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To transfer a domain, start a transfer with the new registrar, enter the transfer code (Auth-Code), and approve the requested confirmations. Before you begin, check that the domain is eligible and unlocked, and make sure you can access the registrant email. A registrar transfer changes who manages the registration; it does not move your website, email service, DNS hosting, or other business assets.
What a domain transfer changes—and what it does not
A registrar transfer changes the registrar of record for a domain name. It does not automatically migrate website files, email hosting, DNS hosting, certificates, or other services. Those may remain with their current providers, but you should plan separately for any service you intend to move.
The Registered Name Holder—the registrant—is the party authorized to approve or deny a transfer under ICANN policy. An administrative contact or another person should act only if explicitly authorized. Confirm that you have authority over the registration and can sign in to the current registrar account before making changes.
Check whether the domain can be transferred now
For transfers between ICANN-accredited registrars, a domain may be ineligible if it is within 60 days of its initial registration, within 60 days of a completed transfer, or subject to a 60-day Change of Registrant lock. ICANN also identifies denial grounds related to UDRP or URS proceedings, court orders, and pending transfer disputes. Country-code domains may follow different registry rules.
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Check the domain’s status in the current registrar account or an RDAP lookup. If a registrar lock is active, use the registrar’s documented unlock control when policy permits. A lock is distinct from the 60-day restrictions: removing a registrar lock does not override a policy-based waiting period.
Plan around contact changes
A Change of Registrant—such as changing the registrant name, organization, or email address—can trigger a 60-day inter-registrar lock. ICANN advises completing the transfer before a planned registrant change when possible. A registrar may offer an opt-out, but it must be available and selected before the change; do not assume the option exists.
Get the Auth-Code from the current registrar
The Auth-Code is also called an AuthInfo Code, Auth-Info Code, authorization code, or transfer code. It is created by the registrar to help identify the domain holder and prevent unauthorized transfers. Request it from the current registrar through its authenticated account or support process, and keep it private.
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If the registrar does not provide the code or a compliant way to retrieve it, ICANN provides a transfer complaint route. Keep access to the registrant email working: authorization and confirmation messages are part of the process.
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- At the gaining (new) registrar, choose its domain-transfer option and enter the exact domain name.
- Enter the Auth-Code supplied by the current registrar and submit the transfer request.
- Review the gaining registrar’s transfer price, renewal term, privacy settings, DNS behavior, and transfer-specific terms before confirming.
- Follow the gaining registrar’s authorization steps and monitor the registrant email for any requested confirmation.
Registrar interfaces and labels differ, so follow the current instructions shown by both registrars. The current registrar may send a confirmation of the transfer request; registry notifications are handled between registrars.
How long does a domain transfer take?
ICANN’s Transfer Policy says that if the Registrar of Record does not respond to a registry transfer notification within five calendar days, the transfer is approved by default. That is a policy response deadline, not a guarantee that every transfer will finish within five days. Total time can vary with when the transfer is submitted, required confirmations, registry processing, and registrar operations. Wait for the gaining registrar’s completion notice before treating the move as complete.
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Keep services working during the registrar change
A registrar change does not itself move DNS hosting, website hosting, or email. Before starting, note where those services are hosted and how the domain’s DNS is managed. Review the nameservers and DNS records during and after the transfer, and avoid making unrelated DNS changes unless you intend to change how the site or mail is routed.
Also check certificate arrangements and account security separately. If you are moving hosting or mail as well, treat that as a distinct migration with its own timing and verification rather than assuming it is part of the registrar transfer.
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- Confirm the new registrar in its account or in RDAP.
- Check that nameservers and DNS records are as intended, then verify that the website and email resolve correctly.
- Confirm the registration’s expiration date, renewal settings, and billing with the new registrar.
- Enable the account security controls available at the new registrar.
A completed inter-registrar transfer generally starts another 60-day period when the domain cannot be transferred again. ICANN policy recognizes exceptions, including a permitted return to the original registrar or a direction arising from dispute resolution.
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Choose a gaining registrar that fits the domain
Compare the full transfer and renewal cost rather than focusing only on an introductory transfer price. Also consider support quality, how clearly the registrar explains Auth-Code retrieval and transfer approvals, DNS and nameserver tools, privacy options, security features, renewal terms, and support for the specific TLD. For a country-code domain, confirm the gaining registrar supports that registry’s eligibility and authorization requirements.
Scope of the ICANN rules
The timing and transfer rules described here are the baseline for transfers between ICANN-accredited registrars, especially for generic top-level domains (gTLDs). Country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) can have registry-specific eligibility, documentation, authorization, and timing rules. Check the relevant registry and both registrars’ current instructions for the particular domain.
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