Expired Registration Recovery Policy (ERRP) Compliance Statement
On Aug. 31, 2013, ICANN will adopt the Expired Registration Recovery Policy (ERRP), which requires registrars to disclose important information to Registrants and prospective customers about expiration notices, fees, and redemption procedures.
All required information and disclosures currently exist in various locations throughout our website. However, as an aid to Registrants, this article contains links to all required elements in the new policy.
What happens after domain names expire?
Once a domain name expires, it goes through many stages before being released to the open market. We send five renewal emails to the domain name's administrative contact prior to the expiration date. Below is a timeline based on .com domain names.
NOTE: These timelines do not apply to ccTLD and gTLD domain names.
| Days after expiration | Action |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | We make the first of three billing attempts to renew the domain name. If the billing fails, the domain name expires. The domain name can be renewed by the registrant at no extra cost. |
| Day 5 | We make the second billing attempt. If the billing fails again, the domain name is parked. The domain name can still be renewed by the registrant at no extra cost. |
| Day 12 | We make the third and final attempt to renew the domain name. The domain name can still be renewable by the registrant at no extra cost. |
| Day 19 | The domain name can be renewed by the registrant for the cost of a one-year renewal plus an $80 redemption fee. |
| Day 26 | We add the domain name to an expired domain name auction. |
| Day 36 | The expired domain name auction ends. If there are no backorders and no bidders in the expired domain name auction, we list the domain name in a closeout auction. |
| Day 41 | The closeout auction ends. |
| Day 43 | We assign the domain name to the winner of the expired domain name auction, backorder, or closeout. If there are no bidders, we return the domain name to the registry. |
Note: A registrant can renew an expired domain name at no extra cost up to day 12. If they renew an expired domain name anytime between day 13 and day 60, they must also pay an $80 redemption fee. The domain name cannot be renewed after day 42.
What is your process for handling expired domain names?
The process we, the registrar, follow for expired domain names depends on your domain name extensions and their renewal settings. Prior to expiration, we send multiple emails to remind you to renew your domain names.
If you set your domain names to automatically renew, we attempt to renew the registrations for you the day after expiration. If we are unable to bill you, we park your expired domain names after 5 days and notify you via email again.
If you set your domain names to manually renew and you let your domain names expire, we notify you via email again the day after expiration. We park your expired domain names after 5 days.
For expired .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, .us, .ws, .name, .cc, .mobi, .me, or .tv domain name registrations, we hold your domain name for approximately 42 days before canceling it. Domain name renewal during this period is subject to applicable renewal and redemption fees. For more information, see What happens after domain names expire? and Recovering Expired Domain Names.
Automatic Renewal
If you set the domain name to automatic renewal, when your domain name registration expires, we take the following steps before canceling it:
- On the day after your domain name registration's expiration date, we attempt to bill you for the domain name renewal. If we cannot renew the domain name (for example, your card on file expired), we notify you of the domain name registration's expiration and park your domain name. You can manually renew your domain name.
- On the 5th and 12th days after expiration, we email you additional notifications. You can manually renew your domain name.
- On the 19th day after expiration, your domain name remains on hold but becomes subject to a redemption fee. You can call customer support to renew your domain name, subject to any applicable renewal and redemption fees.
- On the 25th day after expiration, we put your domain name up for auction with a domain name industry auction service. You can manually renew your domain name, subject to any applicable renewal and redemption fees.
- On the 42nd day after expiration, we cancel your domain name. We delete all services associated with the domain name.
The registry might hold the domain name before releasing it for general registration.
Manual Renewal
If you did not set your domain names to automatically renew, when your domain name registration expires, we proceed with the following steps before canceling it:
- On the day after your domain name registration's expiration date, we notify you of the domain name registration's expiration and park your domain name. You can manually renew your domain name.
- On the 5th and 12th days after expiration, we email you additional notifications. You can manually renew your domain name.
- On the 19th day after expiration, your domain name remains on hold but becomes subject to a redemption fee. You can manually renew your domain name, subject to any applicable renewal and redemption fees.
- On the 25th day after expiration, we put your domain name up for auction with a domain name industry auction service. You can manually renew your domain name, subject to any applicable renewal and redemption fees.
- On the 42nd day after expiration, we cancel your domain name. We delete all services associated with the domain name.
The registry might hold the domain name before releasing it for general registration.
For information on manually renewing your domain names, see Manual renewal.
Recovering Expired Domain Names
You can attempt to recover expired top-level domain names (TLDs) during the renewal grace and registry redemption periods. In addition to the cost of renewal, you might be required to pay a fee for the domain name recovery. For more information, see Can I renew my domain name after it expires?
To Recover Expired Domain Names
- Log in to your Account Manager.
- Next to Domains, click Manage.
- From the Domains menu, select Expired Domains.
- Select the domain names you want to recover.
- Click Recover.
- Select the renewal length for the domain names, and then click Next.
NOTE: Renewal lengths for multiple domain names can vary depending on maximum renewal lengths allowed by each domain name registry.
- (Optional) Select the registration and website options you want to apply to your domain name renewals.
- Complete the checkout process.
To view your domain name's redemption fee, click here.
Registrant Rights & Responsibilities Under the 2009 RAA
ICANN Registrant Benefits & Responsibilities (2013)
