How to Transfer a Domain Between Registrars

Transferring a domain sounds risky but is routine when done in order, and your site and email keep working throughout if you don't touch the DNS. Here's the safe sequence.

Step one: check eligibility. A domain must be at least 60 days old at the current registrar and 60 days past any previous transfer. If you just registered it, you'll have to wait — ICANN's rule, not the registrar's.

Step two: at the losing registrar, unlock the domain (disable the transfer lock) and disable WHOIS privacy temporarily if required, then request the authorisation (EPP/auth) code. Some legacy registrars bury this — our Network Solutions review notes where to look.

Step three: at the gaining registrar, start the transfer and paste the auth code. Spaceship and Dynadot both make this straightforward; their panels are covered in our best-registrars roundup. You'll typically pay a transfer fee that adds a year to the registration — that's normal, not a charge for nothing.

Step four: approve the transfer. You'll get a confirmation email from one or both registrars; approving speeds it up, otherwise it auto-completes in up to five days. Don't change nameservers during this window.

Step five: once complete, re-enable the registrar lock and WHOIS privacy at the new home, and confirm auto-renew is on — our renewing-and-protecting guide closes the loop. Your DNS carries over, so there's no downtime if you left the records alone. Related reading: best domain registrars 2026, renewing and protecting domains, network solutions review.