Recovering an expired or cancelled domain: quarantine and redemption period

If your domain has been cancelled or has expired, it isn't gone right away. Almost every extension has a period in which only you can still get it back. In this article you'll read how long that's possible, what it costs and how to request it.

What happens after the end date?

If you cancel a domain in My WebOké (My Domains › your domain › Advanced card), we end it on the expiry date. After that, the domain goes into quarantine. For gTLDs such as .com this is called the redemption period. During that time:

• your website and email on that domain no longer work;
• nobody else can register or transfer the domain;
• only the previous holder can have it restored.

After that period, the name becomes available and anyone can register it.

Periods and costs per extension

In addition to the amounts below, you also pay for registering the domain for one year.

• .nl: 40 days of quarantine. Restoring a domain that was registered with us costs € 20. Restoring and transferring a domain that was registered with another registrar costs € 60.
• .be: 40 days of quarantine. € 20 with us, € 50 from another registrar.
• .eu: 40 days of quarantine. € 20 with us, € 40 from another registrar.
• .com, .net, .org and other gTLDs: the expiry date is usually followed by a redemption period of 30 days, and then a few more days of pending delete, during which restoring is no longer possible.
• Other extensions: costs and periods differ per extension. Ask us via a ticket.

A domain in quarantine can only be restored by the registrar that deleted it. If it was registered with another registrar, a new registrar can also transfer it out of quarantine. That's more expensive than a regular transfer, and the transfer must be completed before the end of the quarantine. If that doesn't work out, the name will still become available.

How to request a restore

1. In My WebOké, check under My Domains whether the domain is in quarantine. You can see the status on the domain page.
2. Create a ticket in the Support Center with the domain name and ask for it to be restored from quarantine. You can't restore it yourself in My WebOké.
3. We'll check whether a restore is still possible and what it costs, and let you know.

Was the domain registered with another registrar? Then request the restore there, or have it transferred out of quarantine through us. In that case, contact us before the quarantine ends.

Not cancelled, but expired anyway?

Didn't you cancel the domain, but is there an unpaid invoice? Then pay it as soon as possible in My Invoices. If your domain has expired anyway, contact us. We'll check whether a restore is possible and what it costs.

Waiting until the domain becomes available?

You can also wait until the quarantine is over and then register the domain again. That's cheaper, but risky. Some companies hunt for exactly these kinds of domains and then sell them back at a high price. If the domain is important to you, get it out of quarantine.

Detailed explanation with screenshots: Cancelling or transferring a domain in the WebOké manual.

You might also enjoy reading: The history of the domain name