What happens when you transfer a domain

A domain transfer moves your registration from one registrar to another — the company that holds your domain name and renews it each year. The domain itself stays the same, your website keeps working, and your email continues to function. What changes is which company you pay for registration and which company handles your renewal notices.

The process takes between 5 and 7 days in most cases, though it can take up to 14 days. During the transfer, your site and email remain live. You do not lose anything, and you do not have to rebuild your website or change your nameservers unless you want to.

The main reason to transfer is cost — registrars often charge different renewal prices, and some offer lower rates for the first year to attract customers. You might also transfer to consolidate multiple domains at one registrar, or to move to a registrar that offers better support or features you need.

Key Takeaways

  • You need an authorization code (also called an auth code or EPP code) from your current registrar before you can start a transfer.
  • Your domain must be at least 60 days old, and you cannot transfer it within 60 days of a previous transfer or renewal.
  • The new registrar will charge you for at least one year of registration, which usually extends your domain's expiration date by one year.
  • Your domain stays active and your website keeps working throughout the entire transfer process.
  • After the transfer completes, you manage your domain through the new registrar's account, not your old one.

Getting your authorization code from your current registrar

Before you can transfer, you need an authorization code (sometimes called an auth code, transfer code, or EPP code). This is a security code that proves you own the domain. Your current registrar generates it and gives it to you — you do not create it yourself.

Log into your account at your current registrar's website. Look for a section called "Domain Management," "My Domains," or "Domain Settings." Find the domain you want to transfer and look for an option that says "Get Authorization Code," "Unlock Domain," "Transfer Domain," or "EPP Code." Click it, and the registrar will display the code or email it to you. Write it down or copy it — you will need it in the next step.

Some registrars require you to unlock the domain before they will issue the code. If you see an option to "Unlock Domain," click that first, wait a few minutes, then request the authorization code. A few registrars also require you to contact their support team by phone or email to get the code, though this is less common.

Checking domain age and transfer restrictions

ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) sets rules that prevent domains from being transferred too frequently. Your domain must be at least 60 days old to transfer. If you registered it less than 60 days ago, you will have to wait.

You also cannot transfer a domain within 60 days of a previous transfer or within 60 days of a renewal. For example, if you transferred the domain on January 15, you cannot transfer it again until March 16. If you renewed it on January 15, you cannot transfer it until March 16. This rule exists to prevent unauthorized transfers and domain hijacking.

Your current registrar can tell you the exact date your domain became may be able to access for transfer. Check your account or contact their support team if you are unsure. The new registrar will also check this when you start the transfer, so if your domain is not may be able to access, they will tell you before you pay.

Starting the transfer at your new registrar

Go to the website of the registrar you want to move to. Look for a section called "Transfer Domain," "Move Your Domain," or "Domain Transfer." Enter your domain name in the search box and click the button to check availability or begin the transfer process.

The registrar will show you the transfer price, which is usually the cost of one year of registration. Some registrars offer a discount on transfers, while others charge the standard renewal price. Read the price carefully — it will be added to your bill. Most registrars automatically extend your domain's expiration date by one year when the transfer completes, so you are paying for that extra year.

Enter the authorization code you got from your current registrar. The new registrar will verify the code with ICANN. If the code is correct, you will move to the next step. If it is wrong or expired, you will see an error message — go back to your current registrar and request a new code.

Completing payment and confirming the transfer

After you enter the authorization code, the new registrar will ask you to create an account (if you do not have one) and enter your contact information. Make sure the name, address, and email address are correct — ICANN requires registrars to keep accurate contact details on file.

Review the total cost, including the transfer fee and any other services you selected. Then enter your payment method and complete the purchase. The new registrar will send you a confirmation email with details about the transfer.

Within a few hours, ICANN will send you an email asking you to confirm the transfer. This email goes to the address on file at your current registrar. Open the email and click the confirmation link. If you do not confirm within 5 days, the transfer will be cancelled and you will get a refund.

Monitoring the transfer until it completes

After you confirm the transfer, ICANN notifies your current registrar that the domain is leaving. Your current registrar has 5 days to object or cancel the transfer. In almost all cases, they do not — they straightforward release the domain.

The transfer usually completes within 24 to 48 hours after your current registrar releases it, though ICANN allows up to 7 days. During this time, your website and email continue to work normally. You can check the status of your transfer by logging into your new registrar's account and looking at your domain details.

Once the transfer is complete, your new registrar will send you a confirmation email. At that point, you manage the domain through your new registrar's account. Your old registrar's account no longer controls it, though you can keep the account open if you have other domains there.

What to do after the transfer finishes

After the transfer completes, check that your website is still loading and your email is still working. In most cases, everything continues as before because your nameservers (the servers that point your domain to your website) do not change during a transfer.

Log into your new registrar's account and verify that your domain information is correct. Check the expiration date — it should be one year from the transfer date. Update your contact information if needed, and set up auto-renewal so your domain does not accidentally expire.

If you had any special DNS records set up at your old registrar (for email forwarding, SSL certificates, or third-party services), those records do not transfer automatically. You will need to recreate them at your new registrar. Your new registrar's support team can show you how to do this, or you can contact your website host or email provider for the exact records you need to add.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my website go down during the transfer?

No. Your website and email stay live throughout the entire transfer. The domain registration moves to a new company, but your nameservers and website hosting do not change unless you choose to move those separately.

What if I entered the wrong authorization code?

The new registrar will reject it and show an error message. Go back to your current registrar, request a new authorization code, and try again. Make sure you copy it exactly — these codes are case-sensitive and contain letters and numbers.

Can I transfer a domain if it is expired?

No. The domain must be active and in good standing. If your domain expired, renew it at your current registrar first, wait 60 days, then transfer it. Some registrars will renew an expired domain for you during the transfer process, but you will pay for both the renewal and the transfer.

Do I have to move my website hosting when I transfer my domain?

No. Domain registration and website hosting are separate services. You can transfer your domain to a new registrar and keep your website hosted where it is. Your nameservers will point to your current host, and nothing changes about where your website files live.

How long does a domain transfer take?

Most transfers complete within 24 to 48 hours after your current registrar releases the domain. ICANN allows up to 7 days, and in rare cases a transfer can take the full week. You will receive email updates as the transfer progresses.