Expired Domain Renewal, Redemption, and Auction Policy

Effective Date: 2026.4.7

This Expired Domain Renewal, Redemption, and Auction Policy (the “Policy”) forms part of the NiceNIC Registration Service Agreement and applies to domain names registered, renewed, transferred, or maintained through NiceNIC. By using NiceNIC’s domain registration services, you acknowledge and agree to this Policy.

1. Scope and Purpose

1.1 This Policy explains the general post-expiration process that may apply to domain names managed through NiceNIC, including expiration, renewal, redemption, expired domain auction, pending delete status, and release of a domain name back to the public registration pool.

1.2 Domain lifecycle timing may vary depending on the top-level domain (“TLD”), registry rules, registry operator practices, applicable ICANN requirements, and other governing policies. Not all TLDs follow the same expiration, redemption, auction, or deletion process.

1.3 In the event of any inconsistency between this Policy and the applicable registry’s rules or mandatory ICANN policy, the applicable registry rules and mandatory policy requirements shall prevail.

1.4 The English-language version of this Policy shall control. Any translation is provided for convenience only. In the event of any inconsistency, the English-language version shall prevail.

2. Definitions

For purposes of this Policy:

2.1 “Expiration Date” means the date on which a domain name registration term ends.

2.2 “Grace Period” means any post-expiration period during which renewal may still be possible at the standard renewal fee, subject to the applicable TLD and registry rules.

2.3 “Redemption Grace Period” or “RGP” means the post-deletion recovery period, where available, during which an expired domain name may still be restorable for an additional redemption fee plus the applicable renewal fee.

2.4 “Pending Delete” means the final pre-release stage, where applicable, during which the domain name can no longer be renewed, restored, modified, or transferred.

2.5 “Eligible Domain” means a domain name that is subject to NiceNIC’s expired domain auction process. Not all TLDs or expired domain names are eligible for auction.

2.6 “Expired Domain Auction” means the expired-domain sale process that may apply to certain expired domain names before final deletion or release.

2.7 “Closeout Auction” means the final sale phase for certain Eligible Domains that were not sold earlier in the expired domain auction process.

3. Effect of Expiration

3.1 Upon expiration, a domain name may stop resolving, and any website, email service, or other service associated with the domain name may cease functioning immediately or shortly thereafter.

3.2 Following expiration, NiceNIC may restrict changes to the domain name, including DNS changes, contact updates, transfers, or other account-level actions, in accordance with registry rules, security measures, operational requirements, or the expired-domain process then in effect.

3.3 Expiration does not mean that the domain name immediately becomes available to the public. Depending on the applicable TLD and registry rules, the domain name may pass through one or more stages, including grace period, auction, redemption, pending delete, and eventual release.

4. Renewal Notices and Customer Responsibility

4.1 NiceNIC may send renewal reminders and expiration-related notices before and after expiration, as required by applicable policy or as part of NiceNIC’s standard operational process.

4.2 It is your sole responsibility to maintain accurate and current account and contact information, including your email address, and to monitor the status of your domain names.

4.3 Failure to receive a renewal notice, reminder, invoice, or other communication shall not relieve you of responsibility for renewing your domain name before expiration.

4.4 If auto-renewal is enabled, successful renewal remains subject to valid payment, operational processing, and the applicable registry rules. NiceNIC does not guarantee successful auto-renewal in every case.

5. Standard Post-Expiration Renewal

5.1 For many generic TLDs, an expired domain name may remain renewable for approximately thirty (30) days after the Expiration Date at the standard renewal fee. This is a general reference only and may vary by TLD.

5.2 Renewal is not complete unless and until NiceNIC has successfully received and processed full payment of all applicable fees.

5.3 NiceNIC reserves the right to determine whether a domain name remains eligible for standard renewal, redemption, or other recovery based on the applicable TLD, registry status, auction status, and operational feasibility.

6. Expired Domain Auction for Eligible Domains

6.1 Certain expired domain names may enter NiceNIC’s expired domain auction process before all recovery windows have ended. This process applies only to Eligible Domains and does not apply to all TLDs.

