What does “domain in quarantine” mean?

When a domain name is not renewed on time and reaches its expiration date, it enters a quarantine period for a specific amount of time, depending on its extension.

During the quarantine period:

• The domain name becomes inactive.
• Any website and email services associated with the domain may stop working.
• The domain remains reserved for its legal registrant.
• It cannot be registered by a third party.
• It can only be renewed by its current owner.

How long does the quarantine period last?

The duration of the quarantine period depends on the domain extension.

For example:

• .gr, .com.gr, .net.gr, .org.gr, .edu.gr, .gov.gr: 15 days.
• .eu: up to 40 days.
• .com: the process varies depending on the registrar and may include additional stages after the initial quarantine period.

The exact quarantine period and renewal conditions depend on the domain extension and the policies of the corresponding registry.

Check out the quarantine period per domain here.

What happens if I do not renew my domain?

If the quarantine period expires without renewal:

• Depending on the TLD, the domain enters the redemption period. Read more here.
• The domain is released.
• It may become available for registration by anyone.
• There is a risk that a third party may register the domain before you have the opportunity to recover it.

Why is timely renewal important?

By renewing your domain on time, you can:

• Ensure the uninterrupted operation of your website and email services.
• Avoid losing ownership of your domain.
• Avoid any additional fees that may apply to late renewal or domain recovery procedures.

Helpful Tip

For security reasons, it is recommended to renew your domain several days before its expiration date rather than waiting until the last minute.

Doing so helps prevent issues that may arise from payment delays, technical problems, or other unforeseen circumstances that could result in the temporary suspension of the domain or its entry into quarantine status.

Alternatively, you can enable automatic renewal to help ensure that your domain is renewed on time and that the services associated with it remain uninterrupted. Read more here.