Who runs it
.fr is administered by AFNIC, and its expiry process is a registry that can suspend for contact-data reasons as well as for non-payment.
What happens after expiry
AFNIC uses a deletion process with a period during which the previous holder may recover the domain.
The grace period
There is a redemption phase after expiry, generally around 30 days, followed by release.
Recovery after that
Recovery during the redemption phase is handled through your registrar, at a fee above normal renewal.
Worth knowing about .fr
AFNIC applies eligibility rules tied to presence in the EU. It also operates a verification process that can suspend a domain independently of renewal if contact details cannot be verified.
What is true of every extension
- The domain stops resolving the moment it expires. The website and the email both stop at once, because both depend on the same records.
- Your registrar panel may still show the domain as active while the rest of the internet already treats it as gone.
- Every stage after expiry costs more than renewing did, and the last stage cannot be undone at any price.
Registry policies change. The shape of the process below is stable, but confirm the exact windows with your registrar before relying on a specific number.