Redemption Grace Period Questions

1. What is the Redemption Grace Period (RGP)?
2. What is the Redemption Hold Period (RHP)?
3. What is the Restore Lock Period (RLP)?
4. How do I know if a domain name is in RGP?
5. How do I know if a domain name is in RHP?
6. How do I know if a domain name is in RLP?
7. My domain name has been placed in RGP. How do I redeem it?
8. How do I know when a domain name will be released for re-registration?
9. Will my domain name still work if it is in RGP?
10. Will I still be able to get e-mail if my domain name is in RGP?
11. My registrar sent a restore request, but my Web site and e-mail still aren't working. Why not? 
12. Why is my registrar charging me to redeem my domain name through RGP?
13. My domain name is in RHP. Why can't I restore it?
14. Will I be charged a renewal fee in addition to the RGP fee itself? Do I lose any time that remained on my registration?
15. Where can I find more information about the ICANN requirements for RGP?

1. What is the Redemption Grace Period (RGP)?
RGP is a service that allows the registrar to restore a .ORG domain name that has been unintentionally deleted. RGP is a 30-day period that begins after a registrar requests that the registry delete a domain name. When a domain name is in RGP, its status is listed as PENDING DELETE RESTORABLE and HOLD.

When a domain name enters RGP, it is removed from the .ORG zone file. As a result, any Internet services served by the domain name will be disabled (e.g., e-mail or a Web site). The registrant must act IMMEDIATELY if he or she wants to restore the domain name.

After the 30-day RGP, the domain name enters the Redemption Hold Period (RHP).

2. What is the Redemption Hold Period (RHP)?
If a registrar deletes a domain name and does not request that the domain name be restored during the 30-day RGP, it enters RHP. RHP lasts for five days, and during this time domain name is locked and unable to be restored. After five days, it becomes available for re-registration. Once the domain name enters RHP, the prior registrant cannot request a restore. When a domain name is in RHP, its status is listed as PENDING DELETE SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE and HOLD.

3. What is the Restore Lock Period (RLP)?
Once a registrar formally requests to restore a domain name, the registrar must submit a Restore Report to PIR within five days. This five day period is referred to as Restore Lock Period (RLP). During this period the domain status is:
PENDING RESTORE
UPDATE PROHIBITED
DELETE PROHIBITED
RENEW PROHIBITED
TRANSFER PROHIBITED

Domain is returned to the zone file during this period. If Restore Report is not received from the registrar within 5 days, domain is returned to a new 30-day RGP with status of:
PENDING DELETE RESTORABLE
HOLD.

3. How do I know if a domain name is in RGP?
If a domain name is in RGP, the "Status" field in the WHOIS will show the domain name as "PENDING DELETE RESTORABLE and HOLD." All Internet services associated with the domain name will remain disabled.

5. How do I know if a domain name is in RHP?
If a domain name is in RHP, the "Status" field in the WHOIS will show the domain name as "PENDING DELETE SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE
HOLD."

6. How do I know if a domain name is in RLP?
If a domain name is in RLP, the "Status" field in the WHOIS will show the domain name as PENDING RESTORE.

7. My domain name has been placed in RGP. How do I redeem it?
If your domain name has been placed in RGP, it is because your registrar requested to delete it. If you wish to redeem the domain name, YOU MUST CONTACT YOUR REGISTRAR IMMEDIATELY.

The sponsoring registrar for the domain name (as indicated in the WHOIS) is the ONLY registrar that can restore it. PIR cannot directly restore your domain name -- it can act only on explicit instructions from the sponsoring registrar. Please note that your registrar may charge a fee for restoring the domain name.

8. How do I know when a domain name will be released for re-registration?
For a domain name to be released for registration, it must complete the 30-day RGP and the five-day RHP. In total, a domain name can be released for re-registration 35 days after it has been deleted by a registrar, provided that there has been no restore request received by the registry during the RGP. To calculate the date a deleted domain name will be available for registration, add 35 days to the "last updated on" date reflected in the WHOIS.

9. Will my domain name still work if it is in RGP?
No. Once a domain name is placed in RGP, no Internet services for that domain name will work.

10. Will I still be able to get e-mail if my domain name is in RGP?
No. Once a domain name is placed in RGP, no Internet services for that domain name, including e-mail, will work.

11. My registrar sent a restore request, but my Web site and e-mail still aren't working. Why not?
Once a registrar formally requests to restore a domain name, it must provide a special restore report to PIR within five days. This report must include background documentation and a reason for the restoration. If your registrar does not deliver the report within five days, the registry will return the domain to the RGP status ("Pending Delete - Restorable"), and the domain name once again will not resolve or support Internet services (e.g., Web site or e-mail).

12. Why is my registrar charging me to redeem my domain name through RGP?
PIR does not determine the fees that registrars charge their customers. However, the registrar incurs extra costs each time it invokes the RGP process. Registrars may charge a fee to restore a domain name through RGP at their discretion. You should contact your registrar to inquire about the fee being charged.

13. My domain name is in RHP (PENDING DELETE SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE). Why can't I restore it?
Once the 30-day RGP for a domain name has passed, it cannot be restored. RHP serves as a notice period for registrars regarding the pending availability of the domain name.

14. Will I be charged a renewal fee in addition to the RGP fee itself? Do I lose any time that remained on my registration?
If the domain name has expired before it is deleted and enters RGP and then it is restored, the registrar's account is debited for the RGP fee and the one-year renewal fee. If the domain name has NOT expired prior to deletion and entering RGP and then it is restored, the registrar's account is debited the RGP fee, but the renewal fee is charged only if a renew is requested explicitly or the domain was deleted within the 45-day Auto-Renew Grace Period. When at all commercially reasonable, the domain name will be reinstated, with temporary restrictions, within five calendar days of the restore request. It is up to each registrar whether to charge the registrant for the renewal fee in addition to an RGP fee.

15. Where can I find more information about the ICANN requirements for RGP?
On the ICANN Web site. Please also refer to RFC 3915 for more information.