Reinstate my domain name

We have put together a number of ‘How do I guides’ for commonly asked questions that we receive at the Domain Name Commission.

We understand that sometimes issues can be complex and these guides might not have all the answers that relate to your specific problem. If this is the case please contact us.

What is pending release?

Domain names are registered for a specific length of time (anywhere from 1 month to 10 years), when your registration expires your domain name goes into pending release. You are able to renew your domain name before the registration term expires.

Pending release lasts for 90 days before your domain name is released to the general public. When it is released it is able to be registered on a first-come-first-served basis. 

During the pending release period, any services associated with the domain name (like email or website hosting) will stop working.

How do I get my name out of pending release?

1. You will need to contact the domain name provider (registrar) of the domain name and ask them to have this domain name reinstated.
   
   
2. It’s best to contact the registrar from the domain name holder’s (registrant) email or phone number on the registration record. If your contact information is incorrect, you will need to update these while in contact with your registrar.
   
   
3. You might have to pay a reinstatement fee, as well as your normal registration fees. Any fee on top of your registration fee, needs to be included in the terms and conditions that you signed up to. 

If you are not the registrant of the domain name, you will need to let the domain name provider know this.

What happens if 90 days has passed before I get around to reinstating a domain name?

If the domain name is not reinstated within the 90-day pending release period, it is then released on the 91st day for general registration which means anyone can then register the domain name on a first-come-first-served basis.

If you are having issues reinstating your domain name, if you haven’t already please contact us.

Last but not least, check your contact details are correct.

If you do reinstate your domain name, we recommend that you take the time to check your registration details - make sure that these are up to date, and that you are contactable at your registration details.