A client's domain expired: grace, redemption and how to get it back
Updated 21 October 2026
What the rules say (gTLDs like .com)
- Registrars may delete an expired registration any time after expiry, but must interrupt its DNS resolution for at least the last eight days that the registrant can still renew it, and any parking page must say it's expired and how to renew.
- After deletion, gTLD registries must offer a 30-day Redemption Grace Period in which the registrant can restore it, usually for a fee.
Timelines differ by registrar
| Registrar | Documented post-expiry behaviour |
|---|---|
| GoDaddy | Parked at +5 days; final auto-renew attempt +12; redemption fee from +18; expired-domain auction listing from +26. |
| Namecheap | About 30 days to renew at the regular rate for gTLDs; then possible auction or 30-day RGP, then 5-day PendingDelete. |
| Cloudflare | Resolves normally days 1–30; suspension page 31–40; redemption 41–70; pending delete 71–75. |
ccTLDs often have their own rules; check the registrar's page for that TLD.
What to do now
- Look up the domain's status and registrar (our bulk lookup shows both).
- Find who can log into that registrar account. If it's the client, call them, because email on that domain may be down too.
- Renew immediately; if it's already in redemption, ask the registrar for the restore price.
- Once restored, check DNS, email (MX) and the SSL certificate.
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Sources
- ICANN Expired Registration Recovery Policy (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- ICANN: Implementation of the ERRP (30-day Redemption Grace Period) (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- GoDaddy Help: Standard domain expiration timeline (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- Namecheap KB: TLDs' grace periods (checked 21 Oct 2026)
- Cloudflare Registrar docs: FAQ (what happens when a domain expires) (checked 21 Oct 2026)
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