Important: Don't Lose Your Domain — Understanding the domain lifecycle is crucial to preventing loss of your domain name. Please read this policy carefully and enable auto-renewal to avoid accidental expiration.
Overview
Domain names go through several distinct phases during their lifetime, from initial registration through potential expiration and deletion. This policy explains each phase and what you can expect during each stage.
The timeline and procedures described here apply to most gTLDs (generic top-level domains) like .com, .net, .org, etc. Some TLDs may have different timelines or procedures as determined by their respective registry operators.
Domain Lifecycle Phases
1. Active Registration
Duration: From registration date until expiration date
Status: Active and fully functional
During this phase, your domain is active and fully under your control. You can:
- Use the domain for websites, email, and other services
- Update DNS settings and nameservers
- Modify contact information
- Transfer the domain to another registrar (after 60 days from registration)
- Renew the domain for additional years
- Enable or disable privacy protection
Best Practice: Enable Auto-Renewal — We strongly recommend enabling auto-renewal to prevent accidental expiration. You can manage auto-renewal settings in your account dashboard.
2. Expiring Soon (30 Days Before)
Duration: 30 days before expiration date
Status: Active with expiration warnings
We will send renewal reminder emails starting 30 days before your domain expires:
- First reminder: 30 days before expiration
- Second reminder: 14 days before expiration
- Final reminder: 7 days before expiration
- Day-of reminder: On the expiration date
Action Required: Renew your domain before the expiration date to avoid service interruption.
3. Auto-Renew Grace Period (Days 0-30)
Duration: 30 days after expiration
Status: Expired but renewable at standard price
Domain Expired - Action Required! — Your domain has expired. Services may be disrupted. Renew immediately to restore full functionality.
During the grace period:
- Your domain may stop resolving (websites and email may stop working)
- You can still renew at the standard renewal price
- No additional fees are charged during this period
- Domain transfers to other registrars are not permitted
- DNS and nameserver changes are not allowed
Recommended Action: Renew your domain as soon as possible to avoid entering the redemption period.
4. Redemption Period (Days 30-60)
Duration: 30 days (from day 30 to day 60 after expiration)
Status: Redeemable with additional fees
Redemption Period - High Recovery Costs! — Your domain is in the redemption period. Significant fees apply to restore it. See our Redemption Fee Schedule.
During the redemption period:
- Your domain is no longer active and does not resolve
- All services (website, email) are completely non-functional
- The domain can only be restored by paying redemption fees
- Redemption fees are significantly higher than standard renewal
- Transfers to other registrars are not permitted
- No changes to domain settings are allowed
Redemption Costs: Redemption fees include both registry charges and OrbitFour processing fees. See our Redemption Fee Schedule for current pricing.
Critical Action: Contact support immediately at [email protected] to initiate redemption.
5. Pending Delete (Days 60-75)
Duration: Approximately 15 days (from day 60 to day 75 after expiration)
Status: Scheduled for deletion, cannot be recovered
Domain Cannot Be Recovered — Your domain is scheduled for deletion and cannot be recovered by the current owner. The domain will be released for public registration soon.
During the pending delete period:
- The domain cannot be renewed, restored, or transferred
- No changes of any kind can be made to the domain
- The domain is completely non-functional
- The domain will be deleted and released for public registration
Important: Once a domain enters pending delete status, you will need to re-register it after deletion if you wish to regain ownership. However, there is no guarantee you will be able to register it, as it will be available to the public.
6. Deleted and Available
When: Approximately 75 days after original expiration
Status: Deleted and available for public registration
After deletion:
- The domain is removed from the registry
- The domain becomes available for anyone to register
- All previous ownership and settings are erased
- You may attempt to re-register the domain, but availability is not guaranteed
- The domain may be registered by someone else immediately
Note: High-value domains are often targeted by automated systems and may be registered within seconds of deletion. If you lose a valuable domain, it may be very difficult or expensive to recover.
Timeline Summary
| Days After Expiration | Phase | Status | Can Renew? | Additional Fees? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -∞ to 0 | Active Registration | Active | Yes | No |
| 0 to 30 | Grace Period | Expired | Yes | No |
| 30 to 60 | Redemption Period | Redemption | Yes (Restore) | Yes (High) |
| 60 to 75 | Pending Delete | Pending Delete | No | N/A |
| 75+ | Deleted | Available | No (Re-register) | N/A |
TLD-Specific Variations
While most generic TLDs (.com, .net, .org, etc.) follow the timeline described above, some TLDs may have different policies:
- Some ccTLDs (country-code TLDs) may not have a redemption period
- Some new gTLDs may have shorter or longer grace and redemption periods
- Premium domains may have different renewal and redemption policies
- Registry-reserved domains may have special lifecycle rules
Always check the specific policies for your TLD. If you have questions, contact our support team at [email protected].
Best Practices
✓ Do This
- Enable auto-renewal for important domains
- Keep your contact information and payment methods up to date
- Monitor your registered email address for renewal notices
- Set calendar reminders for domain expiration dates
- Renew domains well before expiration
- Consider multi-year registrations for important domains
✗ Don't Do This
- Don't wait until the last day to renew
- Don't ignore renewal reminder emails
- Don't let domains expire if you want to keep them
- Don't assume you can easily recover an expired domain
- Don't use an email address you don't check for domain contacts
- Don't forget to update payment methods before they expire
Need Help? — If you have questions about the domain lifecycle or need assistance with renewal or restoration, contact our support team at [email protected].
Related Resources
- Redemption Fee Schedule - Current fees for domain restoration
- Domain Registration Agreement - Full terms and conditions
- Registrant Rights and Benefits - Your rights as a domain registrant
- Manage Your Domains - View and manage your domain portfolio
Last Updated: June 18, 2026