Transferring a domain to a new registrar is straightforward if you know the steps. Whether you're chasing better pricing, superior features, or escaping a bad registrar experience, this guide walks you through the entire process. The transfer itself takes about 5 days and costs the same as one year of registration at the new registrar.
Pre-Transfer Checklist
Before initiating a transfer, verify these requirements:
Domain age: Your domain must be at least 60 days old. ICANN prohibits transfers within 60 days of initial registration. If you just registered, you'll need to wait.
Recent transfer lock: If you transferred the domain within the last 60 days, you must wait before transferring again. This is another ICANN rule designed to prevent domain theft.
Domain lock status: Most registrars enable "domain lock" (also called "registrar lock" or "transfer lock") by default to prevent unauthorized transfers. You need to disable this before initiating a transfer.
WHOIS privacy: Some registrars require you to temporarily disable WHOIS privacy before transferring so the authorization email can reach you. Check with your current registrar — some handle this automatically, others don't.
Admin email access: The transfer authorization email is sent to the registrant email address on file. Make sure you can receive email at that address. If you can't, update it and wait for the change to propagate before starting the transfer.
The 5-Day Transfer Process
Step 1: Get the authorization code. Log into your current registrar's dashboard and look for "Auth Code," "EPP Code," "Transfer Key," or "Authorization Code." Generate it and copy it somewhere safe — it's typically a random string like "xK9$mN2pL7@qR4wT".
Step 2: Initiate at the new registrar. Go to your new registrar's website, find their "Transfer" section, enter your domain name and paste the authorization code. You'll typically pay one year's registration fee upfront — this extends your domain's expiration by one year (you don't lose any time you've already paid for).
Step 3: Approve the transfer. The new registrar sends a transfer request to the old registrar. You'll receive an email asking you to approve the transfer. Click the approval link promptly — delays here extend the overall timeline.
Step 4: Wait for processing. After approval, the transfer enters a 5-day waiting period. During this time, your old registrar can release the domain early (some do this within hours) or wait the full 5 days. Your website and email continue working normally during this period — DNS records are not affected by the transfer itself.
Step 5: Verify completion. Once the transfer completes, verify your domain appears in the new registrar's dashboard with the correct expiration date (original date + 1 year). Re-enable domain lock and WHOIS privacy at the new registrar.
ICANN Transfer Rules
ICANN enforces several rules that affect transfers:
The 60-day lock after registration or a previous transfer is mandatory. No exceptions. The 5-day transfer window gives the losing registrar time to process and allows the registrant to cancel if the transfer was unauthorized. The gaining registrar must add one year to the domain's expiration — you never lose time you've already paid for. Registrars cannot charge for outbound transfers (ICANN policy), though some bury the auth code or make the unlock process difficult.
Common Problems and Solutions
"Domain is locked" — Log into your old registrar and disable domain lock / transfer lock. This is the most common blocker.
"Authorization code invalid" — Auth codes can expire (typically after 7-14 days). Generate a fresh one. Also check for trailing whitespace when pasting.
"Transfer rejected" — Your old registrar or the registrant denied the transfer. Check your email for the approval request — you may have missed it or it went to spam. You can also contact the old registrar to ask why.
"Domain expired" — Expired domains often can't be transferred. Renew at the current registrar first, then transfer. This costs a renewal fee that you'd have paid anyway.
DNS stops working — This shouldn't happen during transfer, but if you were using your old registrar's DNS hosting, you'll need to either keep using their nameservers or update to the new registrar's DNS before transferring. Set up all DNS records at the new registrar first.
Which Registrars Offer the Best Transfer Deals?
Transfer fees are typically the same as one year of registration. Here's what a .com transfer costs: Cloudflare — $9.15, Porkbun — $9.73, Spaceship — $9.28, Namecheap — $9.58, Dynadot — $9.99, GoDaddy — $12.99.
Since the transfer fee includes a one-year extension, you're effectively paying for a renewal at the new registrar's rate. This makes transfers to cheaper registrars an immediate win — you save money on the transfer itself plus every future renewal.
Compare all pricing at our registrar comparison page or browse individual registrar profiles to see transfer pricing for each one.