Domain administrator identification through Gosuslugi
The registrar has opened identification through Gosuslugi / ESIA for domains registered to individuals — it can be completed today. A practical guide to who the new .RU, .РФ, and .SU rules affect, how to complete identification step by step, what organizations should do for now, and why there is no need to rush before September 1.
- why there is no September 1 deadline
- how to check the administrator
- when an owner change is needed
Domain administrator
Identification
A .RU, .РФ, or .SU domain registered to an individual can be identified through Gosuslugi today, on the registrar page.
How to do itThe person or organization listed as the domain administrator with the registrar must complete the check, not just the website or hosting owner.
No date by itself takes a website offline. But once the new rules are switched on, important operations become unavailable without identification — including DNS record changes.
UNVERIFIED is a reason to check the administrator details, renewal date, and access to Gosuslugi.
How to checkWho is affected
Mandatory administrator identification for .RU, .РФ, and .SU domains
The new requirements matter for everyone who owns domains in the Russian .RU, .РФ, and .SU zones: individuals, sole proprietors, Russian companies, and some foreign domain holders.
If a website uses .com, .net, .org, or another international zone, this specific requirement does not directly apply to that domain. But if a company has even one .ru, .рф, or .su domain, it should be checked separately.
The main Russian domain zone for websites, companies, and personal projects.
The Cyrillic national domain zone, where administrator identification will also be required.
.SU is included in the new requirements and should be checked separately.
Key term
Who the domain administrator is and why it matters
The domain administrator is not necessarily the person who pays for hosting, receives email from Siteko, or has website access. It is the person or organization the domain name is registered to with the registrar and in the registry.
The administrator must complete the confirmation
After mandatory identification is introduced, the domain can be confirmed through Gosuslugi by the domain administrator listed with the registrar, not by an informal website owner.
Risk: the domain is not registered to you
A company may own the website and pay for hosting, while the domain in the registry is registered to a former employee, developer, or contractor. It is better to fix this before the deadline.
Change domain administratorWhen the new rules start
What changes for domain owners
The exact switchover date is not set: September 1, 2026 was an expected deadline, and the registrar states plainly that the switch has been postponed. The main practical risk for a website owner is not the date, but being unable to perform an important domain action when it is needed.
If a domain cannot be renewed, the website and email may stop working after the registration term ends. After the recovery period, the domain may be deleted and become available for registration again.
Without identification, these operations may become unavailable
- new domain registration;
- renewal of an existing domain;
- domain administrator change;
- registrar change;
- changing the domain DNS settings;
- some other operations that require domain owner confirmation.
Available now
How to complete identification through Gosuslugi
Identification already works for domains registered to individuals. The Webnames registrar connected to ESIA as a hosting provider, and a hosting provider may confirm the details of private persons only. Organizations will be able to complete identification later — once the government adopts the required regulations and the Ministry of Digital Development opens ESIA access to registrars.
There is no need to transfer the domain or create an account with the registrar. The confirmation link is sent to the email address in the domain profile — the same one shown in the Siteko account on the Registrar contacts tab. If that address is outdated, update it first, otherwise the email with the link goes nowhere.
There is no mandatory “before September 1” deadline. September 1, 2026 was an expected date for the rule change, and the switch has already been postponed indefinitely: identification can be completed later, and for now all domain operations follow the previous rules.
What to remember
- the confirmation is completed by the domain administrator — the person the domain is registered to;
- identification does not work for organizations yet, and that is not a problem on your side;
- a confirmed Gosuslugi account is required — a simplified one will not do;
- the link is sent to the email address in the domain profile, so check it in advance;
- Gosuslugi login and password must not be shared with anyone, including support;
- Siteko cannot complete identification instead of the client.
WHOIS and Gosuslugi
What UNVERIFIED means and whether Gosuslugi identification replaces it
For many .RU, .РФ, and .SU domains, WHOIS may show a status like REGISTERED, DELEGATED, UNVERIFIED. This does not mean the domain is broken, but it is a reason to check the administrator details.
How to checkUNVERIFIED / VERIFIED
The current document verification status with the registrar. UNVERIFIED means the owner details have not yet passed document verification.
Identification through Gosuslugi
A new ESIA-based procedure. The old VERIFIED status should not be treated as a substitute for future identification through Gosuslugi.
