How to Transfer a Domain Name to a New Registrar: The Checklist, the EPP Code, and the 5-Day Wait
CodexFuse Team · 2026-10-26T19:17:52.146Z · 13 min read
Move your domain to a cheaper registrar without downtime: check the 60-day and 15-day rules, get the EPP code, approve the email, and wait out the 5-day transfer — step by step.
Learning how to transfer a domain name is simpler than most guides make it sound: you move the registration from one registrar to another, the domain itself never changes, and your website and email keep working the whole time — as long as you check three rules first and back up your DNS records before you start. A transfer is not a move to a new host, a new website, or a new name. It only changes who bills you and manages the registration, which is why it is the cheapest way to escape a registrar whose renewal price has crept up or whose support has gone quiet. Before you pick the new registrar, run a domain price checker to compare what the move will actually cost, and if the basics are still fuzzy, our guide to what a domain name is explains the parts you will be moving.
How Do You Transfer a Domain Name to a New Registrar?
To transfer a domain name, check that it meets the transfer rules, unlock it and get its EPP code from your current registrar, start the transfer at the new registrar with that code, approve the confirmation email, and wait for the registry to complete the move — usually five to seven days. The five steps:
- Check the rules: the domain must be at least 60 days old, not transferred in the last 60 days, and more than 15 days from expiry.
- Unlock it and get the code: switch off the transfer lock in your current registrar's dashboard, then request the EPP (authorization) code.
- Start the transfer: at the new registrar, choose "Transfer Domain," enter the name and the EPP code, and pay the transfer fee.
- Approve it by email: click the confirmation link sent to the registrant email — this is the step that most often stalls a transfer.
- Wait: the registry moves the registration, typically in 5 to 7 days, and adds one year to your current expiry date.
Nothing else changes during those steps. Your nameservers, DNS records, hosting, and email stay exactly as they are, which is why the site never goes dark — provided you do not touch DNS or nameservers until the transfer completes.
Can You Transfer Any Domain? The 60-Day and 15-Day Rules
Almost any domain can transfer, but three timing rules decide whether yours can move today — and they are the reason most transfer attempts get refused before they start. Check all three before you pay anything, because a refused transfer still costs you the afternoon, even if the fee itself is refunded.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| 60 days since registration | A domain cannot transfer within 60 days of being registered. ICANN's transfer policy lets registrars deny any transfer inside that window. |
| 60 days since the last transfer | The same 60-day wait applies after a previous transfer. Moving twice in two months is not possible. |
| 60-day Change of Registrant lock | Changing the registrant name, organization, or email address can lock the domain for 60 days. Some registrars let you opt out of this lock; if you plan to transfer, do the transfer first and update contact details later. |
| At least 15 days to expiry | Most registrars want 15 days or more left on the registration. Dynadot recommends starting at least two weeks before expiry, because a transfer that runs past the expiry date is not guaranteed to complete. |
| Unlocked | The transfer lock must be off. In WHOIS this shows as the clientTransferProhibited status disappearing. |
| Valid admin email | You must be able to receive and answer the approval emails, which go to the registrant address on file. |
There are two exceptions worth knowing. First, ICANN says you have the right to transfer an expired domain, and a registrar cannot deny the transfer just because the name expired — unless the domain has already entered the Redemption Grace Period, in which case it must be restored first, usually for a redemption fee. Second, a domain under a UDRP dispute, a court order, or a similar proceeding cannot transfer at all until the dispute is resolved.
What Is an EPP Code, and Where Do You Get One?
An EPP code — also called an authorization code, auth code, or transfer code — is the password that proves you own the domain, and the transfer cannot start without it. Your current registrar creates it, and you hand it to the new registrar. It is typically 8 to 32 characters, a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, and it is case-sensitive, so copy it exactly rather than retyping it from memory.
You get the code from your current registrar's dashboard, usually under Domain Settings, Security, or Transfer — look for "Authorization Code," "EPP Code," or "Get Auth Code." Some registrars show it on screen immediately, others email it to the admin address, and a few still make you ask support. ICANN's rule is clear: your registrar must provide the AuthInfo code within five calendar days of your request. If a registrar refuses to hand it over, that is a policy violation, not a business decision — you can file a transfer complaint with ICANN.
