Domain Transfer Process: What Actually Happens
Transferring a domain sounds straightforward. In practice, it involves EPP auth codes, 60-day transfer locks, WHOIS email verification, and a 5–7 day waiting period. Here's the full picture.
Prerequisites Before You Start
60-day lock rule: ICANN requires that a domain cannot be transferred within 60 days of initial registration or a previous transfer. This is hardcoded — no registrar can override it.
clientTransferProhibited: Most registrars enable this EPP lock by default. You must disable it at the losing registrar before a transfer can proceed. This is usually a one-click toggle in the domain management panel.
WHOIS email access: The transfer confirmation is sent to the registrant email address in WHOIS (or the privacy-masked equivalent). You need access to this inbox. If the email is stale or wrong, update it before initiating the transfer.
Step-by-Step Process
1. Unlock at the Losing Registrar
In your current registrar's dashboard, find the domain and disable the transfer lock. The EPP status will change from clientTransferProhibited to active (or this status will simply be removed).
2. Get the Auth Code (EPP Code)
Request the authorization code from the losing registrar. This is a one-time code that proves you are the legitimate registrant authorising the transfer. It is sent to the registrant email address.
Keep this code secure — anyone with the auth code can initiate a transfer.
3. Initiate Transfer at the Gaining Registrar
Enter the domain and auth code at the new registrar. They will submit a transfer request to the registry.
4. Confirmation Email
The registrant email receives a confirmation request. You must click "Approve" (or do nothing for auto-approval after 5 days, depending on the registrar's settings).
5. Transfer Completes
The registry processes the transfer. This takes 5–7 days in most cases. DNS settings are preserved during transfer — your site and email should not go down.
What Goes Wrong
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer rejected | Lock still enabled | Disable clientTransferProhibited first |
| Auth code invalid | Code expired or wrong | Request a fresh code |
| Confirmation email not received | Stale registrant email | Update WHOIS email, wait 24h for propagation |
| 60-day lock | Recent registration or prior transfer | Wait out the 60-day period |
| Domain in redemptionPeriod | Expired domain | Redeem at original registrar first |
Transfer Timing and Renewals
Most registrars add 1 year to the expiry date on transfer. If your domain is close to expiry, time the transfer to also function as a renewal — it's often cheaper than separate transactions.
Checking Transfer Eligibility
Before initiating a transfer, you can verify the current EPP status and registrar via RDAP. BatchDomain returns this data for any registered domain in the results table — clientTransferProhibited in the status column means the domain is still locked at the current registrar.