The old VERIFIED status should not be treated as a replacement for future domain administrator identification through ESIA. Even if the details were previously confirmed with documents, the new procedure may still require a separate confirmation through Gosuslugi.
Documents now or later
Do all UNVERIFIED domains need urgent old-style verification?
Not always. The right decision depends on whether the correct administrator is listed with the registrar and whether their details differ from what Gosuslugi will confirm.
If everything is in order
- the administrator is listed correctly;
- the full name and date of birth match the passport, and an organization has the correct INN;
- there is access to a confirmed Gosuslugi account;
- the email in the domain profile works — the identification link goes there;
- no urgent owner or registrar change is planned for the domain.
If there is risk
- there is a typo in the administrator full name;
- an individual has changed their first name, last name, patronymic, or date of birth;
- an organization received a new INN after reorganization;
- the profile lists an outdated email — the identification link goes there;
- the domain needs to be transferred to another administrator;
- the registrar has already requested documents;
- the domain is registered to an employee, contractor, or former website owner.
What is actually matched
Which details matter for identification and which do not
Gosuslugi confirms a few key details rather than the whole profile. Because of that, some of the usual reasons to rush documents to the registrar do not affect identification at all.
Affects the result
- the first name, last name, and patronymic of an individual administrator;
- the administrator date of birth;
- the INN of an organization administrator.
Does not matter, no documents needed
- a new passport;
- a change of registered or residential address;
- a change of the organization name;
- a change of the legal address;
- a change of the organization director.
If the full name or date of birth has changed, the registrar will still need documents: without them the profile will not match the data from Gosuslugi.
Action plan
How to prepare for domain identification through Gosuslugi
The checklist helps find risky domains in advance — those where identification runs into the wrong administrator, outdated details, or a dead email in the domain profile.
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1
Make a list of domains
Collect all domains used for the website, email, CRM, advertising, personal projects, and corporate services.
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2
Mark .RU, .РФ, and .SU
These are the domain zones that should be prepared for mandatory administrator identification through Gosuslugi.
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3
Check WHOIS and UNVERIFIED
If WHOIS shows UNVERIFIED, carefully check the administrator details and group domains by risk level.
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4
Check the administrator
If the domain was registered through Siteko, open the domains section in your account and check who the registrar lists as the owner.
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5
Check the email in the domain profile
This is where the identification link goes. If the address is outdated, update the owner contact through the Siteko account — on the domain page, Registrar contacts tab.
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6
Prepare Gosuslugi access
Individuals and sole proprietors need a confirmed account. Companies need a correct organization account and an employee with the right authority.
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7
Complete identification if the domain belongs to an individual
There is nothing to wait for: identification already works for domains registered to individuals. Organizations only need to check their details and wait until it opens for them.
How to check
Where to view the domain administrator and confirmation status
If the domain was registered through Siteko, use the step-by-step guide: open the domains section in your account, check the domain card, and open the registrar contacts tab. It shows who is listed as the administrator and which details should be checked before identification.
Domain priority
How to determine the risk level
Not every domain requires the same urgency. Sort domains by risk level and start with those that could be lost because the administrator is wrong or the details cannot be confirmed.
Low risk
The domain is registered to the correct administrator, details are current, Gosuslugi access is available, and no urgent operations are planned.
Medium risk
The domain is UNVERIFIED, but the administrator is correct. There are doubts about exactly the details Gosuslugi checks: full name, date of birth, or the organization INN.
High risk
The domain is registered to an employee, developer, contractor, former website owner, or old organization.
Critical risk
The administrator details are fake, belong to someone else, or materially do not match the real website owner.
What to do if the domain details are fake
If fake, third-party, or random administrator details were used during registration, the situation is extremely difficult. Those details cannot be confirmed by document scans or by the new Gosuslugi identification procedure.
The real website owner passport will not confirm a fake name, someone else passport details, or a non-existent administrator. Gosuslugi will not fix that profile either: ESIA confirms real person or organization details, it does not replace one domain administrator with another.
Do not confuse this with a normal error
A typo in a name, an old passport, a changed surname, an inaccurate address, or a connection to a real person or organization is not the same as fully fake data. In that case, it is worth investigating, preparing documents, and contacting the registrar.
