A domain transfer is a change of registrar while keeping the domain name. The procedure is standardized by ICANN and takes anywhere from a few hours to 7 days.
Requirements for a Domain Transfer
- The domain was registered more than 60 days ago
- More than 60 days have passed since the last transfer
- The domain is not locked (Lock is disabled)
- You have access to the email address listed in WHOIS
Step-by-Step Transfer Process
Step 1: Remove the Lock (Registrar Lock)
Log in to your current registrar's panel → Domain Management → disable "Registrar Lock" or "Transfer Lock".
Step 2: Get the Auth Code (EPP Code)
In the same place, request the Auth Code (EPP code, Authorization Code). It will be sent to the email listed in WHOIS. The code looks like: xK9#mN2$pL7&wQ3
Step 3: Update the WHOIS Email
Make sure the email in WHOIS is up to date — the transfer confirmation email will be sent to it.
Step 4: Initiate the Transfer with the New Registrar
In ZevsHost: Billing → Transfer Domain → enter the domain name and Auth Code. Choose the registration period (the transfer usually includes a 1-year renewal).
Step 5: Confirm the Transfer
Check the email listed in WHOIS — you'll receive a message from the new registrar with a confirmation button. Click "Confirm".
Step 6: Wait
After confirmation, the transfer takes 1–7 days. DNS settings are preserved — the site won't go down.
Transfer Timeframes by Zone
| Zone | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| .com, .net, .org | 5–7 days | ICANN standard |
| .ua, .com.ua | 1–5 days | Via HOSTMASTER |
| .eu | 1–2 days | Fast transfer |
| .ru, xn--p1ai | 1–5 days | Requires additional documents |
Common Transfer Errors and Rejections
| Code or message | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| EPP status: clientTransferProhibited | The domain has a transfer lock (Registrar Lock) enabled at the current registrar | Remove the clientTransferProhibited status in the current registrar's panel before starting the transfer |
| Authorization code is invalid or has expired | The Auth Code was generated earlier and has since expired, or was typed with a mistake (the code is case-sensitive) | Request a new Auth Code and copy it without manual retyping, character for character |
| Transfer rejected by current registrar | The current registrar rejected the transfer manually — for example, over an unpaid invoice on the domain | Settle the balance with the current registrar and request the transfer again |
| Domain not eligible: created less than 60 days ago | Fewer than 60 days have passed since registration or the last transfer (an ICANN rule) | Wait for the 60-day period to end — there is no legal way around this restriction |
| Transfer stuck in "Pending" for more than 7 days | Neither the owner nor the registrar explicitly confirmed or rejected the request — automatic approval kicks in after 5 days at most gTLDs | Check the Spam folder on the WHOIS email — the confirmation message may have landed there |
What Happens to DNS During a Transfer
A transfer changes only the registrar (the administrative record in the registry), not the domain's NS servers. Unless you explicitly change the NS servers at the same time as the transfer, the site and mail keep running on the same DNS provider with zero downtime.
# Confirm the NS records did not change after the transfer
dig NS example.com +short
# Compare with the NS records from before the transfer — they must match
If the site does become unreachable after a transfer, the problem is almost never the transfer itself — it is that someone changed the NS servers at the same time, mistaking that for a required transfer step. These are two independent actions.
When a Transfer Will Not Go Through
- The domain is still in the Redemption Grace Period after expiring — it needs to be restored first, not transferred
- The domain has an open UDRP dispute or a court hold status in the registry — the transfer is blocked until the dispute is resolved
- The WHOIS contact details were changed recently (Change of Registrant) — some registries impose a 60-day transfer ban after an ownership change
- The domain carries a serverTransferProhibited status set by the registry itself, not the registrar — only the registry can remove it, on request through the registrar
- Payment for the new registration period during the transfer did not go through — most transfers include a one-year renewal, and payment is mandatory
If the domain is not moving between registrars but you want to buy it from its current owner, the process is different — see how to buy a taken domain.
Most of the rejections in this list can be anticipated in advance — a simple check of the EPP status and WHOIS contacts before filing the transfer request saves weeks of waiting and dozens of support tickets with both registrars.
It is also worth distinguishing a "transfer" from a "change of registrant": the first changes only the registrar, the second changes the domain's legal owner. At most registries these two procedures are independent, and trying to combine them into a single request often gets rejected by one side or the other.