A domain transfer moves a domain name from one domain registrar to another. You keep the domain, its owner details and its expiry date; only the company you pay to renew it changes. Changing the owner of a domain (after a sale, for example) is a related but separate step, usually called a change of registrant.
How a domain transfer works
For most domains (.com, .net, .org and other generic TLDs) the steps are the same:
- Unlock the domain at your current registrar. Most domains have a registrar lock switched on to stop unwanted transfers.
- Get the authorization code, also called an EPP code or auth code, from your current registrar.
- Start the transfer at the new registrar: enter the domain and the code, and pay for the transfer.
- Confirm if either registrar emails you to approve it.
- Wait. The old registrar has up to five days to release the domain. Many transfers finish within hours once it does.
At most generic TLDs the transfer price includes one year of renewal, added to your current expiry date, so you don't lose the time you already paid for.
What happens to DNS, website and email
The transfer itself doesn't change your DNS records. What matters is where your DNS is hosted:
| Your DNS is hosted at… | What happens during the transfer |
|---|---|
| A separate DNS provider (Cloudflare, your host, a cloud) | Nothing changes. The nameservers stay the same and your site and email keep working. |
| The old registrar | The old registrar may stop serving your zone once the domain leaves. Your website and email can go down. |
If your DNS is hosted at the old registrar, copy every record to the new DNS host first, switch the nameservers, wait for the change to settle, and only then start the transfer. This is the single most common reason a transfer causes an outage.
When a transfer can be refused
- The domain is new or was just transferred. Registrars may refuse a transfer within 60 days of registration or of a previous transfer. ICANN is working on an updated Transfer Policy that shortens this lock to 30 days; until it takes effect, check the rule your registrar applies.
- The domain is locked or the authorization code is wrong or expired.
- The domain has expired or is in its redemption period. Renew it first.
- The owner details were changed recently, which at many registrars triggers a 60-day lock unless you opted out.
Country-code domains (.nl, .de, .fr, .uk and others) follow their own registry's rules: some transfer within minutes, some without an extra year, and some need a different code or process.
A quick checklist
- The domain is unlocked and not about to expire.
- You have the authorization code.
- You know where your DNS is hosted, and have a copy of every record.
- The email address on the domain still reaches you.
For the full step-by-step walkthrough, see how to transfer a domain to another registrar. To see every domain's registrar, lock status and expiry date in one place before and after a move, see domains in InfraNest.