Transferring a domain name to a new registrar is a straightforward process, but it has several specific steps that need to happen in the right order. Skipping or rushing any of them causes the transfer to fail or the domain to become inaccessible during the process. This guide walks through the complete process step by step, covering what to do at both the old and new registrar.
60-day lock rule. ICANN (the body that governs domain registrations) requires that domains cannot be transferred within 60 days of registration, or within 60 days of a previous transfer. If you registered your domain less than 60 days ago, you'll have to wait. The same rule applies after any registrar change, even between subsidiaries of the same company.
Expiry date. If your domain expires in fewer than 7 days, pause the transfer and renew first. Most registrars won't accept a transfer of a domain this close to expiry, and a failed transfer attempt can cause a gap in domain control. Also check your domain's current expiry date, a transfer typically adds 1 year to the registration period, but some registrars don't do this automatically.
WHOIS email access. Transfer authorisation is sent to the registrant email address on file in WHOIS. Make sure this email address is one you actually have access to. If you have domain privacy enabled, the privacy provider's email must still forward transfer-related messages to you, most do, but confirm this with your current registrar.
Log in to your current registrar's control panel. Find the domain you want to transfer and look for "Transfer Lock," "Registrar Lock," or "Domain Lock", the terminology varies by provider. Disable this lock. This is a security feature that prevents unauthorised transfers, and it must be off before a transfer can proceed.
Some registrars require you to contact support to remove the transfer lock; most allow you to do it through the dashboard. Give it 24 hours after disabling the lock before initiating the transfer, some registrars have a waiting period after the lock is lifted.
The EPP code (also called the Auth Code, Transfer Code, or Authorization Code) is a unique string that proves you're the domain owner and authorises the transfer. Find this in your current registrar's domain management panel. It's typically labelled "EPP Code," "Auth Code," or "Transfer Code." Some registrars email it to your registrant address rather than displaying it in the panel.
EPP codes are usually 8–16 characters, mixing letters, numbers, and special characters. They expire after a short period (typically 7–30 days depending on the registrar). Request it just before you initiate the transfer at the new registrar, not days in advance. Write it down accurately, a single wrong character causes the transfer to fail.
Log in to your new registrar's panel and find the domain transfer option (typically under "Transfer Domain" or "Domains > Transfer"). Enter your domain name and the EPP code when prompted. The new registrar checks that the domain is eligible for transfer (not locked, not within 60 days of registration) and that the EPP code is valid.
You'll also be asked to confirm or update the registrant contact information. The WHOIS registrant email must be accessible because an authorisation email will be sent to it. If you have domain privacy enabled and you're changing providers, make sure privacy is set up at the new registrar before the transfer completes so your personal details aren't exposed in WHOIS during the transition.
After initiating the transfer, two emails are typically sent: one to the current registrant email (asking you to approve the transfer from the losing registrar's side) and one confirmation from the gaining registrar. Check your inbox and spam folder for both. The subject line usually contains "domain transfer" and your domain name.
Click the approval link in the email from your current registrar. Some registrars also require approval through their control panel, log in and look for a pending transfer notification. If you don't approve within the deadline (usually 5–7 days), the transfer is cancelled and you have to start over. Approving promptly also speeds up the transfer significantly.
ICANN requires a minimum 5-day waiting period for domain transfers. Most transfers complete within 5–7 days after all approvals are confirmed. Some registrars offer an "express transfer" or "expedited transfer" option (where both sides approve immediately) that can complete in hours rather than days, check if your registrars support this.
During the transfer, your domain continues to function normally. Your DNS records remain with whoever was managing them (your old registrar or a separate DNS provider). The transfer only moves which registrar controls the domain registration, it doesn't change your DNS settings, nameservers, or website hosting unless you deliberately change those after the transfer.
Once the transfer is confirmed, log in to your new registrar and verify: the domain appears in your account, the expiry date shows the correct date (usually extended by 1 year), and the WHOIS record shows your information (or the privacy service, if enabled). Check that your nameservers are still set correctly, in rare cases, transfers reset nameservers to the new registrar's defaults.
If you also want to move DNS management to the new registrar, update the nameservers after the transfer completes. This is separate from the transfer itself, don't change nameservers during the transfer, as it can cause DNS propagation issues on top of the transfer process. Wait until the domain is fully settled at the new registrar before making additional DNS changes.
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