Preparing to Transfer Domain Names to Us
Before you can authorize a domain name transfer from another registrar to us, you must prepare the domain name and purchase the transfer.
ICANN regulations prohibit transferring domain names (except .au) that were registered or previously transferred in the last 60 days. For more information, click here.
After you complete the steps in this article, see Transferring Domain Names to Us to authorize your domain name transfer.
To Prepare to Transfer Your Domain Name to Us
- Ensure that the administrative contact (admin) for your domain name (registrant contact for .au domain names) has a valid email address in the
Whois database. Both registrars use this email address to send you important information about the transfer.
NOTE: If your domain name has private registration, a service that hides your personal information from the public, you cannot verify your admin email address in the Whois database. You must contact your current registrar to cancel the private registration, and then you can update the email address, if necessary.
- Unlock your domain name at your current registrar.
- Get an authorization code (also known as an EPP code or transfer key) from your current registrar, if required. Some domain name extensions, primarily country-code top-level domain names (ccTLDs), do not require an authorization code. Some registrars display the authorization code in your account with them, while others email it to the admin email address upon request. For more information, see How do I get an authorization code to transfer my domain name to you?
- Purchase a domain name transfer from our website. If the extension you want to transfer is not listed, you cannot transfer the domain name to us. We send an email message to the domain name's administrative contact (admin) after you purchase the transfer. The email contains the transfer IDs (transaction ID and security code) you need to authorize the transfer in your account with us.
For your next steps, make sure you check out the sections Authorizing a Domain Transfer to Us and Checking the Progress of Your Transfer in the article Transferring Domain Names to Us.