ANRT tightens .ma domain holder checks: is your domain at risk of ServerHold?

Key facts

ANRT requires every .ma domain to have a verifiable holder. After registration, a 14-day period is granted to submit identification documents through the accredited registrar. If the file remains incomplete or inconsistent, the registry suspends the domain with serverHold status: website, email and DNS become unreachable. Resolution requires submitting compliant documents for the real holder.

ANRT manages the national .ma registry and verifies each holder's identity.

Standard verification deadline: 14 days after registration or notification.

Required documents: national ID (individual), trade register/Modèle 7 (company), passport (foreign holder).

serverHold = ANRT suspension for unverified or incomplete holder file.

pendingCreate = domain awaiting administrative validation by ANRT.

Without regularisation, ANRT may permanently delete the domain name.

Morocco’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) is stepping up efforts to clean up the national .ma registry. Accredited registrars must ensure that each domain holder has submitted the required identification documents to the registry.

If a file remains incomplete after the deadline, the domain can be placed in ServerHold status: the website, email addresses, and related services stop working. Without regularization, ANRT may permanently delete the domain name.

Individuals and companies are both concerned. Here is what to check now.

Why ANRT is reinforcing these controls

The .ma registry depends on accurate, justifiable holder data. Domains registered with incomplete, inconsistent, or undocumented information weaken trust in the national WHOIS and complicate abuse handling, disputes, and transfers.

The current campaign aims to:

bring existing registrations in line with registry requirements;
have missing supporting documents filed through registrars;
suspend — and eventually delete — domains that are not regularized.

This follows the same logic as when you register a .ma domain: the holder must be able to prove their identity (or the company’s identity) within the required timeframe.

What does ServerHold mean?

ServerHold is a suspension imposed by the registry (ANRT). It is not a random DNS glitch at your hosting provider.

When this status appears:

the website no longer resolves correctly (or becomes unreachable);
mailboxes at @yourdomain.ma stop working;
WHOIS shows serverHold;
only a compliant submission of documents for the real holder can lift the block.

Do not confuse it with pendingCreate, which often means a newly created domain has not yet completed administrative validation. ServerHold already means an active suspension.

Who needs to take action?

Anyone holding a .ma domain whose identification file is missing or incomplete with the registry:

individuals (national ID, or passport for a foreign holder);
companies (recent commercial register / Modèle 7, or incorporation documents for a foreign entity);
domains managed through an intermediary: the declared holder still has to be justifiable.

Critical rule: never register a .ma under a straw man or with invented data. ANRT can refuse, suspend, or delete the domain.

How to check whether your .ma is affected

Look up WHOIS on mawhois.com or the .ma registry WHOIS. Watch for serverHold or pendingCreate.
Contact your ANRT-accredited registrar (not an unaccredited reseller) and ask whether the holder documents were filed with the registry.
Prepare documents for the real holder — identity must match the name in WHOIS.
Confirm the deposit with your registrar before the communicated deadline.

If the domain is already in ServerHold, the path is the same: regularize through the registrar, then wait for the registry to clear the status. Our complete .ma guide also covers timelines and required documents.

What to do if you are already in ServerHold

Act quickly:

Confirm the WHOIS status.
Email your accredited registrar’s support with the domain name concerned.
Submit documents for the justifiable holder only.
Keep copies of the documents and the deposit acknowledgment.
Wait for ANRT validation: once ServerHold is removed, the site and email come back online.

If nothing is done in time, the risk is no longer a temporary outage — it is permanent loss of the name.

Best practices to avoid downtime

Always register the .ma under the person or company that can produce the documents.
Reply promptly to registrar emails related to ANRT.
After a domain transfer or holder change, re-check that the new file is complete.
For a new registration, choose an accredited registrar that can follow the document deposit through to completion.

Bottom line

ANRT is reinforcing .ma holder verification to strengthen the national registry. Incomplete files can move to ServerHold and then be deleted. The useful reflex: check WHOIS, confirm document submission with your registrar, and send the real holder’s documents without delay.

Go further: how to buy a .ma domain in Morocco and step-by-step .ma registration.

Frequently asked questions

What is serverHold status on a .ma domain?

serverHold is a suspension imposed by ANRT, not a hosting outage. It means the holder file is incomplete, inconsistent or unverified. The website and @yourdomain.ma email stop working. WHOIS shows serverHold. Only submitting compliant documents for the real holder through the accredited registrar can lift the suspension.

How many days do I have to verify the holder?

ANRT generally allows 14 days after registration or registrar notification to submit supporting documents. This applies to new domains and existing files recalled for compliance. After this deadline without regularisation, the domain may enter serverHold. Act as soon as you receive email from your accredited registrar.

What is the difference between pendingCreate and serverHold?

pendingCreate means a domain was just created and awaits ANRT administrative validation; services may be temporarily limited. serverHold means an active suspension for a non-compliant holder file. In both cases, check WHOIS on mawhois.com, contact your accredited registrar and submit missing documents within 14 days.

What documents does ANRT accept for verification?

For a Moroccan individual: national ID (CIN) with a name matching WHOIS. For a company: trade register and recent Modèle 7 under the legal company name. For a foreign holder: passport or incorporation documents. The accredited registrar submits the file to the registry. Any mismatch between WHOIS name and documents blocks validation.

How can I avoid serverHold on my .ma domain?

Register the domain under the real holder with exact spelling from official documents. Submit ID or trade register/Modèle 7 through your accredited registrar within 14 days. Monitor WHOIS after purchase. Hostino, an ANRT-accredited registrar, helps with document submission and holder file tracking to secure your .ma.