Holiday checklist for a .pl domain registrant

Don’t leave your .pl domain unattended, even during the holidays. What should you remember before going on vacation?

A domain name is often one of the most important elements of an online presence — whether for companies, organizations, or individual users. Many people register a .pl domain when creating a website, online store, or business email. It often looks similar: choosing a name, a few clicks, an attractive first - year offer - and done. The problem comes later. After several months, not everyone remembers when the domain’s billing period ends, which registrar it was registered with, or what contact details were provided during the order. Before the holidays, it’s worth taking a few minutes to check this information. This way, you can avoid a situation where, during your vacation or right after you return, it turns out that the domain requires urgent action — or that it’s already too late to recover it.

Check your domain’s expiration date!

The most important thing is to verify the end date of the domain’s billing period. Many registrars send reminders about the upcoming expiration, but such messages do not always reach the recipient. Sometimes they land in the spam folder; other times they are sent to an email address that the registrant no longer uses. If more than six months have passed since registering the domain, it’s worth checking its status and expiration date yourself. This information can be obtained on the .pl Domain Registry website: https://www.dns.pl/en/whois. Before going on holiday, make sure that the expiration date does not fall during your absence or shortly after your planned return. Leaving this until the last minute may result in having to handle formalities during your vacation, and sometimes also problems with access to services that depend on the domain.

Make sure your contact details are up to date!

The email address assigned to a .pl domain registrant is more important than it might seem. It is where notifications about the upcoming end of the billing period may be sent, as well as messages related to domain management and those required for certain administrative operations. Current contact details are also important for communication with the .pl Domain Registry. If your email address, phone number, or other contact information has changed, make sure to update it before going on holiday.

Domain transfer to another registrar – what should you know?

Yes - you can change the registrar that manages your domain! Transferring a .pl domain to another registrar is not complicated, but it does require proper preparation. If you are considering moving your domain to another provider, plan it in advance — especially if you are about to go on vacation. The dns.pl website provides a list of registrars that have a relevant agreement with NASK, which operates the .pl Domain Registry. This is a good place to check which registrars support .pl domains and to compare their services. When choosing, consider not only pricing, but also the features they offer. To transfer a domain, you need an AuthInfo code issued by your current registrar. The procedures for obtaining it may vary depending on the registrar, so it’s worth familiarizing yourself with your provider’s requirements in advance. After starting the transfer, you will also need to confirm the operation using a link sent to the registrant’s email address. If you plan to change your registrar before the holidays, it’s best to start the process well in advance.

What happens if the domain is not renewed?

Not everyone realizes that a domain is not granted permanently. After the billing period ends, an unrenewed .pl domain is automatically removed from the public DNS system and enters a state where it is no longer visible on the internet — meaning the website becomes unavailable and email stops working. During this time, it is still possible to renew the domain through the registrar, but often for an additional fee. This period lasts 30 days and is the last moment to take action to maintain the domain. If the domain is not renewed within this time, its lifecycle ends. As a result, the domain name becomes available for registration again. In practice, this means that a domain previously used by a company, organization, or individual can be registered by someone else. The more attractive, short, or recognizable the domain name, the greater the risk that it will quickly find a new owner. That is why monitoring domain deadlines is so important — especially before a longer absence.