6.2 For Eligible Domains under NiceNIC’s standard expired-domain process, the following general timeline may apply:

Day 0 after expiration

The domain name expires. The registrant may generally renew the domain name at the standard renewal fee during the initial post-expiration period, subject to applicable rules.

Day 26 after expiration

The domain name may enter expired domain auction. At this stage, the registrant may still be able to renew the domain name at the standard renewal fee, unless otherwise restricted by the applicable process.

Day 31 after expiration

If there is no active bid, the registrant may still be able to recover the domain name by paying the standard renewal fee plus the applicable redemption fee.

If there is an active bid, the domain name may be removed from the registrant’s account and may no longer be renewable through ordinary renewal or restoration procedures.

Day 37 after expiration

The domain name may enter final closeout auction. Unless there is a pending purchase or other sale-related restriction, the registrant may still be able to recover the domain name by paying the standard renewal fee plus the applicable redemption fee.

Day 41 after expiration

The final closeout auction may end. If the domain name was not sold or otherwise committed to sale, recovery may still be possible for a limited period, subject to the applicable TLD, registry rules, and NiceNIC’s operational process.

Day 74 after expiration

The domain name may be removed from the registrant’s account and may no longer be renewable or restorable through NiceNIC. After that point, the domain name may become available for re-registration only after the registry releases it.

6.3 Once an Eligible Domain has an active bid, pending purchase, completed sale, or other sale commitment under the expired-domain process, the registrant’s right to renew or restore the domain name may be terminated or restricted.

6.4 NiceNIC does not guarantee that a domain name will remain recoverable until the end of any stated period if the domain is subject to auction, sale, registry restriction, or another applicable limitation.

7. Redemption Grace Period

7.1 If an expired domain name is not renewed during the applicable grace period and if the applicable TLD supports restoration after deletion, the domain name may enter the Redemption Grace Period.

7.2 During the Redemption Grace Period:

(a) the domain name may stop resolving;

(b) website and email services may remain unavailable;

(d) restoration, if available, will require payment of the applicable redemption fee, the applicable renewal fee, and any taxes or mandatory fees.

7.3 Restoration during the Redemption Grace Period is not guaranteed and remains subject to registry support, operational feasibility, the domain’s current status, and the absence of auction or sale restrictions.

8. Pending Delete and Final Release

8.1 If a domain name is not renewed or restored during the applicable recovery periods, it may enter the Pending Delete stage, where supported by the applicable TLD.

8.2 During Pending Delete, the domain name cannot be renewed, restored, transferred, or modified.

8.3 For many generic TLDs, Pending Delete lasts approximately five (5) days. After that stage ends, the registry may release the domain name to the public for re-registration.

8.4 NiceNIC does not guarantee the exact time, date, or availability of a domain name once it is released by the registry, and NiceNIC does not guarantee that the former registrant will be able to re-register the domain name.

9. TLD-Specific Variations

9.1 Not all TLDs follow the standard lifecycle described above. Certain ccTLDs and other TLDs may have shorter grace periods, no redemption period, no pending delete stage, or earlier renewal deadlines imposed by the registry.

9.2 The following TLD-specific rules may apply, subject at all times to registry changes and the controlling registry rules:

9.2.1 TLDs generally following the common lifecycle

Many ccTLDs generally follow a lifecycle similar to the standard expiration, grace, redemption, and deletion process, including, for example:

.AI, .BZ, .CA, .CC, .CO, .FM, .ID, .IN, .IO, .ME, .MX, .PW, .TV, .UK, .US, and .WS.

9.2.2 TLDs with no Pending Delete stage

Certain TLDs may not have a Pending Delete stage and may be released immediately after the end of their applicable redemption or recovery period, including, for example:

.ES, .EU, .FR, .IS, .LI, .NL, .PE, and .PH (noting that .PH may also follow its own separate registry-specific process).

9.2.3 TLDs requiring renewal before the actual expiration date

The following TLDs may need to be renewed twelve (12) days before the actual Expiration Date. If not renewed in time, they may enter a recovery stage immediately, regardless of the number of calendar days remaining before expiration:

.CH, .ES, .FR, .LI, .PE, .SG, .COM.SG, .COM.AU, .ORG.AU, and .NET.AU.

