addPeriod: What This Domain Status Means
addPeriod is the grace period provided after the initial registration of a domain name. Per ICANN, if the registrar deletes the domain during this window, the registry may credit the registrar for the cost of the registration.
If you just registered a domain and see this code, everything is normal.
What addPeriod means
addPeriod is one of the Registry Grace Period (RGP) statuses defined in RFC 3915, layered on top of the core EPP statuses from RFC 5731. It exists for billing mechanics between registrars and registries: a registration deleted almost immediately (a typo registration, a fraud reversal) can be refunded to the registrar.
ICANN describes it as an informative status set for the first several days of your domain's registration — at gTLD registries the add grace period is commonly five calendar days, though the exact window is registry policy, and ccTLDs may not use RGP statuses at all.
Is it good or bad news?
Neither — ICANN's own note is that there is no issue with your domain name. It's a timestamp in status form: this domain is brand new. The code disappears on its own when the grace window ends.
One side effect worth knowing as a buyer: drop-catchers and speculative registrants sometimes exploit add grace refunds ("domain tasting" historically), so a domain cycling in and out of addPeriod repeatedly can indicate speculative churn.
What to do about it
- •Nothing — it expires on its own within days.
- •If you registered the domain by mistake, this is the cheapest moment to undo it: ask your registrar immediately whether deletion within the add grace period earns a refund (registrar policies vary even when the registry offers credit).
- •Note that ICANN's 60-day transfer restriction after initial registration outlasts addPeriod — you can't transfer a brand-new domain to another registrar even after this code clears.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does addPeriod last?
ICANN describes it as the first several days of registration; at gTLD registries the add grace period is commonly five calendar days. The exact length is registry policy, and ccTLD registries can differ or omit it entirely.
Can I get a refund if I delete a domain during addPeriod?
The registry may credit your registrar for the registration cost — that's the purpose of the window. Whether the registrar passes the refund to you is their policy, so ask before assuming.