Domain name Transfer

Domain Name Registration

When a domain is first registered, the process is done under a registrar. This means that the registrar claims a domain name for a user on their behalf. This registrar has user interfaces where users can manage all their domains registered through that specific registrar.

Domain Name Transfer

Domain transfer is a process of moving a domain name from one registrar to another. All relevant information and the domain name remain the same. It is only the administration aspects of that domain and the registrar information that will be changed. This is particularly useful when a user has multiple domains and wishes to administer them all under one panel/registrar.

Terminologies

• Current registrar: Registrar you currently have a domain with (losing registrar).
• New registrar: Registrar you want to move your domain to (gaining registrar).

Transferring a domain involves the following steps:

• The user submits the name of the domain or domains to be transferred to the new registrar.
• If an authorization or EPP key is required, the current registrar will send an email to the domain owner with the proper key. (Authorization keys are required for all tlds  handles: .com, .net., .org, etc.)
• Authorization key is provided to the new registrar.
• The domain transfer is submitted to the registry by the new registrar.
• An email is sent to the domain owner requesting for approval of the transfer process by the new registrar.
• The domain owner can either approve or disapprove the transfer request.
• If the request is approved, the transfer is completed. The transfer period varies between registrars, but it is estimated to be between 5 to 10 days.

Reasons for domain name transfer failure:

• It is locked with your current registrar.
• Incorrect EPP/Authorization Key.
• You are transferring it to the same registrar it is registered with (yes this can happen sometimes).
• The name includes profanity (some registrars do not allow that).
• It is privately registered (the email wouldn’t get to the owner).
• The email address on file is not the most recent email (administrative contact email address is inaccessible).
• A domain name transfer is prohibited during the first 60 days of initial registration or during the first 60 days after a registrar transfer.
• The domain name has already expired.

All the information listed above can be obtained by performing a whois check or through the registrar administration interface.

Unlocking a domain can be done easily by:

• Going to the website of the current domain registrar.
• Using your username and password to login to your account.
• Going to the domain management of your domains and choosing the domain you wish to unlock.
• In the detailed options of your domain, choose to unlock the domain.

Many people use the option for “private registration” or “domain privacy” which hides the personal contact information from the WHOIS database. This privacy feature must be disabled before initiating the domain transfer, or else the email will be sent to the registrar’s anonymous address instead of the domain owner.