Grace Periods Explained

Registry Grace Periods

Grace periods are provided to ensure a standard process for handling refunds in the case where a domain is deleted and to support the auto-renew functionality. Grace period status is returned as part of the EPP domain <info> command.

1.  Add Grace Period

The Add Grace Period is a period of five (5) calendar days following the initial registration of the domain object. If a Delete, Renew, or Transfer operation occurs within the five calendar days, the following rules apply:

Delete

If a domain is deleted within the Add Grace Period, the sponsoring registrar is credited for the amount of the registration fee. The domain is deleted from the Donuts SRS database and is immediately available for registration by any registrar. (See Section 4.5.5 Overlapping Grace Periods for a description of overlapping grace period exceptions). If a domain name is deleted after the 5-calendar day grace period expires, it will: be placed on Redemption Period Status for 30-calendar days, then into a 5-calendar day Pending Delete Period, and then finally deleted automatically by the SRS.

Renew

If a domain is renewed within the Add Grace Period, there is no grace period credit for the Create. In addition to the initial registration charge, the registrar’s available credit will be debited for the number of years the registration is renewed. The expiration date of the domain is updated by the number of years specified by the requested Renew operation; up to a maximum registration period of ten (10) years.

Transfer

A domain may not be transferred within the Add Grace Period. Second-level domain holders are prohibited from changing registrars within the first 60 days of the initial registration. Enforcement is the responsibility of the Registrar of Record and the Donuts SRS automatically enforces this requirement.

2.  Renew Grace Period

The Renew Grace Period is a period of five (5) calendar days following the renewal or extension of a domain name registration period. If a Delete, Renew, or Transfer occurs within those five calendar days, the following rules apply:

Delete

If a domain is deleted within the Renew Grace Period, the sponsoring registrar is credited for the renewal fee (based on the number of years the domain was renewed). The domain then enters the Redemption Grace Period unless the deletion occurs during the 5 day Add Grace Period.

Renew

A domain can be renewed within the Renew Grace Period for up to a total of 10 years. No grace period credit will be issued during this state. The domain expiration date will be capped at 10 years. The registrar’s available credit will be debited for each of the additional numbers of years the registration is renewed.

Transfer

If a domain is transferred within the Renew Grace Period, the renewal years added are not removed, and there is no grace period credit granted. The expiration date of the domain is increased by one year with the successful transfer. The gaining registrar pays Donuts the registration fee for the transfer.

If a domain is first deleted and then restored, or if a domain transfer is approved (or auto-approved) within the grace period, it is considered to no longer be in the Renew Grace Period.

3.  Auto-Renew Grace Period

The Auto-Renew Grace Period is a period of 45 calendar days following the completion of the auto-renewal (via batch process) of the domain name.

If the registrar does not renew the domain prior to the expiration date, the registry automatically renews the domain for one year. The one-year renewal is executed by the system via batch process on the day following the expiration date. The registrar then has 45 calendar days to delete the domain and receive a credit for the domain renewal.

If a Delete, Renew, or Transfer operation occurs within the 45 calendar days, the following rules apply:

Delete

If a domain is deleted within the Auto-Renew Grace Period, the registrar is credited for the Auto-Renew fee.

Renew

A domain can be renewed within the Auto-Renew Grace Period for up to a total of 10 years. There is a grace period credit. The domain expiration date will be capped at 10 years.

Transfer

Another registrar may request a transfer of the domain. If the domain transfer is approved or auto-approved within the Auto-Renew Grace Period, the losing registrar is credited the Auto-Renew fee.

4.  Transfer Grace Period

The Transfer Grace Period is a period of five (5) calendar days following the completion of a domain name transfer. If a Delete, Renew, or Transfer operation occurs within the 5 calendar days, the following rules apply:

Delete

If a domain is deleted within the Transfer Grace Period, the sponsoring registrar is credited for the amount of the registration, and the domain is placed on Redemption Period status.

Renew

If a domain is renewed within the Transfer Grace Period, there is no grace period credit for the Transfer. In addition to the Transfer charge, the registrar’s available credit will be debited for the number of years the registration is renewed. The expiration date of the domain is renewed by the number of years specified by the registrar’s requested Renew operation; up to a maximum resulting registration period of not more than 10 years.

Transfer

A domain can be transferred to another registrar within the Transfer Grace Period. There is no grace period credit. The gaining registrar’s available credit will be debited for the transfer fee.

If a domain is deleted and then restored, or if a domain transfer is approved or auto-approved (within the grace period), it is considered no longer to be in the Transfer Grace Period.

5.  Redemption Grace Period

The Donuts SRS Redemption Grace Period (RGP) process follows the industry standard used by other registries. RGP is available using an automated restore process and requires the registrar to fill out restore forms.

The purpose of the Redemption Grace Period is to provide added time following a domain name deletion during which the registrar can “redeem” a deleted domain name in the event of erroneous deletion. The RGP policy includes the following three key time periods:

Thirty (30) Day Redemption Grace Period

For thirty (30) days following the deletion of a name, the domain is held in “Pending Delete” status. The name will be unavailable for registration, it will be removed from the zone file, it will not resolve, and WHOIS will show “Pending Delete Restore” status. The registrar can restore the name at any point during this thirty-day period. A request to restore a name using the Redemption Grace Period triggers a non-refundable charge to the registrar’s account.

