This Expired Domain Renewal, Redemption, and Auction Policy (the “Policy”) forms part of the NiceNIC Domain Name Registration Service Agreement and applies to domain names registered, renewed, transferred, or maintained through NICENIC INTERNATIONAL GROUP CO., LIMITED (“NiceNIC”). By using NiceNIC’s domain registration services, you acknowledge and agree to this Policy.
1.1 This Policy explains the general post-expiration process that may apply to domain names managed through NiceNIC, including expiration, renewal, redemption, expired domain auction, pending delete status, and release of a domain name back to the public registration pool.
1.2 Domain lifecycle timing varies by top-level domain (“TLD”), Registry Operator, registry rules, applicable ICANN requirements, and other governing policies. Not all TLDs follow the same expiration, renewal, redemption, auction, or deletion process.
1.3 Where a mandatory ICANN policy, Registry requirement, court order, or applicable law conflicts with this Policy, the mandatory requirement controls to the extent of the conflict.
1.4 The English-language version of this Policy controls to the extent permitted by applicable law. Any translation is provided for convenience only.
3.1 A domain name is registered for a limited term. If it is not renewed by the applicable deadline, it may expire.
3.2 Upon or after expiration, NiceNIC may interrupt or redirect DNS resolution as permitted by applicable policy. A website, email service, DNS-dependent application, or other service associated with the domain may therefore stop functioning immediately or shortly after expiration.
3.3 Following expiration, NiceNIC may restrict DNS changes, contact changes, transfers, account moves, or other domain-management actions in accordance with Registry rules, security requirements, operational processes, and applicable policies.
3.4 Expiration does not mean that the domain immediately becomes available to the public. Depending on the TLD, the domain may pass through one or more stages including post-expiration renewal, auction, redemption, pending delete, and final release.
4.1 For gTLDs subject to the ICANN Expired Registration Recovery Policy (“ERRP”), NiceNIC will send the renewal and expiration notices required by that policy using the contact information in NiceNIC’s records.
4.2 NiceNIC may also send additional reminders before or after expiration through email, the customer account, or other service channels.
4.3 The Registered Name Holder and Account Holder remain responsible for monitoring expiration dates, maintaining accurate and monitored contact information, maintaining valid payment information where auto-renewal is used, and submitting renewal payment early enough for processing.
4.4 Failure to receive a reminder, invoice, or notice does not extend a Registry deadline or create a right to renew after the applicable renewal or restoration period has ended, except to the extent mandatory policy or law provides otherwise.
4.5 Auto-renewal, where offered and enabled, remains subject to sufficient funds or valid payment, account status, Registry availability, eligibility requirements, and successful processing. Enabling auto-renewal is not a guarantee that a domain will be renewed in every circumstance.
5.1 NiceNIC’s applicable registration, transfer, renewal, post-expiration renewal (if different), and redemption/restore fees are published on the NiceNIC Domain Prices page.
5.2 Fees may differ by TLD, Registry classification, premium status, customer or reseller level, lifecycle status, tax, or mandatory third-party charge.
5.3 A renewal, redemption, or restoration request is not complete until NiceNIC has received all required payment and the applicable Registry or upstream provider has accepted the transaction.
5.4 Fees for successfully completed Registry-level renewal, redemption, or restoration transactions are non-refundable except where required by applicable law or expressly agreed by NiceNIC.
6.1 For many gTLDs, an expired domain may remain renewable for a post-expiration period. Under NiceNIC’s standard process, this period is commonly approximately thirty (30) days, but the actual period may be shorter or longer depending on the TLD and Registry.
6.2 During an available post-expiration renewal period, the Registrant at Expiration may generally renew the domain subject to the applicable renewal fee, successful payment, verification, Registry availability, and any auction-related restriction described below.
6.3 NiceNIC does not guarantee that every TLD offers a thirty-day renewal period or that every expired domain remains renewable for the full duration of a general timeline.
7.1 Certain expired domain names may enter NiceNIC’s expired-domain auction or closeout process. The auction process applies only to Eligible Domains and does not apply to every TLD or every expired domain.
7.2 Under NiceNIC’s standard expired-domain process, the following general timeline may apply:
7.3 The dates above describe NiceNIC’s general process for Eligible Domains and are not guaranteed deadlines. Registry rules, TLD-specific lifecycle rules, auction status, technical processing, or mandatory policy may cause a different result.
