Does your company want to become a registrar for Norid? Read more about what the requirements are, what this responsibility entails and how to apply.
Registrars play an important role
As a registrar, you are the intermediary between Norid and domain holders. Holders cannot order a domain name directly with us, and registrars therefore play a very important role in the Norwegian domain name scheme. Your role as registrar is to contribute to smooth and effective operation of the domain name system in accordance with relevant regulations and to ensure that domain holders get the help they need quickly and efficiently.
Read more about the role of registrars
Requirements for becoming a registrar
- You must have a primary contact. This is your contact person for Norid, to whom Norid can direct enquiries regarding the Registrar Agreement and the Registrar’s enterprise. The primary contact, and all persons with admin rights to the registrar web, must complete the registrar test.
- Registrars are independent data controllers under the GDPR, and you must satisfy relevant requirements in this regard.
Read the agreement registrars sign with us to read more about the requirements.
How to apply
You apply by sending an email to info@norid.no. We will then send you and email with a link to the agreement documents, which are signed digitally in an online service. We will process your application as soon as you have signed the agreement.
How to get started
At start-up, there is an administrative fee of NOK 5 000 plus VAT. You must also pass a test where you perform the most common tasks in our registration system, which all of our registrars are required to use.
You also have to pay an annual registrar fee if you order or extend less than 100 domain name subscriptions per year.
Communication with Norid
Good communication between the registrars and Norid is essential for the scheme to run smoothly. This includes the training and guidance provided by Norid at the beginning and it also includes regular communication back and forth thereafter. Daily communication takes place via email or phone.
On the norid.no website, subscribers and the general public should be able to find answers to any questions they may have about domain names. Similarly, technical specialists should be able to find the answers they need on our technical web. In addition, domain providers can log in to the registrar web to access data related to their own domain portfolios.
Email list for registrars
The email list forhandlere@norid.no is a primary channel for regular information from Norid to registrars. All registrars must be signed up with at least one email address to receive emails from this list.
Important information concerning changes to the registration system, amendments to relevant regulation, new procedures, etc. will be sent out using this list. The messages are also posted on the technical web and archived.
As a registrar you can add and remove members, but your primary contact is always subscribed to the email list. We recommend that you add all employees whose responsibilities are related to domain services (technical support, accounting, legal, etc.). You can manage list members on the registrar web.
Should I become a registrar?
Domain names are often critical services for your customers. Taking on this responsibility is a serious commitment, and you need to make sure you have the right technical and administrative qualifications.
Various motivations
We work with approx. 270 different domain registrars, and they all have different motivations for wanting to take on this service. Some engage in large-scale registrar activity and believe they can make a good profit. Others want to expand the services they offer to their customers to include domain names in addition to other services. Some registrars offer domain services to all kinds of customers, whereas others only have in-house customers.
We recommend that you take stock of what your primary motivations are. You have to meet relevant requirements, and we follow up with training and guidance. At the same time, we also keep an eye on registrars who are not doing their part. Domain name holders are completely at the mercy of their registrars, and we cannot accept registrars who do not do their job properly, and cause problems for their customers as a result.
What other options are there?
If you don’t want to take on full responsibility as a registrar, you may want to consider partnering with an existing registrar who already has all the formal requirements in place. There are many different business models in this field, and we don’t have any preferences one way or the other. Our primary concern is that you have a clear and well-structured contractual relationship with both your customer and the registrar you choose to work with.