How to Transfer a Domain Between Registrars

Transferring a domain between registrars is a routine operation, but it has specific steps and a timeline you need to follow. Rushing it or skipping steps is the most common reason transfers fail or take longer than expected.

Why Transfer a Domain?

Common reasons to transfer:

• Consolidating all domains at one registrar for easier management
• Getting a better renewal price at a different registrar
• Moving away from a registrar with poor support
• Inheriting a domain portfolio that is spread across multiple registrars
• Registrar is shutting down or being acquired

What You Need Before Starting

• Access to your current registrar's control panel
• Access to the email address associated with the domain's WHOIS record (for the authorization email)
• The receiving registrar account where you want the domain to land
• Time: ICANN requires most transfers to complete within 5-7 days

The Transfer Process

Step 1: Check Transfer Eligibility

Not all domains can transfer immediately. A domain cannot be transferred if:

• It was registered or previously transferred within the last 60 days (ICANN policy)
• It has a pending delete or redemption status
• There is an active dispute on the domain

Check the domain's WHOIS status in ElasticDomain — the domain status codes tell you the current state.

Step 2: Unlock the Domain

Log in to your current registrar and disable the transfer lock (clientTransferProhibited). This is usually found in Domain Settings or Domain Management.

The domain lock is a security feature that prevents unauthorized transfers. You need to remove it to allow the transfer to proceed.

Note: Some registrars call this "Domain Lock," others call it "Registrar Lock" or "EPP Lock."

Step 3: Get the Authorization Code (EPP Code)

The authorization code (also called EPP code, transfer code, or Auth-Info code) is a password-like string that authorizes the transfer. You get it from your current registrar.

Look for "Get Auth Code," "Transfer Code," or similar in your registrar's domain management panel. It is usually delivered by email or shown on screen immediately.

Keep this code secure — anyone with the code and registrar access can initiate the transfer.

Step 4: Initiate the Transfer at the New Registrar

At your receiving registrar:

1. Start a domain transfer (usually "Transfer Domain" in their interface)
2. Enter the domain name
3. Enter the authorization code
4. Pay for the transfer (most registrars add one year of registration to the receiving account as part of the transfer — it is not free)
5. Confirm the transfer request

Step 5: Approve the Transfer

Within a few hours of initiating, you will receive an approval email at the domain's WHOIS contact email address. Click the confirmation link.

If you do not confirm, the transfer will either time out or (depending on registrar) auto-approve after 5-7 days.

Some registrars also send a notification to the current registrar to confirm. Both sides need to process for the transfer to complete.

Step 6: Wait

ICANN requires registrars to allow 5 calendar days for transfers. Most complete faster (24-48 hours after approval), but the full window is 5-7 days.

During this period the domain continues to function normally — DNS, email, and website are not affected.

What Happens to DNS During Transfer

Nothing changes to DNS records during transfer — this is a common misconception.

A domain transfer moves the registration record from one registrar to another. The DNS records (A, MX, TXT, etc.) live on the authoritative nameservers, which are not changed by the transfer.

Your website and email continue working throughout the transfer process.

The only DNS exception: If you also want to move DNS hosting (change nameservers), that is a separate step from the transfer. Do not change nameservers at the same time as the transfer to avoid confusion.

Monitoring During Transfer

Transfer is a vulnerable time — it is worth keeping a close eye on:

In ElasticDomain, watch for:

• WHOIS registrar field changes (confirms transfer completed)
• Any unexpected DNS changes (should not happen, but worth monitoring)
• Domain status code changes

Set up a WHOIS Changed alert on any domain being transferred so you know the moment the registrar field updates.

After Transfer Completes

• Verify new registrar shows the domain in your account
• Confirm expiry date is correct (should be original expiry + 1 year)
• Re-enable transfer lock at the new registrar
• Verify DNS records are still intact (run a Quick Scan in ElasticDomain)
• Update any documentation with the new registrar information
• Set up auto-renewal at the new registrar

Common Transfer Problems

"Authorization code invalid": Code may have expired (they are typically valid for 7-30 days), or you may have extra spaces. Copy-paste rather than typing manually.

"Domain locked": You need to unlock it at the current registrar first (Step 2).

"Transfer pending for more than 7 days": Contact both registrars. One of them needs to take action.

"Domain transferred but DNS is wrong": The transfer moved registration, but nameservers were changed. Check WHOIS for current nameservers and compare to what you expect.

"Approval email not received": Check spam folder. If the WHOIS contact email is outdated, the email went nowhere. Update the WHOIS contact email at your current registrar before initiating transfer.