How to transfer a domain name to another registrar: steps, timing and cost
Moving a domain to a new registrar takes an auth code, an unlocked domain and one confirmation. The five steps, how long a transfer takes for .com and .it, what it costs, the 60-day lock, and the mistakes that stall a transfer.
Transferring a domain means moving it from one registrar to another. The name stays the same, the owner stays the same, and if you do it right your website and email never go down. Most transfers finish in under a week. When one gets stuck, it's almost always for one of three reasons: a wrong auth code, a domain that's still locked, or a confirmation email nobody read. This guide walks you through the process and around those traps.
How a domain transfer works
Your registrar holds your domain in the registry for its extension: Verisign for .com and .net, under ICANN's Transfer Policy, or the Registro .it for .it names. A transfer is a request that starts at the new registrar and that the current one has to let through. You need three things:
- The auth code, also called an EPP code, AuthInfo code or transfer code: a password for the domain, issued by your current registrar.
- An unlocked domain: the clientTransferProhibited status, which blocks unauthorized transfers, has to be removed first. ICANN explains each status in its EPP status codes guide.
- An email address you can reach: for many extensions the owner gets a message and has to confirm.
How to transfer a domain name in 5 steps
1. Check the expiration date and the 60-day lock
If the domain expires in the next few days, renew it first. For .com and other generic extensions, also check the date it was registered or last transferred: a registrar can refuse a transfer within 60 days of either (more on this below).
2. Unlock the domain and get the auth code
Do both from your current registrar's dashboard, or ask their support. Under ICANN rules, a registrar that doesn't let you generate the code yourself has to provide it within five calendar days of your request. If you bought the domain from SeeURL, request the code from your dashboard: we email it to you within 48 hours and unlock the domain, free of charge.
3. Start the transfer at the new registrar
Choose "transfer a domain", enter the name and the auth code, and pay. For .com, .net and .org the transfer fee usually includes one extra year added to your current expiration date, so you lose nothing you've already paid for.
4. Approve the request and wait
Watch your inbox, including spam, and approve any confirmation request. For generic extensions, if the current registrar doesn't respond within five calendar days, the transfer goes through automatically.
5. Check your DNS
A transfer moves the registration, not your DNS records. If the nameservers stay the same, nothing changes for your site and email. If the new registrar switches you to its own nameservers, copy every record (A, CNAME, MX, TXT) over first, so there's no gap in service.
How long does a domain transfer take?
| Extension | Typical time | 60-day lock | Effect on expiration date |
|---|---|---|---|
| .com, .net, .org | 5–7 days | yes | +1 year (included in the transfer fee) |
| .it | 1–5 days | no | usually unchanged |
| .eu | 1–5 days | no | depends on the registrar |
How much does it cost to transfer a domain?
Leaving a registrar should be free; paying the new one is where the cost is. For .com and other generic extensions you typically pay the price of a one-year renewal, which is added to your registration. For .it, the change of registrar costs whatever the new registrar charges. Transferring a domain away from SeeURL costs nothing.
Why domain transfers fail, and how to fix them
- Wrong or expired auth code: some registrars regenerate the code after a few days. Request it when you're ready to use it.
- The domain is still locked: unlock it before you start the transfer, not after.
- The confirmation email never arrives: the owner contact is an old address. Update it before you begin.
- The domain is inside the 60-day window: wait it out, or ask your current registrar whether they'll waive it.
- The domain has expired: renew it first, then transfer.
The 60-day transfer lock, explained
Under the current version of ICANN's Transfer Policy, a registrar may deny a transfer within 60 days of a domain's registration or of its last transfer. A change of registrant (the legal owner) triggers a 60-day lock too, unless the owner opted out before the change. The rule applies to .com, .net, .org and other generic extensions; country codes like .it set their own rules. ICANN's GNSO has been running a Transfer Policy Review that recommends shorter locks, so check your registrar's current terms before you plan around a date.
Do you actually need to transfer?
Many people request a transfer just to point their domain to a new website host. You don't need one for that: you change the DNS records at your current registrar and point them to the new host. On SeeURL the DNS dashboard (records, redirects, DNSSEC, email forwarding) comes with every domain, and the first year of renewal is included in the price. A transfer makes sense when you want all your domains in one place, or a registrar with services yours doesn't offer.
Transferring a domain you bought from SeeURL
When you buy an established domain from us, there's no registrar transfer: we own every domain we sell, and we register it in your name through a change of registrant, as soon as you pay in full. On an installment plan, ownership moves to you with the last payment, so the domain can be transferred out once the plan is paid off. After that, moving it to your own registrar takes one request from your dashboard, and the auth code reaches you within 48 hours.
Looking for a domain you can use today? See technology domains for sale or browse the full catalog. To move a domain you bought from us, call +39 02 500 427 87, Monday–Friday 9 AM–7 PM and Saturday 9 AM–4 PM, Italian time (CET/CEST).