Treat the code like a password. Never post it in a chat, a forum, or a screenshot, and store it in a password manager until the transfer completes. Codes are typically valid for 30 to 90 days and can be reused if a transfer attempt fails.
The Transfer, Step by Step
The five steps from the summary above take about an hour of your time spread over a week. The order matters: the backup comes before the unlock, and the approval email comes before the waiting.
Step 1: Back up your DNS records first
Before you change anything, export or screenshot every DNS record on the domain: A, CNAME, MX, and TXT records, plus the nameservers currently in use. The transfer itself does not change DNS, but if anything goes wrong later you will need this list to rebuild it, and registrars sometimes reset DNS settings when a domain arrives. Also confirm the registrant email address is one you actively monitor, and switch off WHOIS privacy if your registrar requires it — some registrars route transfer emails through the privacy service, and a blocked approval email stalls the whole move.
Step 2: Unlock the domain
In your current registrar's dashboard, find the transfer lock — it may be called "Transfer Lock," "Domain Lock," or "Registrar Lock" — and switch it off. Wait five to thirty minutes, then check WHOIS: the clientTransferProhibited status should be gone.
Step 3: Get the EPP code
Request the authorization code from the same dashboard area, or from support if your registrar hides it. Save it immediately in a password manager. If it arrives by email, check spam as well as the inbox.
Step 4: Start the transfer at the new registrar
Create an account at the new registrar, find "Transfer Domain" or "Transfer In," enter the domain name and paste the EPP code exactly as provided, then pay the transfer fee. The confirmation screen should show the current expiry date and the new one — the current date plus one year. If it does not, stop and check before paying.
Step 5: Approve it, then wait — and touch nothing
Two approval emails are involved: the new registrar confirms your intent to transfer, and your current registrar confirms the move away. Click the approval link promptly — DomainDetails notes that approving immediately is the single biggest factor in speeding a transfer up, and can cut the wait to one or two days. Ignore "cancel transfer" emails from your old registrar unless you have changed your mind. Then wait, and do not change DNS records or nameservers until the transfer completes. The transfer typically completes in 5 to 7 days, and your website and email continue working normally throughout.
How Long Does a Domain Transfer Take?
Most domain transfers complete in 5 to 7 days, but the range is wider than that single number suggests — and the biggest variable is you, not the registry. The approval email is the bottleneck: until you click it, nothing moves.
| Source | Typical transfer time |
|---|---|
| DomainDetails transfer guide | 5 to 7 days; approving the email immediately can cut it to 1 to 2 days |
| Dynadot help center (updated Aug 11, 2026) | 1 to 15 days, depending on how fast each step is completed |
| DNSimple help (updated Apr 17, 2026) | 1 to 7 days, depending on the top-level domain |
| ScalaHosting knowledge base | 24 hours to a week, depending on the registrars involved |
| Netspace India transfer FAQ | Typically within 5 days; some TLDs take up to 7 |
Country-code domains are the exception to the pattern: a .uk transfer uses the IPS tag system instead of an EPP code and completes immediately, while .au and .eu transfers carry their own eligibility rules. For standard .com, .net, and .org names, plan on a week and be pleasantly surprised if it finishes sooner.
How Much Does a Domain Transfer Cost?
The transfer fee is one year of renewal at the new registrar's rate, and that year is added to your current expiry date — you never lose the time you already paid for. If your domain has six months left, it will have one year and six months left after the transfer. There is no separate "transfer fee" on top: registrars cannot charge additional transfer fees beyond the renewal cost, and they cannot charge you for providing the EPP code.
For a .com, DomainDetails lists transfer prices of $10.15 at Cloudflare, $11.98 at Porkbun, and $10.98 at Namecheap in its transfer guide, and puts the typical .com transfer at $9 to $15 including the one-year renewal. The saving adds up fast: a registrar charging $21.99 a year for .com renewals against a new registrar at $10.15 saves $11.84 a year per domain — $118.40 a year across ten domains. Check the new registrar's renewal price, not just its transfer price, because the transfer rate is a one-off and the renewal rate is what you will pay every year after. If you also want a second name while you are moving, check whether it is free first with a domain availability checker.
Will My Website and Email Stay Online During the Transfer?
