Registration
Domain Expiration, Grace Periods and Deletion
An expiration date is the start of a process, not the end of a domain. This guide walks through what usually happens after a domain expires, why two expiration dates can appear for the same domain, and why a passed date does not mean the name is free.
The short answer
When a registration reaches its expiration date, most registries renew it automatically and give the registrar a grace window to collect payment or reverse the renewal. If the registrant does not renew, the registrar deletes the domain, which puts it into a redemption period where it can still be restored for a fee. Only after a final pending delete stage does the name become available to register again.
The exact length of each stage depends on the registry and the registrar, so the same expiration date can lead to very different timelines for different domains.
A typical timeline for generic TLDs
For most generic top-level domains such as .com, .net and .org, the stages look like this. Country-code domains often follow their own rules, and some skip stages entirely.
| Stage | Status code | Usual length | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expiration | — | The date itself | The paid term ends. Many registrars stop the domain resolving around now, often by parking it. |
| Auto-renew grace | autoRenewPeriod | Up to 45 days at the registry | The registry has renewed the domain. The registrar can still reverse that renewal, for example when the registrant does not pay. Registrars set their own, often shorter, renewal window for customers. |
| Redemption | redemptionPeriod | About 30 days | The registrar has deleted the domain. The registrant can restore it through the registrar, usually for a fee. The domain is normally out of DNS. |
| Pending delete | pendingDelete | About 5 days | When pendingDelete appears on its own, redemption has ended and the domain can no longer be restored. When it is released depends on the registry. Some registries also show pendingDelete during redemption, together with redemptionPeriod or pendingRestore; in that combination a restore is usually still possible. |
| Available | — | — | Anyone can register the name, often within seconds through drop-catching services. |
ICANN describes these stages in its generic TLD lifecycle pages, and registrars publish their own renewal and restore terms.
Why there can be two expiration dates
RDAP can publish an expiration date from the registry and another from the registrar. Website Recon shows both when they differ, labelled Expires (registry) and Expires (registrar).
They usually differ because the registry auto-renewed the domain at expiry, which moved its date forward a year, while the registrar’s date still shows when the customer’s paid term ends. The registrar’s date is often the better guide to when the registrant has to act. If the dates differ by a year and the earlier one has passed, the domain may be in its renewal grace window.
What a passed expiration date does not mean
- It does not mean the domain is deleted. It may be in auto-renew grace or redemption, and the registrant can usually still get it back.
- It does not mean the domain is available. It cannot be registered until the registry releases it after pending delete.
- It does not always mean the owner forgot. Some registries only update the date after a renewal has fully processed, and some publish a date that is not the one the registrar bills against.
An expired domain that still has mail or links pointing at it is valuable to attackers once it drops. If a domain you rely on is close to expiry, tell its owner rather than waiting for it to lapse.
Watching an expiration date
The Dates section of the Website Recon registration card shows the creation, expiration, update and transfer dates, with how long ago or how soon each one is. On the paid plan, Track this domain keeps a registration history and can send email alerts 60, 30 and 7 days before expiry, and whenever the registration changes. See registration tracking for how the checks run.
FAQ
Can I still renew a domain after it expires?
Usually yes, during the registrar’s renewal window. During redemption it can usually be restored, often for a higher fee. Once redemption has ended and only pending delete remains, it cannot be restored. Check the full status list first: pending delete shown together with redemptionPeriod or pendingRestore still means redemption.
Why does an expired domain still resolve?
Registries usually renew the domain automatically at expiry, so it stays delegated until the registrar removes it. What it serves may change: many registrars point expired domains at a parking page.
When exactly will an expired domain become available?
It depends on the registry, the registrar and whether the registrant restores it. The stages above give a rough guide for generic TLDs, but only the registry knows the exact release time.
Sources and further reading
- ICANN: Life cycle of a typical gTLD domain name
- ICANN: Expired Registration Recovery Policy (ERRP): the renewal and restore rules gTLD registrars must follow
- ICANN: EPP Status Codes, What Do They Mean, and Why Should I Know?: including how pendingDelete combines with redemptionPeriod
- RFC 3915: Domain Registry Grace Period Mapping for EPP