Domain Expiry, Grace Periods, Redemption & Drop Lifecycle
When a domain name reaches its expiration date without being renewed, it does not become immediately available for public registration. Instead, generic top-level domains (gTLDs such as .com, .net, and .org) follow a multi-stage lifecycle governed by ICANN policies and registry rules.
Standard gTLD Expiration Timeline
While exact durations vary by registrar terms and country-code registries (ccTLDs), standard ICANN-regulated gTLDs generally follow these stages:
| Stage | Typical Window | EPP Status Code | What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Active Registration | 1 to 10 years | ok / clientTransferProhibited | Domain resolves normally. The registrant can renew or update DNS at any time. |
| 2. Auto-Renew Grace Period | 0 to 45 days post-expiry | autoRenewPeriod / clientHold | The registry temporarily extends the registration to the registrar. Most registrars park or suspend DNS resolution (clientHold) after expiration while allowing the current registrant to renew at standard or late renewal rates. |
| 3. Redemption Grace Period (RGP) | 30 days | redemptionPeriod | If the registrar deletes the expired domain, it enters the 30-day Redemption Grace Period at the registry. All DNS resolution stops. The original registrant can still restore the domain, typically by paying a registry redemption fee plus renewal. |
| 4. Pending Delete | 5 days | pendingDelete | Once the 30-day RGP ends without restoration, the domain enters pendingDelete for 5 calendar days. During this stage, the domain cannot be renewed or restored by anyone. At the end of the 5th day, the registry purges the record and releases the name for general registration ("the drop"). |
Key EPP Status Codes to Watch in WHOIS / RDAP
clientTransferProhibited: Standard registrar lock that prevents unauthorized domain transfers to another registrar.clientDeleteProhibited/serverDeleteProhibited: Prevents accidental or unauthorized deletion of the domain name.clientHold/serverHold: The domain is excluded from the TLD zone file and will not resolve in DNS—commonly applied immediately after expiry or during verification holds.
Country-Code TLD (ccTLD) Differences
Country-code registries (such as .uk, .de, .jp, or .io) set their own expiration and suspension schedules independently of ICANN gTLD policy. Always inspect the live WHOIS / RDAP output and your registrar's terms for exact renewal deadlines.