Life Cycle of a Domain

When you register a domain name, you are not actually buying it but rather paying for the right to use it for a certain period of time. When this time is up, the registration will expire. Of course, before it happens, you will be notified and given the chance to renew it for a further period.

Different types of domains have different life cycles, depending on how they are managed by the registry. The graphic below shows a typical life cycle for a generic top-level domain, but specific domains may have different time periods, so it's always important to check our Terms and Conditions

Life Cycle of a Typical gTLD Domain Name

Registration (1-10 years)

When you register a domain, you choose how long you want to use it, typically 1-10 years.

Auto-Renew Grace Period (1-90 Days)

When your registration period ends, your domain enters the auto-renew grace period, where you can still renew your domain name for a regular renewal fee. This period usually lasts between 1-45 days but varies depending on the registrar and registry.

Redemption Grace Period (up to 90 days)

If you don't renew your domain during the auto-renew grace period, it enters the redemption grace period, which can last up to 90 days. During this time, you can still renew your domain, but there may be an additional redemption fee.

Pending Delete

If you don't renew your domain during the redemption grace period, it enters the pending delete stage. This lasts for about 5 days, during which time the registrar requests that the registry delete the domain.

Released/Available to All

After the pending delete stage, the domain becomes available for anyone to register.

Examples of the approximate Joker.com TLDs Life-Cycle Periods *:

* While the above-mentioned time periods are generally accurate, it's important to note that they are provided as estimates and may vary depending on the registry. Additionally, there may be technical requirements that necessitate processing within a specific time frame, which could result in a shorter time period for certain stages.

As a result, it's recommended that you don't wait until the last possible moment, such as the "expired grace period," before renewing your domain. Doing so could result in unexpected issues and potentially losing the domain altogether.