Understanding the Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP)

What is the Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP)?

Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) (roughly:Domain status codes provided by the extensible provisioning protocol) is also known as “Domain status codes”. The term describes a domain's registration state. Every domain has at least one status code.

Is your domain about to be canceled?

Is the domain locked to prevent unauthorized transfer, update, or deletion?

Are there any restrictions or pending requirements you need to resolve?

Understanding a domain's EPP status codes will answer all of the questions above.

Understanding EPP status codes matters a great deal to a registrant, because they are the “key” to answering three important questions:

Why has your domain stopped working?

Is the domain protected against unauthorized hijacking?

When does your domain registration expire?

To look up a domain status code, you can use a WHOIS tool by visiting:https://lookup.icann.org/enor your domain registrar's website. The domain status code will be shown in the search results.

How many EDP status codes are there?

There are currently two kinds of EPP status codes:

• Client status codes (Client Status Codes).
• Server status codes (Server Status Codes).

Client status codes are set by registrars. Some registrars set certain status codes automatically when you register a domain, while many others set them only if you ask.

Server status codes are set by registrars and take precedence over client status codes. When you run a Whois lookup for a domain, you will be able to identify both of these status codes.

Below are the 17 standardized EPP status codes (see:std69) together with the Registry Grace Period (RGP) status codes (Registration renewal period) (see at:RFC3915) is presented in 2 tables:

Table 1 lists the server and RGP status codes

Table 2 lists the client status codes.

These two tables explain what each status means, why it matters to you and what you need to do about each one.

Server status codes: codes set by your domain registry

EPP Status Code	RDAP status mapping (Registration Data Access Protocol status)	Meaning	What does the registrant need to do?
addPeriod	Add time	After registering a domain for the first time, you receive a renewal period provided by the domain registrar.	This status is set during the first few days after your domain name is registered. There is no problem with your domain name.
autoRenewPeriod	Automatic renewal	This is the period provided by the domain registrar after the registration term ends and the domain is renewed (auto-renewal).	This status appears for a limited period after you register your domain for automatic renewal. If you do not want to pay the renewal fee, you can contact your registrar to agree an arrangement under its own policy.
Inactive	Not working	This status code indicates that the name server information is not linked to your domain. Your domain is not activated in DNS and does not resolve.	If the domain remains in this state, contact your registrar and ask them to address the delay in bringing the domain into operation.
ok	Operation	This is the standard state of a domain after registration. At this point your domain has no prohibitions and no pending operations to deal with.	Ask your registrar to apply status restrictions such as clienTransferProhibited, clientDeleteProhibited and clienUpdateProhibited. This helps you prevent unauthorized transfer, deletion or updating of the domain.
pendingCreate	Pending creation	Your domain creation request has been received and is being processed.	If the TLD is in a special registration phase (for example, the sunrise period), this indicates the domain will be allocated at the end of that phase. If the TLD is not in a special registration phase and you are NOT the listed registrant, you should contact your domain registrar immediately to resolve the issue.
pendingDelete	Pending deletion	This status code may appear together with redemptionPeriod or pendingRestore, in which case its meaning depends on which of those statuses is set on the domain. If it is not combined with redemptionPeriod, the status code indicates that your domain has been in redemptionPeriod for 30 days and you did not restore it during that 30-day window. Your domain will remain in this state for a few more days. It will then be deleted and removed from the registry database. Once deleted, the domain may be registered again in line with the registry's policy.	If you want to keep your domain, contact the registrar immediately to discuss the options available.
pendingRenew	Pending renewal	This status code means your domain renewal request has been received and is being processed.	If you do not want to renew the domain or pay the renewal fee, contact your registrar promptly to discuss the options available.
pendingRestore	Pending restore	This status code indicates that your registrar has asked the registry to restore your domain (which is in redemptionPeriod). The registry will hold the domain in pendingRestore while it waits for the registrar to supply the mandatory restore documentation. If the registrar does not provide that documentation to the registry operator within the prescribed period to confirm the restore request, the domain returns to redemptionPeriod.	Monitor your domain's status code closely over the 7-day window to confirm that your registrar has submitted the correct restore documentation within the required period. If the window closes and the domain returns to redemptionPeriod status, contact your registrar to resolve whatever is preventing the restore documentation from being submitted.
pendingTransfer	Pending registrar transfer	This status code indicates that a request to transfer your domain to a new registrar has been received and is being processed.	If you did not request a domain transfer, contact your registrar immediately and ask them to reject the transfer request on your behalf.
pendingUpdate	Pending update	This status code means the registrar has received an update request and is processing your domain.	If you did not request a domain update, contact your registrar for assistance.
redemptionPeriod	Redemption period	This status code indicates that your registrar has requested the registry to delete your domain. Your domain will remain in this status for 30 days. Five days after the redemptionPeriod ends, your domain will be removed from the registry's database and can be registered again.	If you want to keep your domain, you must contact your registrar immediately to resolve whatever issue caused the registrar to request deletion of the domain and triggered the redemptionPeriod status on it. Once all outstanding issues are resolved and all required fees are paid in full, your registrar will restore the domain.
renewPeriod	The domain is renewed	After the registrar renews the domain registration term, the domain is given the renewPeriod status. If the registrar deletes the domain during this period, the registry issues the registrar a credit to offset the renewal cost.	This is an informational status applied for a limited period, or it means your domain has been renewed by the registrar. If you did not request the domain renewal or do not wish to pay the renewal fee, contact your registrar directly to discuss the options available.
serverDeleteProhibited	Prevent domain deletion	This status code prevents your domain name from being deleted without authorization. It is not especially common, but it is typically applied during legal disputes, at your request, or when the domain is in redemptionPeriod.	This status indicates that there is an issue with your domain that needs to be resolved. In that case, contact your registrar for more information and to address the issue. If there is no problem with the domain and you simply want to delete it, contact your domain registrar and ask them to work with the registry operator to remove this status code. Some registry operators also offer a registry lock service, which lets registrants set this status through their registrar as an additional safeguard against unauthorized deletion. Removing this status can take longer than removing clientTransferProhibited, because the registrar must forward your request to the registry and wait for the restriction to be lifted.
serverHold	Not activated in DNS	This status code is set by the registry operator. Your domain is not activated in DNS.	If you have already supplied delegation information (nameservers), this status indicates that there is an issue with your domain that needs to be resolved. In this case, contact your registrar to supply further information. If your domain has no issues but you need to resolve a DNS problem, contact your registrar to supply the delegation information required.
serverRenewProhibited	Cannot be renewed	This status code indicates that the registry operator will not allow your registrar to renew your domain. The serverRenewProhibited status is not especially common; it is generally applied during a legal dispute or when your domain is at risk of deletion.	This status usually indicates an issue with your domain. Contact your registrar for more information and to resolve it. If there is no problem with the domain and you simply want to renew it, contact your registrar and ask them to work with the registry operator to remove this status code. The process can take longer than for clientRenewProhibited, because the registrar must forward your request to the registry and wait for the restriction to be lifted.
serverTransferProhibited	Domain transfer is not permitted	This status does not allow you to transfer your domain from your current registrar to another registrar. It is an uncommon status, typically applied in legal disputes or other situations, either at your request or when the redemptionPeriod status appears.	This status indicates that there is an issue with your domain that needs to be resolved promptly. Contact your registrar to request more information and to resolve the issue. If there is no problem with the domain and you simply want to transfer it to another registrar, contact your registrar and ask them to work with the registry operator to remove this status code. Some registry operators also offer a registry lock service, which lets registrants set this status as a safeguard against unauthorized transfers. Removing this status can take longer than removing clientTransferProhibited, because the registrar must forward your request to the registry and wait for the restriction to be lifted.
serverUpdateProhibited	No domain updates	This status code indicates that your domain will be locked to prevent updates. It is an uncommon status, usually applied during a legal dispute, at your request, or when the redemptionPeriod status is present.	This status indicates that there is an issue with your domain that needs to be resolved. If so, contact your registrar for more information or to resolve the issue. If there is no problem with your domain and you simply want to update it, contact your domain registrar and ask them to work with the registry operator to remove this status code. Some registry operators also offer a registry lock service, which lets registrants set this status as an extra safeguard against unauthorized updates made through the registrar. Removing this status code can take longer than removing clientUpdateProhibited, because your registrar must forward your request to the registry and wait for the restriction to be lifted.
transferPeriod	Transfer duration	After a domain has been successfully transferred from one registrar to another, it enters the transferPeriod status. If the new registrar deletes the domain during this period, the registry issues the registrar a credit to offset the transfer cost.	This status appears for a set period after a domain has been transferred to a registrar. If you did not request a transfer, contact your registrar to have it checked so that you do not lose the domain.