Seven (7) Day Restore Lock Period

If the name is restored, the registrar has seven (7) calendar days to submit a formal Restore Report. Upon receipt of a complete report, the restrictive statuses will be removed. If a complete report is not provided within this seven (7) day window, the name returns to “Pending Delete” status, and the Redemption Grace Period cycle begins again.

Five (5) Day Redemption Hold Period

If the name is not restored after thirty (30) days, the name will be placed in a redemption hold period for five (5) days during which no changes to the status of the domain can be made. At the conclusion of this period, the name will be deleted and released into the pool of available names. A list of names in the Redemption Grace Period (30 days) and the Redemption Hold Period (5 days) will be made available daily to all registrars.

5.1  RGP Rules

The Redemption Grace Period is invoked whenever a domain name is explicitly deleted. RGP gives a registrar 30 days to restore a name in case they change their mind, or if the deletion was submitted in error. During RGP, the domain name is taken out of the zone file, and the WHOIS information is updated to reflect a “Pending Delete – Restore” status.

No updates to a domain can be performed during RGP. There are no actions that may be performed on a domain in “Pending Delete” status except to restore the domain or wait until the 30-day period has passed and the domain is deleted by the registry. Domain transfers are not possible during RGP.

5.2  Restore Process

To request the restoration of a name, the registrar must use either the Web-based administrative site or the extended EPP <update> command with RGP Extension as specified in RFC 3915. This extension permits Restore Request and Restore Reports to be submitted from your EPP client directly to the EPP server.

Upon receipt of a Restore Request, the name shall be restored and the registrar’s account will be debited for the RGP fee. The name will then be held in the Restore Lock Period for five (5) calendar days. The registrar must submit a Restore Report through the Web Administrative Tool or EPP within five (5) days, or the name will be returned to Pending Delete status. Registrars may submit the Restore Report along with the Restore Request through EPP. Similarly, should a name that has already been renewed and subsequently deleted by a registrar then be restored under RGP, the registrar account will be charged the RGP fee and the renewal fee accordingly.

Submitting a Restore Request Using the EPP <update> with RGP extension

You may restore the name using the extended EPP <update> command with RGP Extension as specified in RFC 3915. This extension permits Restore Request and Restore Reports to be submitted from your EPP client directly to the EPP server. Additional questions regarding this extension can be directed to Donuts Technical Support.

Submitting a Restore Request Using the Web Admin Tool

You may also submit a Restore Request through the Donuts SRS Web Portal. The Restore Report option is located under the “Domains” tab.

5.3  Restore Lock Period

After the name has been restored, it is placed into the Restore Lock Period and displays a “locked” status in both WHOIS and the EPP server (see Section 4.5.6 Domain Status for additional detail).

The purpose of this restriction is to retain the existing state of any restored names while the registrar works to complete the RGP Restore Report. These restrictions may be extended at the sole discretion of Donuts.

Registrars must submit an RGP Restore Report through EPP or the Web Administrative Tool within five (5) calendar days of the restore request. Failure to submit a complete report shall result in the mandatory return of the domain name to a “Pending Delete” status and the forfeit of the RGP fee.

Upon receipt by Donuts of the registrar’s completed RGP Restore Report, the restrictive statuses on the domain name will be removed.

5.4  Redemption Hold Period

Once the RGP commences, if a restore request has not been received for the name after thirty (30) days, the name is placed in a Redemption Hold Period for five (5) calendar days. There cannot be any change to the domain record during this five (5) day period. During the Redemption Hold Period, the WHOIS shows a status of “Pending Delete.” At the conclusion of this period, the name is made available for registration.

6.  Overlapping Grace Periods

If an operation results in a domain entering more than one grace period, the following exceptions apply to the regular grace period rules:

• If a domain is deleted within the Add Grace Period and the Renew Grace Period, then the registrar is credited the registration and renewal fees, factoring in the number of years for which the registration and renewal were done. The domain is deleted from the registry database and is immediately available for registration by any registrar.
• If a domain is auto-renewed, then renewed, and then deleted within the Renew Grace Period, the registrar will be credited for the Auto-Renew and the number of years for the renewal. The years added to the domain’s expiration as a result of the auto-renewal and extension are removed. The deleted domain is moved to the Redemption Grace Period.

6.1  Exceptions

If a domain is deleted within the Transfer Grace Period, only the current sponsoring registrar is credited for the transfer amount. If a domain is extended/renewed within the Transfer Grace Period, the current registrar’s account is charged for the number of years the registration is extended.

NOTE

If several billable operations, including transfers, are performed on a domain and the domain is deleted within the grace periods of each of those operations, only those operations performed after the latest transfer, including the latest transfer, are credited to the current registrar.

* Article updated from the Donuts Registry Guide.

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