.ai Domain Expiry Checker
Find out when a .ai domain expires and what happens if nobody renews it. Your registrar sets the grace; unsold names end in a 14-day auction.
Try it with character.ai
What happens when a .ai domain is not renewed
| Phase | How long | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Grace and restore | Set by your registrar | nic.ai publishes no fixed grace or redemption length, so your registrar's terms say how long you can still renew. |
| Expired-name auction | Not published | Lapsed .ai names go into daily registry auctions before anyone can register them normally. |
| DropZone | 14 days | Names nobody bought at auction are offered to registrars at a price that falls each day, in a one-hour daily bidding window. |
Where the .ai expiry date comes from
We read the expiry date from the registry's RDAP server, the modern replacement for WHOIS. That is the registry's own record.
https://rdap.identitydigital.services/rdap/
WHOIS (port 43): whois.nic.ai
Registry: Government of Anguilla (run by Identity Digital)
Good to know about .ai
- The Government of Anguilla can suspend, cancel or transfer any .ai name to fight abuse or comply with law, without limitation.
- The registry counted 48,272 .ai domains in July 2018 and 598,007 in January 2025, a twelvefold rise in under seven years.
- Identity Digital moved expired .ai auctions from monthly to daily in 2025, and they raised over $600,000 in about a month.
Last checked 2026-10-07. Sources: nic.ai/faq, identity.digital/newsroom/anguilla-and-…, iana.org/domains/root/db/ai.html
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check when a .ai domain expires?
Enter the domain in the checker above. We read the expiry date from the registry's RDAP server, the modern replacement for WHOIS. That is the registry's own record. The result shows the expiry date and the days left.
What happens when a .ai domain is not renewed?
Your registrar sets the grace; unsold names end in a 14-day auction. In order: Grace and restore (set by your registrar), then Expired-name auction (not published), then DropZone (14 days).
What can get a .ai domain suspended?
Abusive use, which nic.ai defines to include malware, phishing, DNS hijacking, spam, botnets, denial-of-service attacks and infringing a copyright or trademark. The Government of Anguilla can also lock or redirect a name to comply with a law enforcement request or to correct a registrar's mistake.
Who runs the .ai registry?
Government of Anguilla (run by Identity Digital). Renewal prices and the grace period you actually get are set by your registrar within the registry's rules.
Don't find out from a dead website
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