pendingCreate status

A request to register the domain has been received but not completed yet, typically during a TLD launch phase or a manual registry review.

pendingCreate at a glance
EPP status codependingCreate
RDAP statuspending create (per RFC 8056)
Set byRegistry
CategoryLifecycle and pending status
Defined inRFC 5731
ICANN referenceicann.org/epp#pendingCreate

What pendingCreate means

pendingCreate shows that the registry has accepted a request to create (register) the domain but has not completed the registration yet. In RDAP it appears as pending create.

RFC 5731 lets registries delay completing a request, for example to allow for human review or an action by a third party. When the registration is finalized, the registry removes pendingCreate and notifies the registrar.

You rarely see this status on established TLDs, where registrations complete instantly. It is more common during a new TLD's sunrise or other launch phases, when domains are allocated after the phase ends, and at registries that check documents before a domain goes live.

Official definition: ICANN, EPP Status Codes: What Do They Mean, and Why Should I Know? (pendingCreate)

Why a domain has this status

  • The TLD is in a sunrise, landrush or other launch period, and the domain will be allocated when it ends.
  • The registry requires documents or eligibility checks before it activates the domain.
  • The registration is waiting for manual review or approval by a third party.

What you should do

  • If you applied for the domain, wait for the process to finish and watch for messages from your registrar about documents or verification.
  • If the TLD is not in a special launch period and you believe the domain should be registered to you but you are not the listed registrant, contact your registrar immediately.
  • If you want the same domain, you can't register it while the request is pending. Check again later.

Check a domain's status

Look up any domain to see its current status codes, registrar, expiration date and name servers from the registry's RDAP or WHOIS service.

  • addPeriod: The domain was registered within the last few days (usually 5 for gTLDs) and is in its add grace period. This status is informational only.
  • inactive: The domain has no name servers delegated at the registry, so it is not published in DNS and does not resolve.
  • ok: The domain has no pending operations and no restrictions, so it can be updated, renewed, transferred or deleted normally.
  • pendingUpdate: A request to update the domain, such as a contact or name server change, has been received and is waiting to be completed.

Frequently asked questions

How long does pendingCreate last?

It depends on the reason. During a TLD launch phase it lasts until the phase ends and domains are allocated; for document or manual checks it lasts until the registry finishes its review. Your registrar can tell you the expected timeline.

Is a domain in pendingCreate registered?

Not yet. The registry has received the registration request and is still processing it, so the domain is not available to anyone else in the meantime.

Further reading