Moving a domain name from one registrar to another sounds risky. It is not, if you do the steps in the right order. The worst that usually happens to a botched transfer is an extra week of waiting.
This guide walks through a UK-friendly domain transfer end to end, with the two small gotchas that trip up most first-timers.
Before you start
Two conditions need to be true before a transfer will succeed. First, the domain must be at least 60 days old at its current registrar. ICANN imposes this to stop flip-flopping. Second, the domain cannot already be mid-transfer or suspended.
If either is a problem, wait or contact the current registrar. Otherwise, a typical transfer takes between three and seven days.
Step 1, unlock the domain
Log in at the current registrar and find the domain’s settings page. There will be a toggle labelled Registrar Lock or Transfer Lock. Turn it off.
This exists to stop random people starting transfers on your domain. Until you unlock it, the transfer will not even start.
Step 2, get your EPP (auth) code
On the same settings page, look for EPP Code, Auth Code, or Transfer Code. Copy it somewhere safe.
For .co.uk domains, Nominet uses a slightly different system called an IPS tag rather than an EPP code. You change the IPS tag at the current registrar to the new registrar’s tag and the transfer happens through Nominet automatically. Any UK registrar can walk you through this.
Step 3, start the transfer at the new registrar
Go to the new registrar, pick the transfer option, enter the domain name and the auth code. Pay the transfer fee, which usually covers an extra year of registration as well, so you do not lose the time you already paid for.
If you are moving to Cloudflare Registrar, the flow is slightly different and free; Namecheap, Hover, and 123-Reg all charge around the same as a one-year renewal.
Step 4, approve the confirmation email
An email will arrive at the administrative contact address for the domain. It contains a confirmation link. Click it.
This is the most common step people miss, because the email sometimes lands in spam. If you do not click within five days, the transfer gets cancelled and you have to start over. Budget a day for the email to turn up and check spam folders.
What about DNS and downtime?
The domain transfer and the DNS records are separate things. Moving the domain does not automatically move its DNS records. If you leave DNS alone, the site keeps working throughout.
After the transfer completes, log in at the new registrar and either recreate the DNS records or leave them pointing at your existing hosting. The usual advice is to take a screenshot of every DNS record before you start, just in case.
What if the transfer fails?
The two common failure modes are a wrong auth code and the confirmation email never getting clicked. In both cases the domain stays where it is and you have not lost anything except the time.
A rarer third mode is the current registrar actively slowing down the process. This used to happen more. These days, ICANN rules make it harder for them to drag their feet. If you suspect foot-dragging, open a ticket with ICANN or Nominet.
Pointing a transferred domain at new hosting
Once the transfer is done, you can update the A and CNAME records to point wherever you want. If you are moving to HostPoco’s managed hosting, we send you the exact records to paste, and a free migration moves the site with no downtime. Charity accounts get the same free migration.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does a domain transfer take?
Three to seven days typically. The bulk of the time is the approval window, not the technical transfer itself. .co.uk transfers via Nominet IPS tag change usually finish within 24 hours.
Do I lose the time I already paid for?
No. Transferring a domain adds a year to the existing registration, so you keep every day you already paid for at the old registrar, plus one more year on top.
Will my website go down during a domain transfer?
No, not if you leave the DNS records alone. The transfer moves the administrative record, not the live DNS pointing at your site. Most people never notice any change while the transfer is in progress.
Can I transfer a domain at any time?
Almost always. The only restrictions are that the domain must be at least 60 days old at the current registrar, not already locked or suspended, and not already mid-transfer.
How much does a domain transfer cost?
Usually the price of a one-year renewal at the new registrar. The exception is Cloudflare Registrar, which charges wholesale cost with no transfer fee.
