Sandbox registry for the .cd ccTLD — For testing purposes only
Registry Operational

The Official
.cd Internet Registry
Sandbox Environment

AfriRegistry Sandbox manages the .cd test registry environment, providing a secure and stable platform for registrar testing and evaluation.

IANA Delegated ccTLD
EPP Protocol Enabled
RDAP Lookup Service
DNSSEC Supported

WHOIS Lookup

Check the availability or registration details of any .cd domain name.

Enter the full domain name, e.g. mybusiness.co.cd

Governing the .cd Namespace

AfriRegistry Sandbox is the test registry environment for the .cd country code Top-Level Domain. Operated for registrar testing and evaluation in accordance with ICANN policies and Internet best practices.

Trusted & Authoritative

AfriRegistry Sandbox is the test registry operator, ensuring policy compliance and namespace integrity for all .cd domain names.

Modern Registry Infrastructure

Built on a high-availability EPP registry platform supporting DNSSEC, RDAP, and real-time DNS propagation across Anycast nodes.

Accredited Registrar Network

We work exclusively through accredited registrars who meet our technical and financial requirements to offer .cd domains to the public.

National Digital Identity

The .cd TLD is a strategic asset for the Democratic Republic of Congo, enabling businesses, institutions, and individuals to establish a clear national digital presence.

Technical Profile — .cd

TLD
.cd
Country
Democratic Republic of Congo
Type
ccTLD (IANA delegated)
Registry Protocol
EPP (RFC 5730–5734)
DNSSEC
Supported
RDAP
Available
Min. Registrar Balance
USD 500
OT&E Testing
Required

How to Become an Accredited Registrar

Accredited registrars are the only entities authorised to register .cd domains on behalf of their customers. The accreditation process is structured, transparent, and fully documented.

1

Submit Application

Complete the online accreditation form providing company details, primary and technical contacts, and your EPP IP addresses.

~15 minutes
2

Registry Review

Our accreditation team reviews your application for completeness, legal standing, and technical capability. You will be notified by email.

5–10 business days
3

OT&E Certification

Access the Operational Test & Evaluation environment. Demonstrate successful EPP operations including domain create, update, transfer, and delete.

Typically 1–3 days
4

Activation

Sign the Registry-Registrar Agreement, fund your account, and receive production EPP credentials. You are now an accredited .cd registrar.

Same day

Ready to begin? The application takes about 15 minutes to complete.

Start Your Application

What You Need to Qualify

Accreditation is open to any legally registered entity that meets the following criteria. There are no geographic restrictions on registrar headquarters.

Legal & Corporate

Business registration requirements

  • Legally incorporated company in any jurisdiction
  • Valid business registration certificate
  • Authorised signatory for the Registry-Registrar Agreement
  • Designated primary and billing contact persons

Technical Capability

EPP integration requirements

  • Qualified technical contact familiar with EPP (RFC 5730)
  • Static IP address(es) for EPP whitelisting
  • Ability to pass all mandatory OT&E test commands
  • 24/7 incident contact for production issues

Financial

Prepaid account requirements

  • Initial account deposit of USD 500 minimum
  • Pre-paid billing model (credit-based)
  • Bank wire transfer or approved payment method
  • Monthly billing reconciliation capability

Policy & Agreement

Compliance obligations

  • Agreement to the Registry-Registrar Agreement (RRA)
  • Compliance with AfriRegistry domain registration policies
  • Maintenance of accurate WHOIS/RDAP contact data
  • Adherence to abuse reporting and suspension procedures

What We Provide

AfriRegistry operates a full suite of domain registry services accessible to accredited registrars through the Registrar Portal and EPP gateway.

EPP Gateway

Industry-standard Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) for domain registration, renewal, transfer, and management. Secure TLS connections with IP allowlisting.

Request EPP Credentials

Registrar Portal

A web-based management dashboard for domain operations, contact management, DNSSEC configuration, transfers, balance top-ups, and reporting.

Access Portal

WHOIS & RDAP

Public WHOIS and RDAP lookup services for domain registration details, registrar information, and nameserver data, compliant with ICANN standards.

RDAP Service

DNSSEC

Full DNSSEC signing support with DS record management via EPP and the registrar portal. Protects end-users from DNS cache poisoning and spoofing.

Learn More

OT&E Environment

A fully isolated Operational Test & Evaluation sandbox for pre-production EPP testing, available to all registrar applicants during onboarding.

Apply for Access

Technical Support

Dedicated registry technical support for accredited registrars. Incident response, EPP troubleshooting, and operational guidance from our registry team.

Contact Support

Ready to Offer .cd Domains?

Join the AfriRegistry accredited registrar network and provide your customers with a trusted .cd digital identity. The application process is straightforward and our team is available to guide you through every step.

Apply for Accreditation Check Application Status

Get in Touch with AfriRegistry

Have questions about registrar accreditation, domain policies, or technical integration? Our registry team is here to help.

General Enquiries

registry@afriregistry.com

For policy, accreditation, and general questions
Technical Support

tech@afriregistry.com

EPP connectivity, DNSSEC, and operational issues
Abuse & Compliance

abuse@afriregistry.com

Report domain abuse, spam, or policy violations
Registry Office

sandbox.afriregistry.com

AfriRegistry Sandbox — .cd Test Registry
Start Accreditation Application

Send Us a Message