Domain transfer process: A short guide

What is a domain transfer?

A domain transfer is a common process, in which you move your current domain name at the current domain registration company to a different domain registration company. The domain transfer is usually free of charge, but additional costs may be incurred.

Preparation

Before deciding to move your existing domain name and additional services, (e.g., e-mail, hosting and website) away to another Internet service provider (ISP), it is important to win information over the new provider in advance to prevent disappointment later on.

Even if a domain transfer might be free, many domain registration companies charge their customers for a domain transfer. These costs vary greatly. This has to do with:

• The administration fee for domain transfer.
  The new domain registration company may charge additional fees for the domain transfer.
• The cost of additional Internet services.
  The cost of additional Internet services (e.g., domain registration, website, email, hosting & server) may be re-charged for a domain transfer. The total price may, therefore, be higher or lower and depends on the chosen domain registration and hosting company.

Domain move

Check in advance:

• Costs of domain transfer
  What is the total cost of the domain transfer (including VAT)?
• Expiration of domain name
  Is domain extension possible?
• New Control Panel
  Is the domain name transferred to your new Control Panel?
• Extra services
  What additional services will I receive with the domain transfer?
• Extra costs
  What are additional costs passed on with domain transfer?

Domain transfer process

How does the domain transfer process work?
The domain transfer process differs per domain registration service.
The general process consists of the steps below:

1. Backup
   You create a backup of your current website, email and database.
2. Authorisation Code
   You request an Authorisation code from your current domain registration company.
3. Contact
   You contact the new provider that will take care of the domain transfer process.
4. Subscription
   You subscribe to the new service provider in the domain registration service.
5. Approving changes
   You approve the changes to the domain transfer.
6. Confirmation of domain transfer
   You await the confirmation email of the successful domain transfer.

IMPORTANT: The length of time for a domain transfer depends on the chosen domain extension. It ranges from several minutes to a full working week:

• Few minutes
  The most frequently used domain name extensions to be moved within a few minutes, e.g., .CO.UK, .EU, .COM.
• Full working week (5 days)
  New and less frequent domain endings can take up to five days, e.g., .ONLINE, .SHOP, .BUSINESS.