Yes. A domain transfer changes the registrar, not the DNS, hosting, or content, so DNS resolution is not interrupted as long as your nameservers remain unchanged. Your visitors keep reaching the same server, and your email keeps arriving at the same mailbox, because none of those services move with the registration.
Two things can still break the streak. First, changing nameservers or DNS records mid-transfer can send visitors to the wrong place while the registry is processing the move — wait until the transfer completes. Second, services tied to the old registrar, such as its DNS hosting, email forwarding, or SSL certificates, may need reconfiguring after the move, depending on your setup. If the site does look down after the transfer, read our guide on DNS propagation before assuming the transfer failed — DNS changes take time to spread, and a transfer itself does not cause that delay.
What If the Transfer Is Blocked or Denied?
A registrar can only refuse a transfer for a short list of reasons, and it must tell you which one applies. ICANN's registrant FAQ lists the grounds: evidence of fraud, a reasonable dispute over who authorized the transfer, unpaid fees for a previous registration period, a written objection from the domain holder, the domain being locked, or the domain being within 60 days of registration or a previous transfer. A registrar must refuse when the domain is under a UDRP proceeding, a court order, or a 60-day Change of Registrant lock.
If your transfer is denied for a reason not on that list, or you disagree with the reason given, file a formal transfer complaint with ICANN — the complaint form is linked from ICANN's registrant FAQ. The same route applies if a registrar refuses to give you the EPP code or charges a fee it should not. Keep the denial email and the dates: the complaint needs them, and registrars must specify a reason when they deny a transfer.
After the Transfer: The 5-Minute Checklist
When the confirmation email says the transfer is complete, spend five minutes locking the new setup down. Re-enable the transfer lock at the new registrar, turn on auto-renewal, and re-enable WHOIS privacy if you use it. Then verify the site loads and send yourself a test email to confirm mail still works, and compare the live DNS records against the backup you made in step one. Finally, set a renewal reminder — or use a domain expiry checker to watch the new date — so the next renewal never sneaks up on you.
Sources
- DomainDetails — How to Transfer a Domain Name Between Registrars (2025 Guide) — requirements table, step-by-step process, .com transfer prices, post-transfer checklist
- Dynadot — What are the steps involved in the domain transfer process? — updated Aug 11, 2026; prep steps, 1–15 day range, one-year extension
- ICANN — FAQs for Registrants: Transferring Your Domain Name — your right to transfer, 60-day locks, Auth-Code within five days, denial reasons, transfer complaints
- DNSimple — What Is Domain Transfer? — updated Apr 17, 2026; definition, 1–7 day range, transfer vs renewal vs nameserver change
- ScalaHosting — Transfer Domain to Another Registrar — knowledge base; 24-hour to one-week range, six-months-to-eighteen-months renewal example
- Netspace India — How to Transfer Domain Name in 5 Easy Steps (2026) — five-step process, 5–7 day timing, EPP code explanation
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to transfer a domain name?
Most transfers complete in 5 to 7 days. Dynadot gives a wider range of 1 to 15 days depending on how fast each step is completed, and DNSimple puts it at 1 to 7 days depending on the top-level domain. Clicking the approval email immediately is the fastest way to shorten the wait — DomainDetails notes it can cut the process to one or two days.
Does transferring a domain affect my website or email?
No. A transfer changes only the registrar managing the registration. Your website, email, and DNS keep working as long as you do not change nameservers or DNS records during the transfer. Services provided by the old registrar itself, such as its DNS hosting or email forwarding, may need reconfiguring afterwards.
What is an EPP code?
An EPP code, also called an authorization code or auth code, is a password-like code that proves you own the domain. You get it from your current registrar, and your new registrar needs it to start the transfer. It is typically 8 to 32 characters and case-sensitive, and ICANN requires your registrar to provide it within five calendar days of your request.
Can I transfer a domain that is about to expire?
Start at least 15 days before expiry — most registrars require that much time, and Dynadot recommends at least two weeks. ICANN says you have the right to transfer an expired domain, but if the domain has entered the Redemption Grace Period it must be restored first, usually for a redemption fee, so do not rely on the expired-domain route.
Does a domain transfer add a year to my registration?
Yes. The transfer fee buys one year of renewal at the new registrar's rate, and that year is added to your current expiry date. A domain with six months left becomes one year and six months after the transfer — you never lose the time you already paid for.