Transfer a domain name to another registrar: the complete guide

Rising prices with no warning, unreachable support, an unintuitive interface… There are many reasons to change registrar. Even so, many domain owners still hesitate to take the plunge.

What if the website becomes unavailable? What if the transfer gets stuck for several days? These concerns are common, but a domain name transfer simply means changing registrars. Your website and its files do not move.

The main points to consider are preparing the transfer and, depending on your setup, migrating your DNS servers, email service or any other associated services. In the vast majority of cases, any difficulties are caused by poor preparation or a lack of information before the transfer is even started.

This guide covers those important details: what a transfer actually changes, the requirements you need to meet beforehand, how long it takes, and the common pitfalls to avoid so that everything goes smoothly.

What is a domain name transfer?

The three key players you should not confuse

To understand what a transfer is, you first need to distinguish between three parties that are often confused.

• The registry is the organisation that manages a domain extension. For example, verisign is the registry for the .COM extension. Registries define the rules for registering and managing domain names. You never interact with them directly.
• The registrar, such as Netim, acts as the intermediary between you and the registry. It manages your domain name, renewals, DNS settings and contact details.
• Your hosting provider stores your website files. It has no role in managing your domain name, unless you purchased both services from the same provider.

Transferring your domain name simply means changing registrar. The registry and your hosting provider remain exactly the same.

What a domain transfer actually changes

Changing registrar is much like changing estate agents. The property itself stays exactly the same (your domain name, website and files). Only the company managing it changes.

In practice, however, there are a few details worth paying attention to. Here is what is, and is not, affected by your transfer, depending on which services are currently managed by your registrar.

The cost and timeline of a domain name transfer

How much does a domain name transfer cost?

Generally speaking, the transfer itself is free. What you usually pay for is the renewal of your domain name, although the rules vary depending on the extension.

For gTLDs (.COM, .NET, .ORG, etc.), ICANN requires a one-year renewal whenever a transfer takes place. You therefore pay the equivalent of one year’s registration at your new registrar’s price, and your expiry date is automatically extended by one year. You do not lose any time that was already paid for with your previous registrar.

For ccTLDs (country code extensions such as .FR, .UK or .DE), the rules depend on the registry. Some extensions can be transferred free of charge without affecting the expiry date. Others apply a transfer fee, although this is relatively uncommon, with or without a renewal included. Depending on the extension, the new expiry date may either be extended by one year from the current expiry date or reset to one year after the transfer date.

How long does a domain name transfer take?

The time required depends on your domain extension and how quickly your current registrar responds.

For gTLDs, ICANN gives the losing registrar five days to approve or object to the transfer. If your registrar approves it quickly, or simply does not object, the transfer can be completed within one or two days. Otherwise, it may take up to five days.

For ccTLDs, transfer times are determined by each national registry and may be shorter or longer. Some extensions are transferred within a few hours, while others can take several weeks. In some cases, the registry may require supporting documents, such as proof of identity or signed forms, which can extend the processing time.

📌 At Netim, we give you the option to speed up your domain transfer. As soon as the transfer request is submitted, an email is sent to the registrant. If the transfer acceleration request is approved, the transfer can be completed within just a few minutes. If there is no response, the standard procedure applies and the transfer is automatically completed after five days, provided that no objection is raised.

What should you prepare before transferring your domain name?

Ready to transfer your domain name? Not so fast! 🫷 Before starting the transfer, there are a few requirements and checks you need to complete.

Spending a few minutes preparing beforehand can save you from unpleasant surprises, such as a rejected transfer, unexpected delays, additional paperwork or even a transfer being blocked for several weeks.

Here are the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Check whether your domain name is eligible for transfer

👉 The first thing to check is whether your domain can actually be transferred. Certain conditions can prevent a transfer before it even begins. Here are the main ones.

The ICANN 60-day rule

For generic domain extensions (gTLDs), such as .COM, a domain name cannot be transferred within 60 days of its registration or its most recent transfer. If you have recently registered or transferred your domain, you will therefore need to wait two months before you can transfer it again.

There is also a second, lesser-known rule. Any change to the registrant’s details (name, organisation or email address) automatically triggers a new 60-day transfer lock. Some registrars allow you to opt out of this lock, but they are not required to do so.

Country code domain extensions (ccTLDs), such as .UK, follow rules defined by their own registries. It is therefore essential to check the specific requirements for your domain extension before starting a transfer. We will look at this in more detail later in this article.

The expiry date

An expired domain name, or one that is close to its expiry date, can complicate or even prevent a transfer.

As a precaution, avoid starting a transfer during the 30 days before your domain name is due for renewal. This reduces the risk of service interruptions or administrative issues.

A specific EPP status

An EPP status (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) is the domain’s status code. Some EPP statuses prevent a transfer from taking place:

• clientHold and/or serverHold: the domain is suspended and removed from the DNS zone.
• clientTransferProhibited: Registrar Lock applied by the registrar.
• serverTransferProhibited: applied by the registry during the first 60 days after registration or transfer.
• redemptionPeriod: the domain has expired and is in the redemption period. Transfer is not possible.
• pendingDelete: the domain is pending deletion. Transfer is not possible.
• pendingTransfer: a transfer is already in progress. A second transfer cannot be initiated at the same time.

