Domain Transfers

To transfer a domain, first unlock it at your current registrar and obtain the EPP authorization code (also called an auth code or transfer key). Then initiate the transfer at your new registrar by entering the domain name and auth code. You will receive a confirmation email, and the transfer typically completes within 5–7 days after approval. Transfers usually add one year to the registration period.

Most domain transfers complete within 5–7 calendar days for generic TLDs (.com, .net, .org), as set by ICANN policy. The process can be faster if the losing registrar immediately approves the transfer, or slower if there are disputes or delays in responding to confirmation emails. Some ccTLDs have different transfer timelines governed by their own registry policies.

ICANN requires that gTLD transfers include at least one year of renewal, so you will pay at least one year's registration fee to the new registrar — which is essentially the transfer fee. The total cost varies by registrar and TLD. Some registrars offer discounted transfer pricing as an incentive to switch, while ccTLD transfers may have different fee structures set by their respective registries.

ICANN policy prohibits transfers of gTLDs within 60 days of initial registration or within 60 days of a previous transfer. This 60-day lock is designed to prevent fraudulent transfers. If you need to move a domain sooner, you may need to wait out this period, though some registrars allow exceptions in documented cases of error.

An EPP auth code (also called an authorization code, transfer key, or EPP key) is a unique password-like string that your current registrar provides to authorize a domain transfer. It proves that you have the registrant's permission to move the domain. You request it from your current registrar's control panel, then provide it to the gaining registrar to initiate the transfer.

A registrar change and a domain transfer are the same thing — both refer to moving your domain's management from one ICANN-accredited registrar to another. The term 'transfer' is the official ICANN term and involves an EPP auth code, a 5–7 day approval window, and an automatic one-year renewal of the registration period. By contrast, a 'domain push' or internal transfer moves a domain between accounts at the same registrar and usually completes instantly without an EPP code.

ccTLD transfers are possible but governed by the individual registry's own rules, not the standard ICANN inter-registrar transfer policy. Some ccTLDs — such as .uk, .eu, and .de — have fully automated transfer systems, while others require paper forms, local contact addresses, or residency of the registrant. A few ccTLD registries do not permit transfers between registrars at all, requiring cancellation and re-registration instead. Always check the specific registry's transfer policy before initiating.

Email delivery is controlled by your domain's MX records in DNS, not by which registrar holds the domain. As long as your DNS settings remain unchanged during the transfer, your email will continue to work without interruption. The risk arises only if you also migrate your DNS or nameservers at the same time — in that case, plan the DNS cutover carefully and lower TTLs in advance to reduce propagation delay. If your email is hosted through your current registrar, arrange a new host before initiating the transfer.

Transferring a domain that is close to expiration is technically possible but risky. ICANN requires a gTLD transfer to include at least one additional year of registration, which effectively renews the domain. However, many registrars block outbound transfers within the last 30 days of a registration period to protect customers from accidental loss. The safest approach is to renew your domain first, then initiate the transfer — this prevents the domain from expiring mid-process and gives you a clean year at the new registrar.

A bulk domain transfer moves a large number of domains from one registrar to another in a single coordinated process rather than one by one. Most major registrars provide a CSV upload or API endpoint for bulk transfer requests, accepting domain names and their corresponding EPP auth codes simultaneously. Bulk transfers are common when a business is acquired, when a domain portfolio is sold, or when a company consolidates its holdings under a single registrar for simpler management. Pricing discounts may apply for large volumes.

Your DNS settings are stored on your nameservers, not with your registrar, so a standard transfer does not delete your DNS records. After the transfer completes, your nameserver delegation is preserved and your site, email, and other services continue to resolve as before. The exception is if you were using the old registrar's own hosted DNS service — in that case, you should set up equivalent DNS records at your new provider before switching nameservers.

In a domain transfer, the gaining registrar is the new registrar you are moving the domain to, while the losing registrar is the current registrar you are leaving. The process is initiated at the gaining registrar, which contacts the registry to request the transfer. The losing registrar receives a notification and has five days to explicitly approve or deny the request — if it neither approves nor denies, ICANN policy deems the transfer automatically approved after five days.

A registrar can legitimately deny a transfer if the domain is within 60 days of registration or a previous transfer, if the domain is locked, if there is an active dispute, or if your account has an outstanding balance. It is illegal under ICANN policy for a registrar to deny a transfer for any other reason — for example, as a business tactic to prevent you from leaving. If you believe a transfer is being wrongfully blocked, you can file a complaint through ICANN's transfer complaint process.

