Overview

Here is a short explanation on the process of transferring a domain from one registrar to another. While this process is not the same for all TLDs (top level domain, Ex. .com, .org, etc.), this explanation works for most.

Process

To make things easier, we will call the registrars Newreg and Oldreg and the domain owner Customer. In this case, Customer is transferring their domain from Oldreg to Newreg.

  1. Customer contacts Oldreg and requests the EPP or transfer code. They also make sure that the domain is unlocked and the email on file is active. This is also a good time to ensure the nameservers are correct, as they may not be able to update them after the domain transfer is started.
  2. Customer contacts Newreg, requests the domain transfer and gives them the EPP or transfer code. Newreg will most likely create and invoice for the domain transfer (this is typically just a year renewal).
  3. Once Customer processes any invoices required, Newreg now contacts Oldreg and submits a transfer request.
  4. Oldreg then sends a verification email to the email address on the contact information of the domain, requesting that they verify that they want to transfer the domain.
  5. Once, and only once, Customer verifies the transfer request, Oldreg approves the transfer. The domain status will now show as pendingTransfer and should complete within 5-7 business days from the time the transfer was verified (not initiated). During this time the domain will still be active, but Customer may not be able to make changes to the nameservers or contact information.
  6. Once the transfer completes, Newreg will (typically) send an email to Customer to advise that the domain transfer has completed and is now with Newreg.

Please Note

There are a few things you should know about domain transfers:

  • Any time you update the contact information on the domain, the domain may be locked for 60 days, preventing you from transferring the domain. If you want to transfer the domain before renewal, you will need to plan ahead.
  • If you do need to update your contact email, it is advisable to not use an email that is the same domain and the domain in question. For example, if your domain was domain.com, it is not good practice to use an email the ends in @domain.com. If the domain is disabled for any reason, there would be no way to contact you to correct the issue.
  • If you are also changing your hosting, it is a good idea to update your nameservers before starting the transfer process. This way you will not have and disruptions of service during the transfer.