Become an Afnic registrar

Clear accreditation criteria

Pursuant to the provisions of the French Post and Electronic Communications Code, registrars must meet the following six requirements in order to obtain accreditation:

• Understand the principles and operating procedures of the internet domain name system;
• Understand the equipment and technical rules needed to register domain names with the Registry; 
• Have a proven verification procedure for identification data provided by domain name applicants so as to respond to any requests from the Registry;
• Have the necessary human and technical resources to handle updating of administrative and technical data provided by domain name applicants for their identification;
• Have the necessary equipment and software applications to ensure the security of personal data provided by domain name applicants and store these in compliance with the provisions of the French Data Protection Act No. 78-17 of 6 January 1978 as amended;
• Provide adequate reception facilities for the public.

Documents available for accredited registrars:

Technical integration guide

Registrar procedure guide (version from 01 January 2024)

Afnic’s accreditation procedure

In order to be able to act as registrar for the TLDs managed by Afnic, it is necessary to provide: 

• the accreditation application package completed and signed;
• the identification form completed and signed, together with the following:
  • official documents 
  • payment of the flat fee 
• the registrar directory registration form

… and send them by email to accreditation@afnic.fr or by post to the following address:

Afnic – Service Client AC / AC
7 avenue du 8 mai 1945
78280 Guyancourt
FRANCE

Once accreditation is obtained, registrars exercise their activities under the control of Afnic through a registration contract, which sets out the conditions of access to Afnic’s services as well as to those of the registrar.

Accreditation is automatically renewed for on a year-to-year basis, effective as of 1 January and expiring on 31 December each year.

The registration contract is automatically terminated if the registrar loses its accreditation.

Non-renewal or termination of the registration contract results in the automatic withdrawal of accreditation.

Accreditation: useful documents

The documents useful for the accreditation procedure are listed below:

Accreditation policy

The practical guide to accreditation 

Appendix 1: 2024 invoicing schedule from 01/01/2024 to 02/29/2024

Appendix 1: 2024 invoicing schedule from 03/01/2024

Appendix 2: SEPA direct debit

Appendix 3: Appropriate safeguards for transfers outside EU

Appendix 4: Repository of best practices for managing abuse and applying
graduated sanctions

Do I have to be a member of Afnic to obtain accreditation?

Registering domain names under one of the TLDs operated by Afnic is not subject to membership of the Association. 

That said, there is nothing to prevent your becoming a member of the Association. The ‘Registrar Members’ category is open (but neither compulsory nor automatic) to registrars under contract with Afnic, regardless of the flat fee option chosen.

As a member, you will be able to participate in Registrars Consultative Committees, elect representatives to the Board of Trustees and participate in Afnic working groups.