Why are .ma applications rejected or suspended?
Most rejections do not stem from a technical problem but from an incomplete or inconsistent file. The ANRT verifies each application before activating the domain: if the submitted documents do not exactly match the WHOIS data, or if the document type does not fit the registrant's status, the domain remains in pendingCreate status and then switches to serverHold.
The pendingCreate status means the registration is temporarily suspended pending registry validation. If no compliant document is submitted within 14 days of the order, the domain switches to serverHold: it is suspended, inaccessible, and no refund is provided. For domains containing a reserved term (city names, institutional terms, sensitive words such as 'maroc' or 'commune'), the deadline is shorter: five business days from the date of application submission.
A second frequent source of failure: confusing Moroccan establishment with Moroccan nationality for the administrative contact. According to registry policy, the administrative contact must be a Moroccan national — a Moroccan address or residency alone is not sufficient. Foreign holders must therefore designate a representative of Moroccan nationality.
What the ANRT requires in all cases
- A file submitted within the allotted deadline — 14 days after the order for a standard domain, 5 business days for a domain containing a reserved term.
- An administrative contact of Moroccan nationality — residency or a Moroccan address alone is not sufficient; the phone numbers communicated must also be Moroccan.
- Exact WHOIS ↔ document match — the name, first name, company name or identifier number on the document must match 100% with the registered information.
- A valid document — an expired CIN or RC results in immediate rejection, even if all other conditions are met.
- Hosted content compliant with Moroccan law — publishing content contrary to national regulations may lead to domain deletion, regardless of the administrative compliance of the file.
- No unjustified reserved term — before ordering, check the ANRT's published list of reserved terms; some terms require a legal entity or the signature of a recognized legal representative.
- An ANRT-accredited registrar — only service providers on the official list can submit .ma registration requests to the registry.
Required documents by registrant type
The ANRT naming charter distinguishes four registrant profiles, each subject to different documentary requirements. Providing a document from another profile — for example, an RC for an individual registrant — is a common error that systematically results in rejection.
Document requirements by registrant type
| Type de titulaire | Pièces requises | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | Copy of a valid national identity card (CIN), or valid passport | The name on the document must correspond exactly to the 'registrant' field in WHOIS. A residence permit may be accepted depending on your registrar's policy, but Moroccan nationality of the administrative contact remains mandatory. |
| Company (legal entity) | Commercial register (RC) or common company identifier (ICE) + CIN of the legal representative | The ICE, a 15-digit identifier assigned by the tax administration, is now the preferred reference document. The RC alone is accepted but must be accompanied by the CIN of the authorized signatory. Public administrations are exempt from this requirement. |
| Association | Association statutes + deposit receipt issued by the competent authorities | The receipt proves the legal declaration of the association. Without this document, the file is incomplete even if the statutes are provided. The domain name must match the official name of the association. |
| Registered trademark (OMPIC) | Trademark registration certificate issued by OMPIC, or extract from the national trademark register | The requested domain name must exactly match the protected trademark. This route allows registering domains containing accented characters corresponding to the trademark name. The trademark must be registered in Morocco — an international deposit without Moroccan designation is not sufficient. |
Second-level subdomains: .co.ma, .ac.ma, .press.ma
Beyond the generic .ma, the ANRT manages second-level extensions whose access is conditional on the applicant's status.
The .co.ma is intended for commercial companies. The documentary requirements are identical to those for a .ma company: RC or ICE accompanied by the CIN of the legal representative.
The .ac.ma is reserved for accredited educational and research establishments. The file must include proof of accreditation or authorization issued by the competent authorities (Ministry of Education or equivalent).
The .press.ma is intended for press organizations and professional journalists. A valid press card or accreditation document from the competent bodies is required.
The .gov.ma and .edu.ma extensions are strictly reserved for government entities and approved educational institutions; their registration does not go through conventional registrars but through a direct procedure with the registry.