7.4 Once an Eligible Domain has an active bid, pending purchase, completed sale, or other binding sale commitment, ordinary renewal or restoration rights may be restricted or terminated to the extent permitted by applicable ICANN and Registry requirements.
7.5 Nothing in NiceNIC’s auction process limits a non-waivable renewal or restoration right that the Registrant at Expiration has under mandatory ICANN policy or Registry rules.
8.1 If a domain is not renewed during the applicable post-expiration period and the relevant Registry supports restoration after deletion, the domain may enter a Redemption Grace Period.
8.2 For applicable gTLDs, the Registry-level RGP is generally thirty (30) days, subject to the controlling Registry and ICANN requirements.
8.3 During RGP, the domain normally does not resolve and generally cannot be transferred or modified. Restoration, where available, requires the applicable redemption/restore fee, renewal fee, and any mandatory taxes or charges.
8.4 A restoration request remains subject to successful payment, verification, the domain’s actual Registry status, Registry support, and the absence of a completed or binding auction sale where applicable.
9.1 If a domain is not renewed or restored within the applicable recovery periods, it may enter Pending Delete where that lifecycle stage is supported by the Registry.
9.2 During Pending Delete, a domain generally cannot be renewed, restored, transferred, or modified.
9.3 For many gTLDs, Pending Delete lasts approximately five (5) days. After that stage, the Registry may delete and release the domain to the public registration pool.
9.4 NiceNIC does not control or guarantee the exact time or date of Registry release, and does not guarantee that the former Registrant at Expiration will be able to re-register the name. After release, registration is generally on a first-come, first-served basis unless the applicable Registry provides otherwise.
10.1 ccTLDs, sponsored TLDs, restricted TLDs, and some gTLDs may use lifecycle rules materially different from NiceNIC’s standard timeline.
10.2 A TLD may, for example, require renewal before the displayed expiration date, offer a shorter post-expiration period, move directly into a Registry recovery process, omit RGP or Pending Delete, use a different restoration fee, or apply special eligibility or documentation requirements.
10.3 The applicable Registry rules and NiceNIC’s current operational deadline for the TLD control. Customers should renew important domains well before the displayed expiration date and contact NiceNIC Support promptly if a TLD-specific recovery question arises.
10.4 NiceNIC may publish TLD-specific help information for convenience. Such information may change when the Registry changes its lifecycle or operational procedures.
11.1 Expiration alone does not authorize NiceNIC to deny a gTLD inter-registrar transfer where the ICANN Transfer Policy requires the transfer to be permitted.
11.2 A transfer may nevertheless be unavailable or denied where another permitted or required transfer restriction applies, including applicable Registry status, a policy-based lock, dispute proceeding, court order, security restriction, or another ground allowed by the then-current ICANN Transfer Policy.
11.3 Customers should initiate transfers sufficiently before expiration because a transfer may require unlocking, an AuthInfo code, authentication, payment, and Registry processing.
12.1 A successful post-expiration renewal or restoration returns the domain to the applicable active registration state subject to Registry processing and DNS propagation.
12.2 NiceNIC does not guarantee that websites, email, DNS, certificates, hosting, or third-party services will resume immediately after renewal or restoration.
12.3 Any separate hosting, email, SSL, or other product that expired or was terminated is governed by its own service terms and may require separate reactivation.
13.1 NiceNIC does not guarantee that an expired domain can be renewed, redeemed, restored, transferred, or re-registered after expiration.
13.2 NiceNIC does not guarantee that a domain will remain in a particular lifecycle state for a minimum period except where a mandatory ICANN or Registry rule creates such a right.
13.3 Delay may result in additional fees, service interruption, loss of ordinary renewal rights, auction sale, Registry deletion, or permanent loss of the domain.
14.1 To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and the NiceNIC Domain Name Registration Service Agreement, NiceNIC is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential loss arising from expiration, DNS interruption, failure to renew on time, Registry action, auction, failed restoration, deletion, or public release.
14.2 Nothing in this Policy excludes or limits liability or registrant rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
This Policy should be read together with the NiceNIC Domain Name Registration Service Agreement, NiceNIC Domain Prices, NiceNIC Legal Policies, the applicable Registry rules, and the ICANN Expired Registration Recovery Policy where applicable.
NiceNIC may update this Policy to reflect changes in ICANN requirements, Registry rules, TLD lifecycles, auction procedures, fees, security practices, or operational processes. Mandatory ICANN, Registry, or legal changes may take effect when required. Other material changes will take effect on the published effective date, subject to applicable law.