But if the details were invented and have no connection to the real website owner, they cannot be confirmed. Treat that domain as a critical risk area in advance, not as a support issue that can be resolved quickly.
What Siteko can do now
Identification is completed by the domain administrator on the Gosuslugi side. But everything around it is our job.
- give a direct identification link for your domain;
- tell you which email address the confirmation link goes to;
- help update the email and phone in the domain profile at the registrar;
- help understand who is currently the domain administrator;
- explain UNVERIFIED status and how it differs from ESIA identification;
- advise when a domain administrator change is needed.
In the Siteko account, on the domain information page, the Registrar contacts tab may allow changing the email address and phone number for owner/admin contacts at the registrar. This is useful if the domain administrator is correct, but contact details are outdated. The Gosuslugi identification link is sent to that email address, which makes keeping it current doubly important.
This does not change the domain administrator, confirm the owner identity, or correct registration details such as full name, passport, INN, or OGRN. If those details or the administrator itself need to change, a separate registrar procedure is required.
What Siteko cannot do for the client
Identification through Gosuslugi is a personal confirmation by the domain administrator. It cannot be completed for another person or organization.
- log in to Gosuslugi instead of the client;
- open identification for organizations earlier than the registrar does;
- confirm administrator identity without their participation;
- correct data in Gosuslugi;
- legally change the domain administrator without the registrar procedure;
- replace fake or third-party administrator details with real ones without verification;
- guarantee successful identification when the details do not match.
Common situations
Important cases before domain identification
These situations are the most common and affect the risk in different ways.
The domain is UNVERIFIED, but the details are correct
This is not the most dangerous situation. If the administrator is correct, the details are current, and a confirmed Gosuslugi account is available, you can wait for the official procedure.
The domain is registered to an individual, while the website belongs to a company
For a business, this may be risky. It is worth discussing a transfer to a legal entity or to a responsible person with clear authority.
The domain is registered to a former employee
That person will need to complete identification through their own Gosuslugi account or take part in the rights transfer. The later you start, the harder it is to find them and reach an agreement.
The domain is registered to a developer or web studio
Access to the website, CMS, or hosting does not mean domain ownership. If the domain is important for the business, it should be transferred to the actual owner.
The domain is registered to a foreign company
Foreign organizations will not be able to complete identification through Gosuslugi — no mechanism exists for them. There is one way out: transfer the domain to an individual with a confirmed account, or to a Russian branch or representative office.
The administrator details are fake
This is the most difficult case. Such a domain may fail both old-style document verification and future identification through Gosuslugi.
Step by step
How domain administrator identification works
Your Gosuslugi password is never passed anywhere: authentication happens on the Gosuslugi side, and the registrar receives only the details needed to match the domain profile.
How to check the result
Enter the domain name on the same registrar page: “Details already confirmed” means identification is done, a “Confirm” button means it is not. The link can be requested again. If the email does not arrive within an hour, or there is no access to the profile email address, contact Siteko support — we will help.
Open the identification page-
1
Open the registrar identification page and enter the domain name — the service shows whether identification is already done.
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2
Click “Confirm”, enter the captcha, and send the link — it goes to the email address in the domain profile.
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3
Open the email and click the “Complete identification” button inside it.
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4
Sign in to Gosuslugi with the confirmed account of the domain administrator.
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5
Allow the registrar information system to receive the details required for identification.
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6
The result appears immediately: a green success message or a red one explaining the reason.
Security
How to avoid phishing
The topic is new and sensitive, so phishing emails and fake pages may appear around it. Do not rush to enter data through a link in an email if you are not sure about the source.
- the official identification page is on the registrar website webnames.ru;
- do not enter your Gosuslugi password on suspicious websites;
- do not follow suspicious links from emails or messengers;
- do not send document scans to unknown recipients;
- check that the link leads to the official registrar or Gosuslugi service;
- if in doubt, contact Siteko support first.
Short checklist
What the domain owner should check
If there is doubt on even one item, it is better to resolve it in advance rather than at the moment of domain renewal.
FAQ
FAQ about domain identification through Gosuslugi
How do I complete domain identification through Gosuslugi?
