Before you start
A domain transfer changes which company manages your registration — not where your website is hosted. As long as you leave your DNS untouched, your site and email keep working the whole time. Pick a destination registrar first; our registrar comparison covers the main options and their renewal pricing.
The transfer process, step by step
- 1
Confirm eligibility
The domain must be at least 60 days old at its current registrar and not within 60 days of a previous transfer. ICANN enforces this lock on most gTLDs.
- 2
Unlock the domain
In your current registrar’s control panel, turn off the "transfer lock" (sometimes called registrar lock or clientTransferProhibited).
- 3
Get the authorization code
Request the EPP / auth code (also called a transfer key). The registrar must provide it, usually instantly or by email.
- 4
Disable WHOIS privacy if needed
Some registrars require privacy protection to be temporarily off so the transfer email can reach you. Re-enable it afterwards.
- 5
Start the transfer at the new registrar
Enter the domain and the auth code, then pay the transfer fee (which usually adds a year to your registration).
- 6
Approve the transfer
Respond to the confirmation email. You can often accelerate the process by approving it at the losing registrar instead of waiting out the clock.
- 7
Wait for completion
Transfers typically finish within a few days (up to five). Your site and email keep working throughout if you do not change DNS.
What a transfer costs
Most gTLD transfers cost roughly the price of a one-year renewal and add a year to your registration, so you rarely pay for nothing. Some registrars run free-transfer promotions. Confirm the renewal price at the destination too — a cheap transfer followed by expensive renewals is a false economy.
Avoiding downtime
- Note your current DNS records before transferring, in case you need to re-enter them.
- Do not let the domain expire mid-transfer — renew first if it is close to expiry.
- Keep your contact email current so you receive the approval message.
- Only change nameservers after the transfer completes, if at all.