Most transfers that fail are refused for one of the reasons below. Check them before you start — at the registrar you are leaving.
- It's more than 60 days old. A domain cannot move in the 60 days after it is registered.
- It hasn't moved in the last 60 days. A domain cannot move again within 60 days of a previous transfer.
- It isn't locked. Theft protection, a registrar lock or a suspension blocks any transfer. Switch the lock off first.
- WHOIS privacy is off. Privacy can hide the email address the approval is sent to. Turn it off for the transfer.
- It isn't in redemption or pending delete. An expired and deleted domain cannot move until it has been restored.
- You have the transfer code, and the administrative contact's email address works — the approval goes there.
Tip
Our domain transfer page checks a name for you and tells you if it is locked at its current registrar.
Extensions with their own rules
| Extension | Rule |
|---|---|
| .AU | The 60-day rules, the privacy rule and the redemption rule do not apply |
| .CN | Cannot move in the last 15 days before expiry |
| .CO | Only .CO, .COM.CO, .NET.CO and .NOM.CO can be transferred |
| .DE | A transfer away forfeits the rest of the term. The domain's nameservers must appear in its WHOIS |
| .EU, .NL | No lock, no privacy and no 60-day rules. A .EU can even move during redemption |
| .ME | Third-level .ME domains cannot be transferred |
| .NZ | Only refused when under 5 days old or locked by the registry |
| .RU | Locked for 30 days (60 for .COM.RU) after its contacts change; must be renewed if expired |
| .UK | None of the rules above. Renewable until 90 days after expiry — leave enough time |