21 February 2024; Contracted parties may implement this Policy beginning on 21 August 2024 and must implement no later than 21 August 2025)

Temporary Policies

• Temporary Specification for gTLD Registration Data (Temporary Specification)

  • Adopted by the ICANN Board on 17 May 2018, Expired on 15 May 2019.

Previous Versions

All policies marked with asterisks ("**") below remain effective through 20 August 2025

• RESCINDED 18 October 2016. Registry Registration Data Directory Services Consistent Labeling and Display Policy (effective date invalidated, adopted by ICANN Board 7 February 2014; implementation documents posted 26 July 2016): https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/rdds-labeling-policy-2016-07-26-en
• UPDATED 18 February 2020. Protection of IGO and INGO Identifier in All gTLDs Policy (effective on 1 August 2018 for reserved names and 12-months after the release of the INGO Claims System Specification for INGOs, adopted by ICANN Board 30 April 2014; implementation documents posted 16 January 2018)
• UPDATED 21 February 2024. Whois Data Reminder Policy (now known as Registration Data Reminder Policy) (adopted by ICANN Board 27 March 2003; implementation documents issued 16 June 2003)**
• UPDATED 21 February 2024. Whois Marketing Restriction Policy (now known as Registration Data Marketing Restriction Policy) (effective on 12 November 2004, adopted by ICANN Board 27 March 2003; implementation documents issued 12 August 2004)**
• UPDATED 21 February 2024. Restored Names Accuracy Policy (effective on 12 November 2004, adopted by ICANN Board 27 March 2003; implementation documents issued 12 August 2004)**
• UPDATED 21 February 2024. Expired Registration Recovery Policy (effective 31 August 2013, adopted by ICANN Board on 28 October 2011; implementation documents posted 28 February 2013)**
• UPDATED 21 February 2024. Additional Whois Information Policy (now known as Additional Registration Data Directory Services (RDDS) Information Policy) (effective 31 January 2016, adopted by ICANN Board 6 May 2012; implementation documents posted 2 July 2014).**
• UPDATED 21 February 2024. Registry Registration Data Directory Services Consistent Labeling and Display Policy (effective on 1 August 2017, adopted by ICANN Board 7 February 2014; implementation documents posted 1 February 2017)**

• UPDATED 21 February 2024. Protection of IGO and INGO Identifier in All gTLDs Policy

  • Effective on 1 August 2018 for reserved names and 12-months after the release of the INGO Claims System Specification for INGOs; implementation documents posted 16 January 2018.
  • New section 2.3 effective no later than 1 August 2020, adopted by ICANN Board 27 January 2019; implementation documents posted 16 January 2018.

**