The domain name has piqued my interest. Its registration dates back to January and in its whois, it is marked as expired in January of this year. If the owner of the domain decides not to renew it (currently parked), when can I acquire it? Is there a specific procedure I need to follow?

I recently made a purchase of a website that was previously owned by a small company which had ceased operations at the start of summer. The site was not operational and its registration had expired by the end of autumn, rendering the domain unavailable for a month before re-registration could be done. By chance, I came across the website a week before it became available again, applied for it at a minimum price, and successfully obtained it.

After some recollection, I now remember why I acquired this website and have plans for it.

It is important to note that on the 10th of February, if there are no applications to extend the registration, one should submit their own application.

Once the domain's paid term expires, it enters an intermediate state for a month before becoming available for re-registration. During this period, the owner has the opportunity to renew the domain and maintain ownership. The end date of this grace period is visible on whois for the entire month.
It is highly unlikely for a current owner to lose their domain if they have any desire to keep it. However, if they do not renew the domain within the one month period, it will be sent for deletion. It's important to note that it is the organization, not registrars, that centrally deletes domain names from the common database.

It is important to note that international domain names can be renewed up to 10 years in advance, while national domain names are currently limited to a one-year renewal option. After the initial registration, the domain will be temporarily shut down for 30 days, during which time a screen saver message will indicate its status. This means that the email and other functionalities of the domain will not be operational.

If a domain has been inactive for an extended period, it is easy to determine that it is no longer functioning as intended. However, during this time, the domain administrator still has the opportunity to renew the registration. In the case of international domains, failing to renew the domain during this period would result in a complete shutdown of the domain and the possibility of restoring it at a cost of x10-x100 of the original renewal fee. Finally, if the domain is not restored, it will be deleted or transferred to an open auction.

If the current owner decides not to renew the domain, it will go through a series of stages before it becomes available for registration by someone else.

First, the domain will enter a grace period, during which the owner can still renew it without incurring additional fees. After the grace period, it will enter a redemption period, during which the owner can still retrieve the domain but at a higher cost.

Once the domain reaches the end of the redemption period, it will be released for public auction. You can monitor its status through a domain auction platform or a domain backorder service to be notified when it becomes available for registration.

To acquire the domain, you will need to participate in the auction or place a backorder through a domain registrar. Alternatively, if the domain is not renewed and released for auction, you may be able to register it as soon as it becomes available for general registration.


When a domain registration expires, the domain goes through several stages before becoming available for registration by the public.

1. Expiration Date: When a domain reaches its expiration date, the owner typically has a grace period to renew the domain without incurring additional fees.

2. Redemption Period: If the domain owner does not renew it during the grace period, the domain enters a redemption period. During this period, the owner can still reclaim the domain, but at a higher cost.

3. Pending Delete: If the domain is not renewed during the redemption period, it will enter the pending delete phase. This phase typically lasts for about 5 days, during which the domain cannot be renewed or transferred.

4. Release to Public Auction: After the pending delete phase, the domain is released for public auction. Domain auction platforms like GoDaddy Auctions or NameJet may list the domain for auction. Interested parties can bid on the domain, and the highest bidder will acquire the domain.

5. Backorder Services: Alternatively, some domain registrars offer backorder services, allowing individuals to place a backorder on a specific domain. If the domain becomes available, the backorder service will attempt to register the domain on behalf of the backorder customer.

6. General Availability: If the domain is not acquired through the auction or backorder service, it will eventually become available for general registration. At this stage, anyone can register the domain on a first-come, first-served basis.

To acquire an expired domain, you should monitor its status and take action as soon as it becomes available for registration. If you're interested in a specific domain, consider using a domain monitoring service or a backorder service to increase your chances of acquiring it when it becomes available. Additionally, familiarize yourself with the policies and processes of domain registrars and auction platforms to be well-prepared to acquire the domain you're interested in.