How to transfer a domain

A domain transfer moves your domain name from one registrar to another — for example, from GoDaddy to Namecheap. You might do this to consolidate domains, find better pricing, or move to a registrar you prefer. This guide explains the process from start to finish.

What you'll need

• Access to your current registrar account
• Access to the email address on the domain registration
• An account at the new registrar

Before you start

Check these things before beginning a transfer:

1. The domain is more than 60 days old. ICANN's Transfer Policy lets your current registrar refuse a transfer requested within 60 days of the domain's creation date, and registrars apply that, so a brand-new domain has to wait. The same 60-day wait applies after a previous transfer between registrars.
2. You haven't just changed the registrant details. Changing the registrant name, organization or email address triggers a 60-day transfer lock that your registrar must apply, unless you were given the chance to opt out of it beforehand. If a transfer is the goal, do the transfer first and the contact changes afterwards.
3. The domain isn't about to expire mid-transfer. ICANN says a registrar can't refuse a transfer just because the domain has expired, but the transfer authorization does expire if the domain expires before the move completes — so if renewal is close, renew first. One caution the other way: if the domain had expired and you renewed it with the old registrar, transferring within 45 days of that old expiry date can mean the extra year isn't added, because the old registrar can revoke the renewal. Namecheap warns about this explicitly.
4. You have access to the registrant email address. You'll need to approve the transfer from that email. If you don't have access, update the email at the current registrar first — but see point 2 before you do.
5. The domain isn't locked in a dispute. A registrar must refuse a transfer during a UDRP or URS proceeding, or under a court order.

Step 1: Unlock the domain at your current registrar

By default, most domains are "locked" to prevent unauthorized transfers. You need to unlock it.

• Log in to your current registrar
• Find your domain's settings
• Look for "Transfer Lock," "Domain Lock," or similar
• Turn it off (unlock the domain)

If your registrar doesn't give you a way to remove the lock yourself, it has to do it for you within five calendar days of your asking.

See Unlocking a domain & getting the auth code for detailed steps.

Step 2: Get the EPP / auth code

The EPP code (ICANN calls it the AuthInfo code; registrars also call it the auth code, authorization code or transfer code) is a password that proves you're authorized to transfer the domain. Your current registrar will provide it.

• Look for "Get EPP code," "Auth code," or "Transfer key" in your domain settings
• It's often emailed to the registrant email address on file

If your registrar doesn't let you generate the code yourself, it must give it to you within five calendar days of your request. Keep the code safe, and treat it like a password. ICANN's Transfer Policy doesn't set an expiry date for the code itself, though individual registrars may — see Unlocking a domain & getting the auth code.

Step 3: Initiate the transfer at the new registrar

Step 4: Approve the transfer

After initiating the transfer:

• You'll receive an approval email at the registrant email address.
• Click the approval link or follow the instructions to confirm.
• Your current registrar has to send you its own confirmation message within 24 hours of the transfer request reaching it.

Approving speeds things up, but doing nothing doesn't block the move. If your current registrar doesn't respond to the registry within five calendar days, the transfer goes through by default. The registrar is only allowed to refuse for a short list of specific reasons, such as evidence of fraud, a dispute over who the registrant is, or unpaid fees.

Step 5: Wait for the transfer to complete

Domain transfers typically take 5–7 days. The five comes from ICANN's Transfer Policy: once the request reaches the registry, it completes after five calendar days unless your current registrar objects. Registries and registrars then add a little processing time on top. During this time:

• Your website and email continue to work normally — DNS is not affected by the transfer itself.
• You'll get a confirmation email once the transfer is complete.
• The domain will appear in your new registrar's account.

After the transfer

Once the transfer is complete:

1. Turn on auto-renew at the new registrar. See Turning on auto-renew.
2. Enable WHOIS privacy if it's not already on. See Domain privacy protection explained.
3. Set up two-factor authentication on the new registrar account.
4. Log in to the old registrar and confirm the domain is gone.

Common questions

Will my website go down during the transfer?

No — not if you leave DNS settings alone. The transfer only moves registration, not your hosting or DNS configuration.

What happens to my renewal date after a transfer?

For most generic extensions, a year's renewal is part of the transfer and your remaining time is added to it — so a domain with 6 months left should end up with about 18 months. Country-code extensions follow their own registry's rules, so check before you assume. One exception to watch: if the domain had expired, you renewed it at the old registrar, and you transfer within 45 days of that old expiry date, the extra year may not be added, because the old registrar can claw the renewal back.

The transfer is taking longer than 7 days. What should I do?

Check your registrant email for any approval or action required. Contact the new registrar's support if no action is needed but the transfer is still pending after 7 days.

Can I cancel a transfer once it's started?

Usually yes, if you act inside the five-day window before it completes. An express objection from you is one of the reasons your current registrar is allowed to deny a transfer, so tell them, and tell the new registrar, as soon as you change your mind.

Related guides

• Domain transfer checklist
• Unlocking a domain & getting the auth code
• Nameservers vs DNS records
• Turning on auto-renew
• DNS propagation: why changes take time
• Give us access to your domain registrar
• Give us access to manage your DNS

Learn more

• ICANN — FAQs for Registrants: Transferring Your Domain Name
• ICANN — Transfer Policy