How to transfer a domain name

A domain name transfer involves a domain name that you've already registered with another company but wish to transfer over to us. Please refer to the article How to register a domain name to find out how you can order a domain name transfer.

There are four general requirements for a successful transfer of a domain name:

1. the domain name must be at least 60 days old - should not be registered less than 60 days ago;
2. the domain name must be unlocked for transfer;(For more information, please refer to: Locking/Unlocking domain names)
3. the domain's EPP transfer authorization key must be provided - it could be acquired from the domain name's current registrar;(For more information, please refer to: EPP (authorization code))
4. the transfer verification e-mail must be responded to - this e-mail is sent within 24 hours after the domain transfer is initiated to the Administrative Contact e-mail address specified in the WHOIS record of the domain name.

Once the domain transfer is confirmed by following the instructions in the transfer verification e-mail, the transfer procedure becomes fully automated and may take 3-5 business days to complete.

Some specific domain types (TLDs) have different requirements for transferring a domain name. Some TLDs cannot be transferred at all. However, the afore-mentioned requirements are valid for the majority of the TLDs (domain types). Here are a few exceptions:

.UK domain names (.co.uk / .me.uk / .org.uk)

Particularly the .UK domain names involve quite a specific domain name transfer procedure. None of the general requirements apply here. Instead, the only requirement is that the ISP tag of the domain name is changed to "LIQUIDNET" (without the quotes). The ISP tag can be changed by the current registrar of the domain name and once that is a fact, the transfer itself becomes a very seamless and smooth procedure.

Transferring .EU domain names

The only requirement for transferring a .EU domain name is to respond to the verification e-mail. What is specific for this TLD is that upon a successful transfer, the expiration date becomes one year as counted from the date of the successful transfer completion instead of adding one year to the expiration date the domain name had prior to the transfer.