If the domain is registered to an individual, enter the domain name on the registrar identification page, click “Confirm”, and send the link. It arrives at the email address in the domain profile; from that email you go to Gosuslugi, sign in with a confirmed account, and allow the details to be sent. The result appears immediately. There is no need to transfer the domain or create an account with the registrar.
My domain is registered to a company. What should I do?
Nothing for now. The registrar connected to ESIA as a hosting provider, which allows confirming the details of individuals only. Identification for organizations will open once the government adopts the required regulations and the Ministry of Digital Development admits registrars to ESIA. Until then, company domains are registered, renewed, and maintained under the previous rules — check the INN and email in the profile and wait.
How do I check whether identification succeeded?
Enter the domain name on the registrar identification page. “Details already confirmed” means identification is done; a “Confirm” button means it is not. For company domains the page states that identification for organizations is not available yet.
The identification link did not arrive. What should I do?
The link goes to the email address listed in the domain profile, not to your Siteko account address. Check which address is listed there: in the Siteko account, open the domain page and the Registrar contacts tab. If the address is outdated, it can be updated in the same place. If the email does not arrive within an hour, or you have no access to that mailbox, contact Siteko support and we will help you get the link.
Do I need to do anything today?
If the domain is registered to an individual, you can complete identification today — it takes a few minutes. If it belongs to an organization, check the domain administrator, the INN, the email in the profile, and the readiness of the Gosuslugi account.
If the domain is UNVERIFIED, do I need to urgently confirm it with scans?
Not always. If the details are correct and current, and there are no urgent domain operations, you can wait for the official Gosuslugi identification procedure. But if the details are outdated, contain errors, the domain is registered to another person, or the registrar has requested documents, act now.
Will VERIFIED status replace identification through Gosuslugi?
No. VERIFIED means the details were confirmed with documents at the registrar. Identification through Gosuslugi is a separate ESIA-based procedure that has to be completed regardless of the old status.
Do I need to make it before September 1, 2026?
No. The widespread claim that identification must be completed before September 1 is wrong — the registrar states this plainly. September 1, 2026 was an expected date for the rule change, but the required regulations have not been adopted and the switch is postponed indefinitely. Identification can be completed later, and no website goes offline because a date arrives.
My domain is paid for several years ahead. Do I still need identification?
Yes, it is still worth preparing. Even if renewal is not needed immediately, identification may be required for other operations: administrator change, domain transfer, or data updates.
The domain is in the Siteko panel. Does that mean Siteko owns it?
No. A domain may be shown in the Siteko panel, while the administrator in the registry is an individual, sole proprietor, or organization. Always check the domain administrator listed with the registrar.
Can I complete identification through Siteko already?
Identification is completed by the domain administrator themselves, on the Gosuslugi side, through the registrar page. Siteko provides the direct link and tells you which email address the message goes to, but nobody can complete the confirmation for the client. You do not need to register on the registrar website: domains bought through Siteko are maintained through us.
Can I just move the website to another account?
No. Moving the website, files, email, or hosting does not change the domain administrator. If the legal domain owner needs to change, the registrar administrator change procedure is required.
What should I do if the domain is not registered to me?
First, determine who is listed as the current administrator. If the domain should belong to you or your company, it is worth arranging an administrator change in advance. This may require the current administrator to participate and confirm details with the registrar.
What should I do if the domain has completely wrong details?
Do not wait for Gosuslugi. If the details are fake, belong to someone else, or have no connection to the real website owner, regular verification and future ESIA identification may not help. Contact support as early as possible and clarify possible next steps with the registrar.
Sources
Official pages on this topic
The procedure and the timeline are still being clarified. Before important actions, check the official registrar and Coordination Center pages.
Webnames: .RU, .РФ, and .SU domain registration with Gosuslugi identification
Webnames: Gosuslugi (ESIA) identification page
Webnames: ESIA information for partners
Federal Law No. 569-FZ of December 29, 2025
Webnames: registrar / domain administrator change
Coordination Center for .RU/.РФ: domain market changes from September 1
The key is not to wait until the last day
If the domain is registered to an individual, complete identification now — it takes a few minutes. If it belongs to an organization, check the name, INN, and email in the profile and wait until the registrar opens confirmation for legal entities. And if the domain is registered to another person, contractor, or old organization, start the administrator change in advance.