Domain Life Cycle — is the process through which a domain name goes from the moment of its registration to possible deletion and return to free access. This cycle is regulated by the rules of a specific domain zone (for example, .com, .ua) and depends on its administrator.
Note: in different domain zones, the duration of stages and the process itself may vary. Each domain has a defined validity period. If the owner does not renew the registration in time, the domain goes through several stages before it becomes available for registration by other users again.
Phases of the Life Cycle
The domain is free and can be registered by anyone through a registrar.
The domain is registered for a certain period (usually from 1 to 10 years), with the status set to ok or active. During this period, it is fully active and available for use.
The domain's validity period has expired, and the status is set to hold. The domain usually stops functioning, but the owner can still renew it at the standard price for about 30–45 days.
Auction / market pool (optional):
In some domain zones or with certain registrars, the domain at this stage may be put up for auction or enter a market pool. This allows other users to purchase the domain before its final deletion.
If the domain is sold at auction, ownership transfers to the new owner immediately after the bidding ends, and the previous owner loses the ability to restore it.
If the domain has not been sold or redeemed, it transitions to the status redemptionPeriod. At this stage (about 30 days), the domain can be restored, but at an increased price.
The domain enters the final stage of deletion (pendingDelete). During this period, restoration is no longer possible. After 5–15 days, the domain is permanently deleted and becomes available for registration again.
To find out the current phase of the domain and its validity period, you can use any whois service, for example, from Cityhost [link]
All domains can be divided into 2 main types — Ukrainian domains and international domains. Depending on the type, the dates for the onset of phases may differ slightly, but all phases will be the same.
Examples of zones
Stages after expiration
Re-registration is possible after 65 days following the expiration of the domain.
Transfer for most Ukrainian domains is possible immediately after registration or renewal.
Examples of zones
Stages after expiration
Re-registration is possible after 65-90 days following the expiration of the domain.
Transfer is available after 60 days following registration or renewal.
You can find out more about the cost of restoring a domain from redemptionPeriod status on our website [link]
The cost of restoration is determined by the administration of the domain zone and may vary depending on the zone.
Understanding each phase helps avoid losing the domain and unnecessary costs for its restoration. Timely renewal of the domain will help maintain the availability of your resources and avoid risks.
If you have any questions or need assistance with domain management, our support service is always ready to help.
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