All postal addresses will be subjected to both syntax and operability testing. Operability testing is mostly automated through the use of a tool employed by ICANN’s postal address validation vendor. No mail will be sent as part of the testing.

Note: There is no difference between 2009 and 2013 RAA verification requirements. All records will be given the same tests.

Automated Stage

The validation vendor attempts to verify the deliverability of the address automatically via the tool.

A “Yes” for Stage One will be considered a “Pass” for Operability (i.e., deliverable). A “No” for Stage One will trigger either a “Fail” or a follow-on testing scenario.

1. Is the tool able to automatically verify deliverability?

1. Registrant, b. Tech, and c. Admin postal address
   • Yes – Pass
   • No – Fail: No country present in address
   • No – Possible Fail (A): Tool has no reference data for given country; Proceed to Manual Stage (A)
   • No – Possible Fail (B): Ambiguity or incomplete data; Proceed to Manual Stage (B)

Manual Stage (A)

The Operability Test in Manual Stage (A) is performed on all contact fields that attained a "Possible Fail (A)" from the Automated Stage above.  Here the validation vendor conducts manual testing of the given address using its own complementary data on the given country to determine if the address is likely to be deliverable.

A “Yes” response for Manual Stage (A) will be considered a “Pass” for Operability (i.e., deliverable). A “No” for Manual Stage (A) will be considered “Indeterminate” for Operability (i.e., unable to verify automatically or manually the address deliverabilityB

1. Based on the validation vendor’s manual check of the address, is the address likely deliverable?

1. Registrant, b. Tech, and c. Admin postal address
   • Yes – Pass
   • No – Indeterminate

Manual Stage (B)

The Operability Test in Manual Stage (B) is performed on all contact fields that attained a "Possible Fail (B)" from the Automated Stage above. Here the validation vendor checks the available reference data for the given address components to determine if the address is likely to be deliverable. Two components state/province (if applicable) and city, are essential to the validation vendor’s ability to complete this test; in the absence of these two components, an address will not be considered deliverable.

A “Yes” response to all three criteria for Manual Stage (B) will be considered a “Pass” for Operability (i.e., deliverable). A “No” response to at least one will be considered a “Fail” for Operability (i.e., not deliverable). 

1. Is there presence of a city in the given address?

(i.e., field is not blank)

1. Registrant, b. Tech, and c. Admin postal address
   • Yes – Pass
   • No – Fail

2. If Postal Address Syntax Identifier Test for State/Province = yes, is there presence of a state/province in the given address?

(i.e., field is not blank)

1. Registrant, b. Tech, and c. Admin postal address
   • Yes – Pass
   • No – Fail

3. Based on the validation vendor’s manual check of the given address components, is the address likely to be deliverable?

1. Registrant, b. Tech, and c. Admin postal address
   • Yes – Pass
   • No – Fail

To provide comments on WHOIS ARS or suggestions to improve WHOIS ARS reports and validation criteria, please email: globalsupport@icann.org.