A .de domain backorder can only succeed at one moment: when DENIC, the registry for .de, releases a deleted name for free registration. That happens after a 30-day Redemption Grace Period (RGP) that starts when the domain is deleted. During those 30 days only the last holder, or someone the last holder names, can take the name back. If nobody does, the domain is released to anyone, and a backorder service tries to register it first.
So .de does not follow the grace period, redemption and pending delete cycle that ICANN sets for .com. If you plan around an expiry date, as you would for a .com, you are looking at the wrong calendar.
How a .de domain gets deleted
A deleted .de domain gets there in one of two ways.
Deletion through the provider
The holder asks their provider (the registrar) to delete the domain. DENIC's deletion page tells holders to contact their current provider, and many providers have their own form for it. Once DENIC deletes the domain, the RGP starts automatically.
The DENIC TRANSIT procedure
The second route starts when a provider stops administering a domain. Ending the agreement with the provider does not end the holder's contract with DENIC: the domain moves into DENIC's direct administration, and DENIC sends the holder a TRANSIT letter at the address stored in its database.
By the deadline set in that letter, the holder must choose a new provider or ask for the domain to be deleted. If neither happens, DENIC terminates the domain contract without notice and deletes the domain. DENIC's TRANSIT FAQ on denic.de describes the procedure. Its pages give no fixed number of days for the deadline, so do not assume one.
The DENIC redemption grace period
The rules come from DENIC's Redemption Grace Period page on denic.de:
- Length: 30 days, starting automatically after deletion.
- Who can re-register: only the last domain holder, or a third party the last holder names. Nobody else can register the name during these 30 days, and a backorder cannot jump the queue.
- Cost: DENIC charges nothing for a domain sitting in the RGP. Re-registering it through a provider does cost money, which the provider may pass on to the holder.
- AuthInfo: if the holder uses a new provider, that provider asks DENIC for an AuthInfo code. DENIC sends it by post to the last holder's address on file, and the holder gives it to the provider. The former provider can also handle the re-registration.
- End of the period: if no one re-registers the domain for the last holder within the 30 days, it is released for free registration by anyone.
When there is no RGP
Some deletions skip the RGP:
- The last holder waives it in writing.
- The domain has a DISPUTE entry when it is deleted. The holder of the dispute entry becomes the domain holder as soon as the domain is released, so a backorder will not get it.
- DENIC terminates the contract after the holder's data could not be verified.
DENIC's pages do not say whether a domain deleted at the end of a TRANSIT procedure enters the RGP. If you are watching such a name, check its status rather than counting days.
.de vs .com: two different lifecycles
| Stage | .com (ICANN rules) | .de (DENIC) |
|---|---|---|
| What starts the countdown | The registration expires | DENIC deletes the domain |
| Owner can still keep the name | Auto-renew grace period, 0–45 days, set by the registrar | Before deletion, through the provider or TRANSIT |
| Recovery window | Redemption Grace Period, 30 days, restore fee | Redemption Grace Period, 30 days, no DENIC fee for being in it |
| Locked final stage | Pending delete, 5 days | None |
| Release | Daily drop starting around 12:00 UTC | Released to anyone after the RGP; DENIC's RGP page gives no time of day |
| What a backorder targets | The drop after pending delete | The release after the RGP |
Two consequences follow. The deletion date, not an expiry date, is the signal for .de. And there is no pending delete stage, so the name goes straight from the RGP to release. For the .com side, see our guides to the redemption period and ICANN's expiry policies.
Reading the status and counting the 30 days
For a domain in the RGP, DENIC's Domain Query shows the date it was deleted and that it is in the grace period. That is all you need:
- Look the domain up in DENIC's Domain Query on denic.de.
- Note the deletion date.
- Count 30 days forward. That is the earliest the domain can be released to anyone.
- Check again as the date approaches. If the last holder re-registered it, the status changes and your backorder has nothing to catch.
Other lookup services may show a deleted .de domain differently, so treat DENIC's Domain Query as the reference. If the domain is still registered and has no deletion date, there is no countdown yet.
Placing a .de domain backorder
A backorder is a request to a service to try to register a domain the moment it becomes available. For .de, that moment is the release after the RGP. Some services accept .de backorders while the name is still in the RGP. The mechanics match any extension, as our domain backorder guide explains:
- It is never guaranteed. Several services, and sometimes people registering by hand, try for the same name at the same moment. Whoever registers first gets it.
- Payment rules vary. Many services charge only if they catch the domain, but each sets its own fee and terms. Read them on the provider's site.
- Several backorders often mean an auction. When more than one customer backorders the same name at one service, that service usually auctions it among them after the catch.
Our article on drop catching explains why speed decides most of these races.
Vet the domain before you backorder
Once you own a deleted .de domain, you take on its history, its backlinks and any problems.
- History. Read Wayback Machine captures from several years. Look for a change of topic or language, gambling or pharma pages, and long parked periods.
- Backlinks. Check whether links come from real sites in the same field or from link networks, and what anchor texts they use.
- Trademarks. A German brand name someone let go can still belong to a trademark holder. Search TMview, which covers EU and many national registers. This is not legal advice.
The hunter.domains domain checker runs these checks for any domain you enter: Wayback history, spam and blacklist checks, DR, Trust Flow and a verdict. To start from domains that already passed those filters, browse the live list of expired domains.
What to confirm at denic.de before you rely on dates
This guide covers what DENIC's RGP, deletion and TRANSIT pages say today, and DENIC can change its rules. Before planning around a date, confirm the current RGP length and exemptions on denic.de. For the backorder itself, read the terms of the service you use: the catch and any auction run on their rules, not DENIC's.
Frequently asked questions
Can I backorder a .de domain?
Yes. Some services accept backorders on .de domains, usually while the name is in DENIC's 30-day Redemption Grace Period. The backorder can only succeed after the RGP ends and the domain is released. If the last holder re-registers it during the RGP, there is nothing to catch.
How long does a deleted .de domain stay in the redemption grace period?
Thirty days from deletion, according to DENIC. The RGP does not apply if the holder waived it in writing, if the domain had a DISPUTE entry, or if DENIC ended the contract after failed holder data verification. Check the deletion date in DENIC's Domain Query and count from there.
Do .de domains have a grace period like .com?
Not in the same way. .com has a registrar grace period after expiry, then a 30-day redemption period and a 5-day pending delete stage. .de has a 30-day RGP that begins after DENIC deletes the domain, with no pending delete stage before release.
What is the DENIC TRANSIT procedure?
TRANSIT starts when a provider stops administering a .de domain. The holder's contract with DENIC stays in force, and DENIC writes to the holder, who must choose a new provider or request deletion by the deadline in the letter. If the holder does nothing, DENIC terminates the contract and deletes the domain.
