How to transfer a domain to another registrar

Before you start: three eligibility rules

Also check the expiry date. A transfer adds a full year to the current expiry, so transferring a domain that expires next week is fine, but transferring one you have just renewed for five years still only adds one year on top.

• The domain must be at least 60 days old and not have been transferred or had its registrant contact changed in the last 60 days — ICANN blocks transfers inside that window.
• It must not be in redemption or pending-delete status. If it has expired, renew it first, then transfer.
• You need access to the administrative contact email on the WHOIS record, because that is where the approval message goes.

Step 1 — Record your DNS before you touch anything

This is the step people skip and then regret. Log into your current DNS provider and copy every record: A records, CNAMEs, MX records for email, TXT records for SPF, DKIM and domain verification, and any SRV records. Save them in a document.

Transfers do not automatically move DNS. If the new registrar applies its own default nameservers, any record you failed to copy simply disappears — which is why the classic symptom of a rushed transfer is a website that still loads while email silently stops arriving.

Step 2 — Unlock the domain and disable privacy

• In your current registrar's control panel, switch off the transfer lock (sometimes called registrar lock or clientTransferProhibited).
• Temporarily disable WHOIS privacy so the admin contact email is visible and reachable; some registrars refuse to release the auth code while privacy is active.
• Confirm the admin email address is one you can actually open today, and update it if not — but note that changing the registrant contact can start a fresh 60-day transfer lock at some registrars.

Step 3 — Get the EPP authorisation code

The EPP code, also called the auth code or transfer key, is the password that proves you own the domain. Request it in your current registrar's panel; most display it immediately, some email it to the admin contact, and a few make you wait several hours. It is case-sensitive — copy and paste it rather than retyping.

Step 4 — Start the transfer at the new registrar and pay

At the gaining registrar, enter the domain and the auth code and pay the transfer fee. That fee is normally one year of registration, and the year is added to your existing expiry date rather than replacing it, so you lose nothing by transferring early in the cycle.

With us, the transfer is ordered like any other service and can be paid in FCFA with MTN Mobile Money or Orange Money, or in USD by card or crypto. WHOIS privacy is re-enabled automatically once the transfer completes, at no extra charge.

Step 5 — Approve, then wait

An approval email goes to the administrative contact. Click the confirmation link. Most registrars also let you accelerate the release from the losing side — do that, or the transfer sits in a mandatory five-day waiting period before it completes automatically.

Typical timings: instant to a few hours if you approve on both sides, five days if you only approve at the gaining registrar, and up to seven days for some country-code extensions with their own registry rules. Some ccTLDs, .cm among them, follow a registry-specific process; we handle those manually and will tell you what the registry requires.

Step 6 — Verify after completion

• Compare the live DNS records against the document from step 1 and restore anything missing.
• Send and receive a test email in both directions to confirm MX and SPF survived.
• Check the site loads over HTTPS and that the SSL certificate is still valid.
• Re-enable the transfer lock and confirm WHOIS privacy is back on.
• Check that auto-renew is enabled at the new registrar and that the expiry date gained a year.

Will my website or email go down?

No, provided you do not change nameservers at the same time as the transfer. A transfer changes who bills and manages the registration; it does not, by itself, change where the domain points. Keep the existing nameservers through the transfer, verify everything, and only then move DNS if you also want to move hosting.

If you are moving hosting as well, do the hosting migration first, test the site on a temporary URL, then transfer the domain. Our migration guide covers that sequence in detail.

Frequently asked questions

How do I transfer a domain to another registrar?

Unlock the domain at your current registrar, disable WHOIS privacy, request the EPP auth code, start the transfer and pay at the new registrar, then approve the confirmation email sent to the admin contact. It completes within five to seven days, or faster if you also approve the release at the losing registrar.

How long does a domain transfer take?

Usually five days, and often within hours if you approve on both sides. Some country-code extensions take up to seven days because of registry rules.

Does transferring a domain cost money?

Yes — normally the price of one year's registration, which is added to your existing expiry date rather than replacing it. You do not lose remaining time.

Will my website and email go down during the transfer?

No, as long as you keep the same nameservers during the transfer. A transfer changes the registrar of record, not where your domain points.

Why is my transfer rejected or pending?

The most common reasons are the 60-day lock after registration or a recent transfer, an active registrar lock, WHOIS privacy hiding the admin email, an incorrect or expired auth code, or an unpaid or expired domain.

Can I transfer a .cm or .africa domain?

Yes. Those registries have their own procedures, so we process them manually and tell you exactly what the registry asks for, including any documentation.

Can I pay for a transfer with Mobile Money?

Yes. Transfers are billed like any other service and can be paid in FCFA with MTN Mobile Money or Orange Money, or in USD by card or cryptocurrency.