.EC domains have a lifecycle that defines the stages and the actions that can or cannot be performed at each stage. The lifecycle begins when a domain name becomes available for registration and ends when it is released. This cycle includes three key moments that determine the domain's status: Registration, Expiration, and Release. Within this lifecycle, there are six stages:
Domain Available: The process starts when the domain is available. Anyone wishing to register a domain must first check its availability. Once confirmed, they can proceed with the domain registration.
Domain Registered: When a request for a domain that is indeed available is submitted to the registrar, the domain is assigned to the person who made the request.
Domain Active: At this stage, the domain is registered and functioning normally. Domain registrations are for a set period, with a minimum of one year and a maximum of five years. At the end of the contracted period, the domain will expire.
Domain in Grace Period: The grace period begins one day after the expiration date, during which the domain stops functioning due to the lack of a renewal request. This period lasts for 10 days, and the renewal cost remains the same as the original registration fee.
Domain in Redemption Period: During this stage, the domain can still be recovered, but the cost is higher than a regular renewal. The redemption period lasts for 30 days.
Premium Domain: At this stage, the domain is managed by NIC Ecuador, which can sell or auction it to any interested person or entity. This period lasts for a calendar year, and the cost is higher than that of the redemption period.
After this stage, the domain is released and becomes available for anyone to register again. The lifecycle will restart from Stage 1 (Domain Available).