.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
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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