The Redemption Grace Period is a protective window after a domain is deleted. During this time the domain is not freely registrable — for .de, per DENIC, for 30 days only the former holder or a third party named by them can re-register it. Only afterwards does it become free for any interested party.
What the RGP is for
The Redemption Grace Period (also called quarantine or grace period) protects against the final loss of an accidentally deleted domain. The former holder gets a "second chance" to recover the domain before it becomes available to third parties.
The process for .de
- The domain is deleted.
- The 30-day RGP begins. Per DENIC the domain can now be re-registered "only for the last domain holder or for a third party named by them". DENIC sends the AuthInfo to the last holder by registered mail.
- After 30 days without re-registration the domain becomes available to any interested party.
Exceptions per DENIC: a written waiver of the RGP is possible; with a DISPUTE entry the RGP does not apply.
Why this matters for catching
The RGP defines the point from which a domain can be caught at all. A backorder targets the public release after the period ends. The ReCatch process uses DENIC’s "named third party" rule and enables a takeover already on the last RGP day.
Differences by TLD
Whether and how long an RGP exists is set by the respective registry. Compare in the TLD guides. Basics: Glossary: RGP, auth code.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the RGP for .de?
Per DENIC, 30 days after deletion. Other TLDs may differ.
Can anyone register the domain during the RGP?
No. For .de, during this period only the former holder or a third party named by them can re-register it. For everyone else it is free only after it ends.
Sources
- DENIC – Redemption Grace Period (.de) — accessed 2026-08-12
- DENIC – Deleting a .de Domain — accessed 2026-08-12