What you will need to transfer your domain to another registrar
- A registrar to transfer to
- A valid domain that is not locked or expired
- Your domain EPP/Authcode
- A valid registrant/admin domain contact email address
Domain name transfers are handled by the gaining registrar so you will need to ask the registrar you are transferring the domain to for specific details regarding their procedures. They will typically need the domain EPP/Authcode and require you to authenticate yourself via the domain registrant/admin contact email address.
What you should consider before transferring a domain
- A domains name servers cannot be modified during the transfer process.
- A domains whois contact details cannot be modified during the transfer process.
- While the transfer process is free for all registrars, some TLDs (domain extensions) require domain renewal during transfer. This is a registry requirement and does not relate to the gaining registrars company policies.
- Some domains must be at least 60 days old before you attempt to transfer it to another provider. This is a registry requirement and does not relate to the gaining registrars company policies.
Expected Wait Times for Domain Transfer to Complete
This depends on the TLD of the domain name you are transferring. Below is a list of the most popular TLDs with their associated wait times, however please note those which are NOT listed are likely to have the same process as .com domains.
- .com, .net, .org, .cc, .biz, .info, .nz : up to 7 days
- .au : 48 hours from the moment of confirmation
- .uk: immediate upon registrant confirmation of the update of the IPS-Tag (see article for more information on .UK transfer)
Do transfer requests time out?
Yes, if you submit a transfer request and do not confirm it, it will naturally time out after 72 hours. You cannot confirm a transfer request after it has timed out. If you receive a notice that your transfer request timed out – you need to re-submit your transfer request at the gaining registrar. Make sure to confirm as per instructions this time.
I didn’t receive the confirmation request for my transfer
If you didn’t get an email requesting to confirm the transfer, then the Whois information of your domain name must hold an incorrect/out of date email address of yours. Login to your Account and modify the Domain Registrant Contact information to ensure that the Whois details are up to date, to allow the transfer process to run through to the next step. If you discover you have not received the email, the transfer will time out and you can try again after updating your contact details. You cannot update Whois information while your domain is pending transfer, therefore you must wait for transfer to time out before correcting your details.
Can I transfer an expired domain?
No, domains must not be expired when you attempt to transfer them. You need to renew the domain at the current provider if it has already expired. Note: all registrars are required to notify you at least 3 months prior to your domain expiring. You may transfer at any time during the 90 day period after the first notice of expiry without forfeiting any of your registration period.
