Domain Redemption Period Explained

When a domain name expires and is not renewed, it does not immediately return to the pool of available domains. Instead, most registries place the domain into a special state called the Redemption Period. This period typically lasts up to 30 days and gives the original registrant one final chance to recover the domain.

What Happens During Redemption?

• The domain is removed from the global DNS zone files.
• Websites, email, and any services linked to the domain will stop working.
• The registrant can still recover the domain by contacting their registrar.
• Recovery requires paying a redemption fee (currently £150) in addition to the renewal cost.

This extra 30-day window extends the time available to renew expired domains, but services remain offline until renewal is completed.

Pending Delete Phase

After the 30-day redemption period ends, the domain enters a 5-day Pending Delete phase. During this time:

• No one can renew or recover the domain.
• The domain is locked until the registry releases it.
• After 5 days, the domain is returned to the public pool and becomes available for fresh registration by anyone.

Why You Should Renew Before Redemption

It is strongly recommended to renew your domain before expiry. Once a domain enters redemption:

• All associated services (website, email, DNS records) stop working.
• Recovery requires paying the additional redemption fee.
• Fast2Host cannot override registry rules — once in redemption, the process is controlled entirely by the registry.

To avoid downtime and extra costs, always renew your domain promptly before the due date.

Domains that are not renewed within 30 days of expiry automatically enter redemption. The only way to restore them is by paying the redemption fee plus renewal. After the redemption and pending delete phases, the domain is permanently released back to the public.