9.2.4 TLDs requiring action five (5) days before expiration

The following TLDs may need to be renewed manually or by auto-renewal no later than five (5) days before expiration and may otherwise enter a recovery or restricted state before the actual Expiration Date:

.CX, .DE, .EU, and .NL.

9.2.5 .CM domains

.CM domain names generally do not enter a redemption period and may be sent for deletion on the actual Expiration Date. They may become available for public registration on the same day they expire, subject to registry release practices.

9.2.6 .GG domains

.GG domain names may be reactivated from the customer account for approximately twenty-eight (28) days after expiration. They may then enter a recovery stage between approximately Day 28 and Day 30 after expiration. Once in that stage, reactivation may only be possible through NiceNIC Support for approximately twenty-six (26) additional days.

9.2.7 .PH, .COM.PH, .NET.PH, and .ORG.PH domains

These domains may not support a standard Redemption Grace Period. Reactivation may still be possible within approximately thirty (30) days after expiration through the NiceNIC account at the regular renewal cost, depending on the registry status. If the domain is no longer visible in the account but is not yet publicly available, the customer should contact NiceNIC Support immediately.

9.2.8 .UK domains, including second-level .UK domains

.UK domain names, including .CO.UK, .ME.UK, and .ORG.UK, may generally have a thirty (30)-day post-expiration renewal period. After that time, the domain name may remain recoverable without a separate redemption fee until its release, which may occur approximately ninety (90) days after expiration. If a .UK domain name has expired for more than thirty (30) days but has not yet been released and no longer appears in the account, the customer should contact NiceNIC Support promptly.

9.2.9 .TO domains

.TO domain names may only be reactivated during approximately twenty-seven (27) days after expiration. They generally do not support a standard Redemption Grace Period. After that point, they may be reserved by the registry and may no longer be recoverable.

9.2.10 .NU domains

.NU domain names may be reactivated in the ordinary manner within approximately seven (7) days after expiration. If not renewed within that period, they may enter an approximately sixty (60)-day recovery period during which restoration may still be possible through NiceNIC Support.

9.3 The TLD-specific information above is provided for general reference only and may change at any time based on registry policy, registry system changes, or operational requirements. Customers should contact NiceNIC Support for current TLD-specific recovery information.

10. Fees and Payments

10.1 Standard renewal fees, redemption fees, restoration fees, auction-related fees, and any other applicable charges shall be those listed by NiceNIC at the time of processing or otherwise communicated by NiceNIC.

10.2 Redemption or restoration requires payment in full of all applicable fees before processing.

10.3 All fees paid for expired-domain recovery, restoration, or special processing are non-refundable once processing has begun, except where otherwise required by applicable law.

11. No Guarantee of Recovery or Availability

11.1 NiceNIC does not guarantee that any expired domain name can be renewed, restored, retained, transferred, or re-registered after expiration.

11.2 NiceNIC does not guarantee:

(a) that a domain name will remain in a grace period for any minimum time;

(b) that an expired domain name will not enter auction;

(d) that the registry will support restoration; or

(e) the exact date or time when a deleted domain name will be released to the public.

11.3 You acknowledge that delayed action may result in additional fees, loss of recovery rights, interruption of service, auction sale, or permanent loss of the domain name.

12. Limitation of Responsibility

12.1 To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, NiceNIC shall not be liable for any loss of domain name, loss of use, interruption of website or email service, business interruption, lost profits, loss of data, or other direct or indirect damages arising from:

(a) domain expiration;

(b) failure to renew on time;

(d) registry rules or registry actions;

(e) auction placement or sale;

(f) failed restoration; or

(g) release of the domain name to the public.

12.2 Nothing in this Policy limits any non-waivable rights that may apply under mandatory law.

13. Changes to This Policy

13.1 NiceNIC may update or revise this Policy from time to time to reflect changes in registry rules, ICANN requirements, operational processes, legal requirements, or service arrangements.

13.2 The latest version published on NiceNIC’s website shall apply from its stated effective date, unless otherwise required by law or contract.

14. Contact

If you need assistance regarding an expired domain name, renewal, redemption, or TLD-specific recovery options, please submit a support ticket through your NiceNIC account or contact NiceNIC Support through the official support channels published on the NiceNIC website.