Domain transfer without downtime
Transfer a domain without taking your site or email down
A domain transfer only changes who manages the domain, not where your site is hosted. As long as the nameservers stay the same, your pages and mailboxes keep running throughout. Here's how it works, how long it takes and what to check first.
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Two ways to move your domain
Do it yourself: the guide
For .com, .net and .org you need the authorisation code from your current provider. For .es there is no code at all: the new provider files the request and you approve it. The steps are below, with the deadlines.
Or I'll do it for you
Tell me the domain and I'll handle the rest, then let you know once it has arrived. If your current provider drags their feet, you don't have to chase them yourself.
Site and email keep running
The transfer changes who manages the domain, not where your data lives. I copy your nameservers and DNS records one by one, so neither the site nor the mailboxes notice a thing.
Transfer a domain in 5 steps
This is how it goes if you do it yourself. The actual work is two steps; the rest is waiting for the registry.
- 1
Check the lock periods
A domain can't be transferred within the first 60 days after registration, nor within 60 days of another transfer or an owner change. Also check your provider's panel for an active transfer lock (ClientTransferProhibited) and lift it.
- 2
Get the code, if your extension needs one
For .com, .net and .org request the authorisation code (AuthCode or EPP) in your current provider's panel; they have five calendar days to give it to you. For .de an AuthInfo is deposited with DENIC and is valid for 30 days. For .es no code is needed.
- 3
Write down your DNS records
Before you start, note which nameservers are set and which records exist, above all the A record of the site and the MX records for email. That way you can check afterwards that everything stayed the same.
- 4
Request the transfer at the new provider
Enter the domain and, if required, the code; confirm the owner details and request the transfer. Make sure the administrative contact address works, because that's where the confirmation request lands.
- 5
Approve and wait
Approve the request from that address. A .es is usually done the same day; for .com and the other generic extensions it can take up to five days. If your current provider doesn't respond, the transfer is approved automatically.
Too much hassle? Tell me the domain, I'll bring it over and let you know when it's here.
Move it yourself or let me move it
| Point | You do it | I do it |
|---|---|---|
| Effort | get the code, watch deadlines and confirmations | you tell me the domain, that's it |
| DNS records | you copy them over by hand | I copy them one by one |
| If something gets stuck | you're on your own in a forum | you message me on WhatsApp |
The price is the same either way: the domain's annual fee, the one in the table below. For the transfer itself I charge nothing.
The domain is yours and stays yours
You remain the registered owner; I'm only the technical manager. You can move it elsewhere whenever you like, without asking me. The servers are in Germany and the data processing agreement under Art. 28 GDPR is included.
Frequently asked questions about domain transfers
Do I need an authorisation code?
It depends on the extension. For .es you don't: the new provider files the transfer request and you approve it from the administrative contact address. For .com, .net and .org you do: it's the AuthCode or EPP code, the password of your domain, and under ICANN rules your current provider has five calendar days to hand it over. For .de your provider deposits an AuthInfo with DENIC, valid for 30 days.
How long does a domain transfer take?
A .es is usually done within a day, as soon as you approve the request. For .com, .net and .org allow up to five days: that's how long your current provider has to respond. If they don't respond, the transfer goes through anyway.
Will my site or email go down during the transfer?
No, as long as the nameservers stay the same. The transfer changes who manages the domain, not the server your data sits on, and I copy your DNS records exactly as they are. Only if you also change hosting is there a switch-over, and we do that in parallel so nothing drops.
What does the transfer cost?
The transfer itself, nothing. You pay the domain's annual fee, the one shown in the price table on this page. No setup fee and no commitment beyond the year.
Why was my transfer rejected?
Almost always because of a lock period. A domain can't be transferred within the first 60 days after registration, nor within 60 days of a previous transfer or an owner change. The transfer lock (ClientTransferProhibited) also has to be lifted. If you're unsure, send me the domain and I'll find out where it's stuck.
Can I still transfer a domain that has expired?
Usually yes. An expired domain is not on its own a reason to refuse a transfer. If it has already entered the Redemption Period, your current provider has to restore it first, and they normally charge a fee for that.
Will I lose my email addresses?
No. As long as the mailboxes stay where they are and the MX records don't change, the domain transfer doesn't touch them. If you want to bring the mailboxes too, I move them with all the old mail before anything is switched over.