.DE Domain Registration, Renewal and Transfer Requirements

This article will describe how to register a .DE domain via the FastComet domain portal. When registering a domain, knowing how things have to happen is crucial. That is why we will highlight all the needed steps to ensure the entire process is as easy as possible. We will also outline all the rules and requirements associated with .DE domains so you can familiarize yourself with them.

This post includes:

• .DE Domain Registration Rules and Requirements
• How to Register .DE Domain Names with FastComet
• Domain Renewal Rules When a .DE Domain Expires
• How to Renew .DE Domain Names While They Are in the RGP
• Are There Any Exemptions From the RGP Provisions
• How to Transfer a .DE Domain

.DE Domain Registration Rules and Requirements

Currently, anyone can register .DE domains, no matter the country they are living in. The only requirements and rules are:

• The Registrant or Administrative Contact must be in Germany.
• A .DE domain name can be registered for one year only and can be renewed for up to a total of two years.
• Registrar Lock is not available for .DE domain names.
• .DE domain names do not have a Money Back Grace Period. That means once a domain is registered, it cannot be deleted for a refund.
• A .DE domain name expires on the last 5th day of the Expiry month. For example:
  • If example.de was registered on January 1, 2022, its Expiry Date becomes January 27, 2023. That is because the Registration term is one year, and the last 5th day of January 2023 is January 27.
  • If example.de was registered on January 31, 2022, its Expiry Date becomes January 27, 2023. Again, that is because the Registration term is one year, and the 5th last day of January 2023 is January 27.
• Renewing a .DE domain name can only happen after the expiration date has passed in the year it was registered. For example:
  • If you registered example.de on January 1, 2022, the Expiry Date of example.de is January 27, 2023. You may, however, renew this domain name only after January 27, 2023, for a further year. That will bring your Expiry Date to January 27, 2024.
  • If you registered example.de on January 31, 2022, the Expiry Date of example.de remains January 27, 2023. However, you may renew this domain name immediately after registration for another year since January 27, 2023, has already passed. The Expiry Date is January 27, 2024.
• The Nameservers a .DE domain is assigned to during the registration process must have unique IP addresses. Additionally, the Nameservers must be already active. If you are registering your domain through us, that has already been handled!

How to Register .DE Domain Names with FastComet

Registering your .DE domain name with FastComet is straightforward. Follow the steps below:

• Log in to your FastComet Client Area;
• In your Client Area, go to Domains → Register New Domain;
• Type the .DE domain name that you want and check for its availability:

• If the domain name is available, it will be automatically added to your cart on the next step, so click on Checkout to proceed:

• On the next page, you can choose what addons to enable for the domain name and purchase a hosting plan to go along with it. Once you are ready, click on Continue:

• Input your information in the respective fields(if it's not already there), and choose your payment method;
• Click on Checkout to finalize your order, which will be completed shortly after.

That is it for registering your .DE domain name. Providing accurate information where requested is vital, so please double-check everything before proceeding!

Domain Renewal Rules When a .DE Domain Expires

If the registration of a .DE domain is terminated (either prematurely by the owner or the domain expires), the domain will be queued for deletion. However, a 30-day cooling-off phase precedes the deletion of the domain, the so-called Redemption Grace Period (abbreviated RGP). During the RGP, the domain can only be re-registered by the last domain holder or by a third party named by the previous domain holder.

You can check if a domain is in the RGP by looking it up online. For instance, you can perform a WHOIS check at who.is, which will tell you the status of the domain, and if it is in the RGP. We also have an article on the different statuses a domain can have if you would like to learn more.

How to Renew .DE Domain Names While They Are in the RGP

The Redemption Grace Period allows the current domain holder to restore the domain name through their Registrar within 30 days. If you registered your domain through us, you can do that via your Client Area on fastcomet.com.

Once you have logged in your account with us, you can go to the Domains section, where you will find all the domains you have registered with us. Clicking on Manage Domain will allow you to renew the domain if it is within the correct time frame. Of course, you can always contact us via our Live Chat or open a new ticket if you have any questions or concerns about the renewal process.

If you have not purchased your .DE domain through us, the same steps should still apply. Simply log into your account on the website you got your domain from and find your domain name. There should be an option to renew it; if not, their support team should be able to assist you instead.

Are There Any Exemptions From the RGP Provisions

RGP provisions will not apply in the following cases:

• DENIC can deviate from the 30-day cooling-off phase for a .DE domain in RGP if the last domain holder waives the Redemption Grace Period by an explicit declaration to DENIC. 
• If a .DE domain is subject to a dispute entry at the time the domain expires, 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.

How to Transfer a .DE Domain

Fortunately, a .DE domain is as easily transferred to a different Registrar as any other domain type. We have an excellent tutorial right here if you wish to transfer your .DE domain to us. We also have a tutorial on transferring your domain away from us, in case that is what you want to do.

However, if you want to transfer your .DE domain to us or any other hosting company, but your current Registrar is not responding to your requests or questions, DENIC (the company responsible for the .DE domains) can help you with that!

Based on DENIC's information, there is another option that can be performed as a last resort in cases where the owner of a domain name wants to change their Registrar, but the old Registrar/Company is no longer in business or refuses to cooperate. In those cases, the domain holder may ask DENIC directly for assistance.

Here is what needs to be done:

• Contact the provider to whom you are transferring the domain in the future.
• The future provider initiates the creation of a password, the AuthInfo, directly at DENIC, either themselves or if they are not a DENIC member via a member of the Cooperative.
• DENIC sends the AuthInfo to the holder of the domain by registered mail. The letter is addressed to the holder's address stored in the DENIC database.
• The newly created AuthInfo is stored as a hash in DENIC's domain database.
• Then, communicate the AuthInfo to the new provider.
• The new provider submits a provider transfer request with the AuthInfo to DENIC.
• If the submitted AuthInfo is identical to the one stored with DENIC, the domain is moved to the new provider without further delay.

Read more on the matter at DENIC.

Feel free to ask if you have any questions via Live Chat or our ticketing system. Anytime you need help with anything hosting-related — you can count on our experts. We work 24/7 to ensure you and your projects get the deserved attention.

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