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Domain Deletion

You do no longer need your domain and want to delete it?

Note: Think carefully about whether you really want to delete your domain or just want to terminate the service contract with your provider. In the latter case, the domain will not be deleted.

How can I delete a .de domain?

  • If you want your domain to be deleted, please contact the current provider of the domain and request them to delete it. Be careful to express clearly what you want. Many providers ask their customers to use a special form for the deletion request. We, too, provide a deletion request form for customers of our DENICdirect service, which they have to complete, sign and send to DENICdirect. 
  • Your provider forwards your request for deletion to DENIC. We will only accept a request to delete a domain if it is submitted by the DENIC member who administers the domain in question at the time. This ensures that a domain cannot be deleted by third parties without the domain holder's consent, since we are not in a position to verify whether the person requesting the deletion is actually authorised to do so.
  • Once we have received a deletion request, the domain will not be deleted immediately and irretrievably. The deletion is followed by a 30 days' "cooling-off" phase, the so-called Redemption Grace Period (RGP). Within this period, the domain may be re-registered:
     
    • For the last domain holder
    • For a third party to be indicated by the last domain holder.

The RGP procedure enables the last domain holder to re-register the domain by having it restored by a provider. The domain will only be available for registration by any interested third party if it has not been re-registered during the 30 days' Redemption Grace Period.

Information on the Redemption Grace Period

What is the Redemption Grace Period?

If the registration of a .de domain is terminated, the deletion of the domain is followed by a 30-day cooling-off phase, the so-called Redemption Grace Period (abbreviated RGP). During the RGP, the deleted domain can only be re-registered for the last domain holder or for a third party named by the last domain holder. There is no charge for a domain being in the RGP.

What effect does the RGP have on domain deletions?

Deleted domains do not immediately become available for registration by a third party. Instead, during the 30-day grace period, the domain can only be newly registered for the last domain holder or for a third party named by the last domain holder.

What is important when registering a domain?

Domains cannot be registered by a third party during the 30-day RGP. Only if the domain has not been newly registered for the last domain holder or at his request during the grace period, will the relevant domain name become available for registration by any interested party. 

Wie werden Domains in der RGP in den DENIC-Informationsdiensten ausgegeben?

Queries relating to deleted domains in ongoing RGP will be responded to differently, depending on which information service is being used. Queries via the Domain Query service will be answered as follows:
The domain "[placeholder].de" was deleted on DD.MM.YYYY and is currently in a cooling-off phase (Redemption Grace Period – RGP).

How can a deleted domain re-registered while they are in the RGP?

The Redemption Grace Period makes it possible for the last domain holder to newly register the domain name through their former registrar. Alternatively, the registration may also be processed through another provider. To newly register the domain, this other provider must carry out a provider transfer using AuthInfo in the name of the last domain holder.

To do so, the provider requests DENIC to create the AuthInfo (similar to the procedure if the current provider cannot provide an AuthInfo). DENIC sends the AuthInfo to the last holder of the domain by registered mail; the letter is addressed to the holder's address stored in the DENIC database. At the same time, an encrypted version of the newly created AuthInfo is stored in DENIC's domain database. The domain holder communicates the AuthInfo to the provider of their choice and the domain can then be newly registered.

The re-registration of a domain name which is in the grace period for its last holder is associated with costs for the provider (registrar) acting on behalf of the holder. The domain holder must expect these costs to be passed on to them.

Are there any exemptions from the RGP provisions?

RGP provisions do not apply in the following cases:

  • DENIC may deviate from the 30-day cooling-off phase for a domain in RGP, if the last domain holder waives the Redemption Grace Period by an explicit written declaration to DENIC. 
  • If a domain is subject to a DISPUTE entry at the time the registration ceases, it will not enter into the RGP. Instead, the holder of the dispute entry automatically becomes the domain holder as soon as the domain is released.