Domain Life Cycle

Navigating the domain life cycle: Available, Active, Grace, Redemption, and Pending delete Periods

A domain name serves as a distinctive representation of your product or service on the internet, such as enrol.ng.

Domains are typically registered for a specific duration, and if not renewed promptly, they will expire. As a domain owner, it is crucial to comprehend the domain life cycle to stay informed about the processes that occur when a domain name expires.

There are different types of domain names but the most common one is Generic top-level domains (gTLDs)while we have .NG which is a Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs)

DOMAIN LIFE CYCLE FOR Generic top-level domains (gTLDs) :

Stage 1: New Domain Registration

The journey of a domain commences with its availability. Once you have selected a domain name, you can verify its availability for registration on whois.com or by using our checker at https://enrol.ng/plan/register-domain/.

Stage 2: Active

Upon successfully acquiring an available domain, it transitions to an “Active” status. Domains can be registered for a year or the duration permitted by the registrar. Upon expiration, renewal is necessary to retain ownership.

Stage 3: Domain Expiration & Grace Period

If a domain is not renewed, it shifts to an “Expired” status one day after expiry. When a domain expires, associated websites and email addresses become inactive.

Following expiration, there is a 30-day grace period for renewal at the standard rate.

Stage 4: Redemption

After the 30-day grace period, the expired domain enters the redemption phase, lasting another 30 days. Renewing the domain during this period incurs an additional fee based on TLD and registrar policies.

Stage 5: Pending Deletion

Upon completion of the redemption period, the domain enters the pending deletion phase lasting 5-10 days. During this time, you must wait for the domain to be released for re-registration on a “First come First serve basis”.

Note: Once a domain is available for registration, anyone can purchase it. Therefore, it is advisable to renew your domain before it expires to avoid losing it.

Following the pending deletion phase, the domain cycles through stages 1 to 5 again.

Image source: www.webdew.com

.NG: Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs)

Most.NG domain names available can be registered for a period (1-5 years). Once the domain expires, it enters Renewal Grace Period (0-60 days) when the domain name can only be renewed but not transferred to another registrar, followed by a 28-day Redemption Period, when all services associated with the domain name (eg. DNS, website, emails) will automatically not be available but the domain can still be renewed at an additional cost.

At the end of the Redemption Period, it will enter into a 14-day Pending Purge period but the domain name can still be renewed or recovered. After this period, if the domain is not renewed, it will be available to the general public for fresh registration on a “First come First serve basis”. 

If you have any inquiries or require assistance, feel free to reach out to our support team at hello@enrol.ng.