TLD LIFECYCLESUPDATED 2026-05-06

.fr domain lifecycle

.fr is operated by AFNIC. Approximately 60-70 days from expiry to drop. French businesses, French audiences, EU-based operations.

At a glance

RegistryAFNIC
Launched1986
Registrations~4 million
Lifecycle modelcctld-strict
Auto-renew gracen/a
Redemption period30 days
Pending delete30 days
Total expiry-to-dropApproximately 60-70 days from expiry to drop
Transfer lockVariable
Annual renewal$10–$20 retail
Redemption fee$30–$80
WHOIS / RDAPFull RDAP; PII redacted post-GDPR

What .fr is for

.fr is the French ccTLD operated by AFNIC. Like .us, it has a residency requirement — registrants must be in the EU/EEA, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein.

Registrations are around 4 million. The lifecycle is modified from the gTLD standard — a 30-day grace plus 30-day pending delete, totaling roughly 60-70 days.

Best fit: Entities with a French or EU presence (residency, business registration).

Special rules and quirks

  • EU/EEA residency requirement.
  • Modified lifecycle: 30-day grace + 30-day pending delete (no separate redemption phase).
  • AFNIC-specific dispute resolution.

Buyer notes

  • Cannot register without EU presence.
  • Lifecycle is faster than gTLDs (60-70 days vs 80).

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be in France to register a .fr?

EU/EEA presence is required, not specifically French. EU citizens, EU-incorporated entities, and residents of Switzerland/Norway/Iceland/Liechtenstein qualify.

How long does an expired .fr take to drop?

Approximately 60-70 days.

How does the .fr lifecycle differ from .com?

AFNIC uses a 30-day grace + 30-day pending delete instead of the gTLD's 45+30+5 model. Total time is shorter.

Are .fr WHOIS records public?

Limited post-GDPR. Registrant PII is redacted; technical and registrar information is available.

Who runs .fr?

AFNIC, the French national network information centre.

Related TLDs

References

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