Registration FAQ
Common questions about registering a domain.
How long does registration take?
For most TLDs, seconds. The registry call returns a confirmation; the domain resolves once DNS propagates (also seconds with our managed DNS). .com.au is typically under five seconds end-to-end. .com and other gTLDs can take up to a minute on rare occasions when the registry queue is backed up.
What’s the minimum/maximum registration period?
Per TLD. Most allow 1–10 years. Some .au TLDs require a minimum of 2 years; .id.au allows 1. We expose the bounds via get_tld_info and GET /pricing/{tld} so you can check before the call.
Can I register a domain for someone else?
Yes — register it under your org, then assign their details as the registrant contact. To hand over ownership, transfer the domain to their org via the dashboard’s Transfer to org flow, or push it to a different registrar entirely.
What happens if someone else registers the domain seconds before me?
Registry is first-come first-served. We pass your request to the registry as fast as the network allows; if the other request lands first, you get NOT_AVAILABLE and we don’t bill. There is no queue or reservation system at the registry — there’s no way to “hold” a name.
Is bulk registration cheaper?
Per-domain price is the same. We don’t have volume tiers — registry costs are flat. Bulk operations are free of UI overhead, not free of registry fees.
Why did my registration fail?
The most common failure modes:
| Code | What happened |
|---|---|
NOT_AVAILABLE | Someone else got it first, or our cache was stale |
INELIGIBLE | .au registry rejected the supplied ABN/ACN |
INVALID_NAMESERVERS | Custom NS list was malformed (you only hit this if you supplied your own) |
REGISTRY_TIMEOUT | Registry slow to respond — retry safely with the same Idempotency-Key |
INSUFFICIENT_BALANCE | Org balance too low and auto-top-up is off |
The last_error field on the failed domain row carries the registry’s verbatim reason.
Can I get a refund on a registration I made by mistake?
Most TLDs allow returns within 5 days of registration via the registry’s “Add Grace Period” rule. Email support@domaingenius.com.au within 5 days; we return the registration and credit your balance for the registry fee minus a small handling fee. After 5 days, registrations are non-refundable — the registry has already taken the money.
What about premium domains?
Some gTLDs (.io, .ai, .app) flag certain names as “premium” with elevated registry pricing. We surface premium prices in availability responses with register_price_aud reflecting the actual cost. There’s no separate auction or negotiation — you pay the listed price.
Do I own the domain?
You own the registration — the right to use the domain for the period you paid for. Registries operate on a leasehold model: there’s no “freehold” for domains. As long as you renew, the registration persists indefinitely.
What’s the difference between buying via DomainGenius and buying via the registry directly?
You can’t buy from the registry directly — registries (Verisign for .com, auDA’s registry for .au) sell only through accredited registrars. We’re an accredited reseller for Synergy Wholesale (auDA accreditation) and through ICANN-accredited upstreams for gTLDs.