Client status codes: codes set by your domain registrar

clientDeleteProhibited	Customers are not permitted to delete the domain	This status code means the domain registry has rejected your request to delete the domain.	This status indicates that you cannot delete the domain registration. It helps prevent unauthorized deletion resulting from hijacking or fraud. If you want to delete your domain, you must first contact your domain registrar and ask them to remove this status code.
clientHold	Domain on hold	This status code indicates that the registry has locked your domain in the DNS. As a result, the domain will not resolve. It is not an especially common status code; it is generally issued in cases of legal dispute, non-payment, or an incomplete domain registration record.	Generally, this status indicates that there is a problem with your domain that needs to be resolved. If so, contact your domain registrar to resolve it. If your domain has no actual problem but you still need this status removed, contact your domain registrar, provide your domain records, and ask them to remove this status code.
clientRenewProhibited	Customers are not permitted to renew the domain	This status code indicates that the registry has refused your domain renewal request. It is not especially common and usually appears during legal disputes or when your domain is being deleted.	This status usually indicates that your domain has an issue that needs to be resolved. If so, contact your domain registrar to resolve it. If your domain has no issue and you simply want to renew it, contact your domain registrar and ask them to remove this status code.
clientTransferProhibited	Customers are not permitted to transfer the domain	This status code means the registry has rejected the request to transfer the domain from your current registrar to a new one.	This status indicates that you cannot transfer the domain registration. It helps prevent unauthorized transfers resulting from hijacking or fraud. If you want to transfer your domain, you must first contact your domain registrar and ask them to remove this status code.
clientUpdateProhibited	Customers are not permitted to update domain information	This status code means the domain registry has rejected the domain update request.	This status indicates that you cannot update the domain. It helps prevent unauthorized, fraudulent updates. To update your domain, you must contact your registrar and ask them to remove this status code.