You Can't Renew This Domain Unless You Change the Owner — A Rare but Real TLD Quirk
Published: 22 Jul, 2025

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Domain renewal is supposed to be straightforward. But what if the registrar’s panel blocks renewal unless you change the registrant first — even if the current owner wants to keep the domain?

This post documents an obscure, underreported issue affecting certain ccTLDs and legacy domain setups — one that can result in irreversible loss if unnoticed.

The Problem: Registrar Blocks Renewal Unless Owner Is Updated

Some country-code TLDs or legacy registry systems can restrict renewal based on outdated or mismatched registrant data. The result? You log in, click Renew, and get:

“Operation not permitted for current registrant.”

This typically occurs when:

  • The registrant's legal entity has changed or no longer matches the registry database.

  • Certain registrars require “ownership confirmation” every few years.

  • The domain is under a deprecated contract or contact model.

Real-World Cases Documented:

  • .fr domains with outdated SIREN numbers must be transferred to a new registrant before renewal.

  • .pt domains cannot be renewed if the registrant entity no longer exists in the national registry.

  • .it may require an internal ownership change due to GDPR enforcement mismatches.

  • Some .cn registrars block renewal unless identity verification is re-validated (even if the data hasn't changed).

Why This Happens:

These restrictions typically arise from:

  • National registry policies enforcing real-world business validation.

  • API limitations in older registry systems.

  • Internal security policies from registrars dealing with KYC/AML compliance.

What You Risk:

  • Permanent expiration: Some registries skip the redemption period altogether.

  • Loss of ownership: A deleted domain might be instantly auctioned.

  • Disruption: If tied to email, DNS, or licensing, downtime can be severe.

How to Detect This Early:

  1. Attempt renewal at least 60 days before expiration.

  2. Check for warnings or errors inside your registrar panel.

  3. Use the WHOIS Lookup tool to verify if registrant changes have occurred silently.

  4. Use Domain Health Check to identify inconsistencies in DNS or WHOIS data.

Fixing It (Before It’s Too Late):

If your renewal is blocked:

  1. Initiate a registrant update (even if you're just re-entering the same name).

  2. Use a registrar with API-level access to the registry (e.g. Gandi, NameSRS, 101domain).

  3. Confirm registrant details match registry-side records exactly (legal name, ID numbers, etc).

  4. In urgent cases, consider transferring out to a registrar with manual override capabilities.

Conclusion:

This is a niche issue, but one with real-world impact — especially for domain investors and professionals managing legacy portfolios. At Infowebstats, we track these anomalies to help you avoid silent catastrophes.

Use our tools to audit your domains periodically — because when it comes to expiration, the edge cases are where you lose everything.