What type of WHOIS record would be acceptable to pass the work verification

Question

Our partner center account has been suspended due to a request to upload proof of employment. What type of WHOIS record would be acceptable to pass the work verification?

Answer 1

For Partner Center employment verification, the WHOIS record itself is acceptable as long as it clearly proves that the email domain used for the primary contact is owned by the same company that is enrolling.

Specifically, an acceptable WHOIS record should:

1. Show the registered domain name that matches the email domain used in Partner Center (for example, if the work email is ******@contoso.com, the WHOIS must be for contoso.com).
2. List the organization/entity name that matches the company name in the Partner Center Legal business profile (no spelling differences or abbreviations).
3. Include registrant or organization details (name and, ideally, address) that align with the company information provided in Partner Center.

Microsoft’s guidance for employment verification explicitly lists “Domain ownership records, such as whois” as acceptable documentation to prove that the email domain is under the ownership of the employer. If the WHOIS output does not clearly show the organization name (for example, if privacy protection hides registrant data), additional documentation such as domain purchase invoices or registry confirmation records may be required.

To prepare the WHOIS proof:

1. Run a WHOIS lookup for the company domain (for example, using a tool like whois or a similar service).
2. Capture the full output showing:
   • Domain name
   • Registrant/organization name
   • Contact or address details (if visible)
3. Save it as a PDF or screenshot and upload it in the Partner Center verification flow as “Domain ownership records (WHOIS).”

If employment verification was already rejected, submit the WHOIS record together with any other domain ownership evidence (domain invoice, registry confirmation, or assignment letter) to strengthen the case.

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References:

• Verify your account information when you enroll in a new Partner Center program
• Verify your company account information
• Whois v1.21
• Partner Center account settings
• What is the “Know Your Business Customer” requirement for company accounts?