A domain does not disappear on the day it expires, but it stops working straight away and gets harder to recover the longer you wait. Here is the timeline.
On this page
📘 The short version
Renew before the expiry date. If you missed it, renew as soon as you can. For about 30 days after expiry you can still renew at the normal price. After that the domain can no longer be renewed.
On the expiry date
- Your website and the email addresses on that domain stop working.
- The domain’s nameservers are reset, so visitors see an “expired” page instead of your site.
- The domain is still yours to renew.
Stage 1: Renewal grace period (about 30 days)
For about 30 days after the expiry date you can renew the domain at the normal renewal price. The exact length depends on the domain extension. Once the renewal is approved, the domain is restored and your nameservers are put back.
Do not wait for the last day. An expired domain can be offered to other buyers during this time.
Stage 2: After the grace period
Once the grace period ends, the domain can no longer be renewed. It is held by the registry for several weeks, and during that time nobody can register it.
Stage 3: Released
After the holding time the domain is released to the public. From then on it has to be registered again as a new domain, and anyone can register it first.
At a glance
| Stage | When | Can you renew? | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before expiry | Up to the expiry date | Yes | Normal renewal price |
| Renewal grace period | About 30 days after expiry | Yes | Normal renewal price |
| After the grace period | Several weeks | No | Not available |
| Released | After the holding time ends | No | Must be registered again as new, if still available |
What about my hosting?
Hosting has its own expiry date and its own invoice. It is suspended 3 days after it expires. If your domain and hosting fall due on the same date, they may be on one invoice. See How to Renew Your Hosting or Domain.
How to avoid this
- Renewal notices start 30 days before expiry, by SMS and email. Keep the phone number and email on your account up to date. See How to Change the Owner or Contact Details of a Domain or Account.
- Pay the renewal invoice a few days early, because renewal payments are approved by our team and can take up to 24 hours.
