URL: /faq/registration

---
title: Registration FAQ
description: 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](mailto: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.