ICANN's Transfer Complaint Process (formerly the Registrar Transfer Dispute Resolution Policy) allows registrants to report a registrar that has refused to complete a legitimate domain transfer. Complaints are filed at ICANN's website and are reviewed by ICANN's Contractual Compliance team. If ICANN finds the registrar in breach of its obligations, it can require the registrar to complete the transfer and may take enforcement action. You should document all communication with the registrar before filing.

Privacy protection masks your contact details in WHOIS but does not affect the transfer process itself. You still request the EPP auth code from your current registrar's control panel — the code is sent to your real (unmasked) email address on file. Unlock the domain and disable privacy if your registrar requires it for the unlock step, then proceed with the normal transfer. You can re-enable privacy at your new registrar once the transfer completes.

A domain push (or internal transfer) moves a domain from one account to another within the same registrar without going through the standard inter-registrar transfer process. It requires no EPP auth code, completes instantly or within minutes, and does not add a renewal year. Pushes are commonly used when selling a domain to a buyer who already has an account at the same registrar, or when reorganizing domains across different accounts you control.

No. Domains in the redemption period (also known as the Redemption Grace Period, or RGP) cannot be transferred — they can only be restored by the original registrant through their existing registrar, typically for a steep redemption fee ranging from $100 to $400 on top of the standard renewal cost. The redemption period follows the grace period after expiration and lasts approximately 30 days. Only after the domain is fully deleted and back in the available pool can it be registered by anyone.

ICANN requires that every gTLD transfer add exactly one year to the domain's registration period. This means if your domain has 18 months left when you transfer, it will have 30 months (18 + 12) after the transfer completes. However, the transfer fee at the new registrar acts as the cost of that added year, so you are effectively paying for a renewal as part of the transfer. The maximum registration period is capped at 10 years total.

A change of registrant — also called a trade or owner change — is the process of updating the registered owner (registrant) of a domain, distinct from a registrar transfer. Under ICANN's 2016 Transfer Policy, material changes to registrant data (such as name or organization) trigger a 60-day post-change transfer lock to prevent fraudulent takeovers under the guise of an 'owner change'. Both the old and new registrant must confirm the change via email, and the process is managed through your current registrar.

.uk domains use a different transfer mechanism called the IPS tag system, managed by Nominet (the .uk registry). Instead of an EPP auth code, you change the IPS tag at your losing registrar to the tag of the gaining registrar. The transfer completes almost instantly once the tag is updated. There is no mandatory 5–7 day waiting period and no additional year of registration is required. Some registrars charge an administrative fee for releasing the tag.

A domain escrow service acts as a trusted neutral third party when a domain is being bought and sold. The buyer deposits funds with the escrow provider, the seller transfers the domain, the buyer confirms receipt and approval, and only then does the escrow release the funds to the seller. This protects both parties from fraud — the buyer is assured they receive the domain before paying, and the seller is assured payment before releasing the domain. Escrow.com is the most widely used provider for domain transactions.

Yes, both the registrant and the losing registrar can cancel a pending domain transfer before it completes. The registrant can typically cancel through a link in the transfer confirmation email sent during the process. The losing registrar can also deny the transfer within the 5-day window for legitimate reasons. Once a transfer has been approved and processed by the registry, it generally cannot be reversed without initiating a new transfer back to the original registrar.

The ICANN Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (IRTP) is the set of rules that governs how gTLD domain transfers between registrars must work. It defines the 60-day lock period after registration or transfer, the mandatory use of EPP auth codes, the 5-day approval window, the requirement to add one year of registration, and the prohibited reasons for denying transfers. All ICANN-accredited registrars must comply with the IRTP as a condition of their accreditation agreement.

To transfer multiple domains simultaneously, first unlock all domains at your current registrar and gather their EPP auth codes — many registrars allow you to export these as a CSV file. At the new registrar, use the bulk transfer tool to submit all domain names and auth codes in a single batch. Transfers proceed in parallel, each following the standard 5–7 day process. Consolidating domains at one registrar simplifies renewals, DNS management, and reduces the chance of missing expiration deadlines.

A domain broker is a professional who facilitates the buying, selling, or leasing of domain names on behalf of clients, often for a commission of 10–20% of the sale price. Buy-side brokers approach owners of domains you want but cannot reach directly, while sell-side brokers list and market your domains to find qualified buyers. Reputable brokerage firms include Sedo, GoDaddy Domain Broker Service, and MediaOptions. Brokers are especially useful for high-value premium domain acquisitions where anonymous negotiation reduces the buyer's price.