In all cases, the application form for restricted extensions, available on registre.ma, must be completed and submitted to the accredited registrar at the time of ordering.
Complete submission procedure via an accredited registrar
Step 1
Check name availability and consult the ANRT's published list of reserved terms before placing the order. If the name contains a reserved term, prepare the corresponding prior examination form.
Step 2
Choose a registrar on the official list of ANRT-accredited providers. Verify that the registrar offers an online document submission interface — some still require submission by email.
Step 3
Place the order on the registrar's platform. The domain is immediately reserved in your name and moves to pendingCreate status with the ANRT registry.
Step 4
Gather the documents matching your profile (see table above). Ensure that the information on each document exactly matches the data entered during the order: name, first name, company name, address.
Step 5
Submit the documents in the registrar's client area within 14 days of the order (5 days for a reserved term). Do not wait for a reminder email: the deadline runs from the order date.
Step 6
If your domain contains a reserved term, also complete the ANRT prior examination form and submit it with your documents. The ANRT has 5 business days to render its decision.
Step 7
Track the EPP status in the client area or via a WHOIS query. The transition from pendingCreate to active confirms activation. If the status remains blocked beyond 3 business days after submission, contact your registrar.
Step 8
Verify that the WHOIS details are correct after activation. For .ma, there is no WHOIS privacy option: registrant information is public by regulatory design.
Check before submitting: the mistakes that cost the most
Before finalizing your order, perform these checks to avoid rejection or suspension without refund.
Check the ANRT reserved terms list: registre.ma publishes an indicative list. A domain like moroccan-advisors.ma or morocco-conseil.ma may be blocked from the moment of ordering.
Verify the exact spelling of your company name: if your RC shows 'SARL My Company' and you enter 'My Company SARL' in the form, the match fails.
For associations, check that your deposit receipt clearly states the name used in the domain name. A receipt in the name of a former denomination no longer matches a renamed association.
If you are a foreigner or represent a foreign company, identify your Moroccan administrative contact now — this person will need to provide their own CIN and Moroccan phone number at submission.
For a .ma domain with accented characters based on a trademark, verify that the OMPIC certificate bears exactly the accented term desired — a trademark registered without an accent does not automatically cover the accented version.
Timelines and what to do in case of rejection or suspension
If your domain switches to serverHold, the first step is to contact your registrar to understand the exact reason for the block. The ANRT communicates the decision to the registrar, who must pass it on to you.
Three situations are possible. First: your file is incomplete — a document is missing or illegible. Submit the missing document as soon as possible; the registrar may reopen the procedure according to its internal policy.
Second: the WHOIS information does not match the document provided. You must then either correct the WHOIS data to match the document, or provide a document matching the data entered. Both corrections cannot be made simultaneously without risking additional inconsistency.
Third: your application covers a reserved term and the ANRT has issued a negative decision. In this case, the order is cancelled. Some registrars offer a partial refund; others apply the 'no refund' rule provided for in the charter.
Since November 2025, existing domains registered before July 2024 were also subject to a verification procedure with a deadline set at December 28, 2025. Domains whose holders did not submit compliant documents before that date may be suspended without further notice.
In the absence of a response within the 5-business-day deadline for a reserved term, the domain is released and the order cancelled — you will need to restart the procedure from the beginning.
Manage your supporting documents from the ServOrbit client area
ServOrbit centralizes the management of your .ma domain names in a unified client area. From the moment of order, the interface indicates which documents to submit based on the registrant type you have selected, without having to search the naming charter.
EPP status tracking is displayed in real time: you see your domain move from pendingCreate to active without having to perform a manual WHOIS query. If the ANRT requests additional information, a notification is sent to the email address associated with your account, with the remaining deadline clearly indicated.
For organizations managing multiple .ma domains — agencies, hosting providers, associations with several entities — ServOrbit allows you to attach supporting documents to each registrant separately, preventing files from being mixed up during renewal or transfer. Stored documents are reusable for subsequent applications, provided they remain valid.