An ongoing dispute

If there is an ongoing legal or alternative dispute resolution procedure relating to the trademark or the domain name (UDRP, URS, TDRP, SYRELI, ADR, etc.), the domain name cannot legally be transferred. The transfer is blocked either by ICANN or by a court order. The transfer cannot proceed until the dispute has been resolved.

Gather everything you need before starting the transfer

👉 Is your domain eligible for transfer? Great. You can now begin the process. Before you do, make sure you have everything you need.

Check your contact details

Before starting the transfer, check your registrant contact details, especially your email address, in your current registrar’s control panel. This is usually where transfer confirmation emails are sent. If the email address is outdated or inaccessible, the transfer will remain pending until it is confirmed.

⚠️ Please note: as mentioned earlier, updating certain registrant details may trigger a 60-day transfer lock for some domain extensions. Ideally, make these changes at least two months before requesting the transfer, and/or contact your registrar to find out whether they can remove the lock.

Disable the Registrar Lock (or Transfer Lock)

The Registrar Lock is a security feature that is enabled by default on most domain names. It prevents unauthorised transfers. Before starting the transfer, disable it from your current customer account. This is usually done by unticking a simple option.

Retrieve your EPP code

Also known as an authorisation code, Auth Code or Auth-Info Code, the EPP code is a unique security key linked to your domain name and generated by your current registrar. Without this code, the registry cannot validate the transfer and it will automatically be rejected. It is therefore an essential step in the process.

In most cases, you can retrieve the code directly from your current registrar’s customer area. Some registrars display it immediately, while others send it by email for security reasons. Once you have obtained it, keep it safe, as you will need it during the transfer process with your new registrar.

⚠️ The EPP code has a limited validity period, typically between 5 and 14 days depending on the registrar. Do not generate it too early. If it expires before you initiate the transfer, you will need to request a new one.

📌 Please note: Some country code extensions (ccTLDs) do not require an EPP code. Validation is carried out by email and/or by providing specific supporting documents.

Export your DNS records

If you are transferring your domain name to a new registrar, you are probably looking to manage everything in one place, including your domain name and DNS. If you are currently using your registrar’s DNS servers, you will most likely want to switch to your new registrar’s DNS servers.

Before starting the transfer, make sure you export all of your current DNS records (A, MX, CNAME, TXT, etc.). This will allow you to recreate your DNS zone easily and avoid any interruption to your services, including your website and email.

Check the transfer rules for your domain extension

As mentioned earlier, ccTLDs (country and territory domain extensions) follow their own rules. Each national registry defines its own transfer procedures, and these may differ significantly from the rules that ICANN applies to gTLDs.

For example, the .UK extension uses a TAG system that must be updated through the registry (Nominet), .PT requires the EPP code to be obtained directly from the registry (DNS.PT), and transferring a .LT domain must be completed through the registry’s online procedure (DOMREG).

These are only a few examples. Before starting a transfer, it is essential to check the requirements set by the registry responsible for your domain extension. To do this, you can contact your current or future registrar, who will be able to explain the correct procedure.

What are the steps to transfer a domain name?

The 6 key steps of a domain name transfer

* In the vast majority of cases, the registrar simply allows the objection period to expire. If no response is received, the transfer is automatically approved after a few days. The registrar may also approve the transfer sooner, which speeds up the process. In less common cases, it may explicitly reject the transfer. If this happens, contact your registrar directly to understand the reason.

Your post-transfer checklist

The transfer is complete and your domain is now managed by your new registrar. Carry out these final checks and everything will be ready.

Check that your website and services are still accessible

Start by checking that your website and your main services are working correctly. In most cases, a domain transfer does not cause any interruption, but a quick check allows you to identify any configuration issues immediately. If you use an SSL certificate, also make sure that your website is still accessible over HTTPS.

Plan your email migration if required

If you also want to move your email service to your new registrar, remember that email accounts are not transferred automatically with your domain name. A separate email migration will therefore be required.

Review your expiry date, renewals and security settings

Take advantage of the transfer to carry out a few final checks:

• Check your new expiry date. For most gTLDs, the transfer adds one additional year to your registration period.
• Review your automatic renewal settings. Disable any active renewals with your previous registrar to avoid unnecessary charges, and enable them with your new registrar so that you do not accidentally forget to renew your domain name, SSL certificate or any other associated services.
• Enable or re-enable all security features with your new registrar, including DNSSEC, two-factor authentication, passkeys, Registrar Lock and any other available protections.

Transfer your domain name to Netim

Ready to change registrar? At Netim, we support you every step of the way to ensure that your transfer is smooth and hassle-free.

As an ICANN-accredited French registrar for more than 20 years, we offer more than 1,300 domain extensions, email solutions, and a responsive support team ready to answer your questions before, during and after your transfer.

If you manage several domain names, our bulk transfer tool allows you to launch multiple transfers at the same time, helping you save valuable time.

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