How Long Does a Domain Transfer Take?

There are many reasons for wanting to transfer your domain from one registrar to another.

Maybe the price tag is too high, and no longer suits your budget. Perhaps the user experience is poor, and you’re confused about how everything works. It could be that you are transferring a domain from another person who uses a different registrar.

Whatever the reason you want to transfer a domain name from one host to another, it’s worth knowing the typical domain transfer time. This will help you understand the process, and factor it into your transfer decision.

You may be thinking, what is a domain transfer, anyway? Or, if you know what it is, how do I transfer my existing domain?

In short, it’s the act of swapping your domain from one registrar (like GoDaddy) to another (like Namecheap). Don’t worry —it’s not a complicated process. Check out our article on how to transfer domains, and you’ll discover that anyone can do it, not just the tech-savvy!

Perhaps you want to transfer a domain to another account, and both accounts are with Namecheap. Domain transfers can also happen this way, and for details on this process, please read our article on changing ownership.

In this post, we will focus on domain transfers between registrars, so let’s dive straight in.

How long do I have to wait before I can transfer a newly purchased domain name?

First, let’s take a closer look at the transfer process. There are three steps involved:

1. Verification
2. Preparation
3. Submission

So, how long do you have to wait before you can transfer a domain? First, you must verify and prepare your domain, and then you’re all good to go!

Verification

The first step is to make sure that the domain name is eligible for transfer. To do this, you need to log in to your current registrar and check that the following statements are correct:

• The domain name was registered at least 60 days ago with your current registrar.
• The domain name is not on hold.

If they are correct, you may proceed to the next step.

Preparation

The second step is to prepare your domain name for transfer. Here you must check that your domain is unlocked and that you have an authorization code from your current registrar.

Registrars prepare the authorization code to help identify the domain name holder. It is sometimes referred to as an auth code, EPP code, transfer code, and other similar descriptions.

Check out the website of your current registrar to find out how to get your code. You can usually find out this information in help pages, or FAQ sections.

Submission

Now that you’ve got everything you need, it’s time to submit your domain for transfer. Here at Namecheap, it’s easy. Head to our Easy Domain Transfer page, and submit your domain name for transfer from one registrar to another.

Once initiated at the current registry, and it can then take up to 6 days to complete the transfer.

If you’re looking for a cheap domain name transfer service, consider Namecheap. We offer some of the best transfer rates around.

What’s the average domain name transfer time when moving to a new registrar?

Let’s imagine you own a new cake shop in Toronto and have registered a .CA domain with Namecheap. You have also got a .NYC domain that you registered years ago for a cake shop in New York, with a different registrar, like GoDaddy.

Now you want to switch domain hosts and transfer your domain from GoDaddy so that everything is in one place and easy to manage.

You’ll be keen to know the average domain transfer processing time so you can estimate how long it will take to complete the transfer.

The truth is that domain registrar transfer time can vary, but here at Namecheap, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to six days after we receive a domain transfer request.

Whatever top-level domain (TLD) you want to transfer, whether you register a .AI for your robot dog shop, or you choose a .IO TLD for your photography portfolio, as long as your domain is eligible and unlocked, it won’t be long before the process completes.

It’s been days, my domain hasn’t been transferred!

You may be pulling your hair out thinking, why does a domain transfer take so long?

It usually takes registrars up to six days to complete the transfer process, so if it’s been less than six days after you submitted your domain name for transfer, there’s no need to worry.

If it’s been more than six days, there may be several reasons the transfer may fail.

It could be that payment is owed or even that there is evidence of fraud and the identity of the person authorizing the transfer is disputed.

Alternatively, you may have attempted to transfer your domain name too early. The maximum legal time for domain transfer is 60 days. This means that if you have attempted to transfer your name before this time period is up, or within 60 days of initial registration, it may be refused by your current registrar.

Ultimately, the exact time frame a domain transfer may stay pending depends on the domain in question, and the time taken by your current registrar to complete the process.

Can you speed up a domain transfer?

Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to speed up the domain transfer period. As long as you have done everything correctly, there are between 30 minutes and six days required for the domain transfer to complete.

The only exception to that rule is that the transfer may also be accepted or rejected by your current registrar. In this case, you may contact them with a request to speed up the outgoing transfer. However, not all registrars provide this option.

Is it possible to complete a domain transfer instantly?

No, it can’t be transferred instantly, but the quickest a domain pending for transfer can complete is 30 minutes, which isn’t too much time to wait! So, if your domain is ready for transfer, it’s unlocked, and you have your authorization codes at the ready, you’re good to go.

Please be aware that some top-level domain names like .ES and .UK have additional transfer requirements that may mean they are excluded from the regular transfer rules. This may mean that the waiting period for the transfer process to complete may be faster than expected.

Check out the following specific guides for more information on these types of domains:

• .UK / .CO.UK / .ORG.UK / .ME.UK transfers to Namecheap
• .ES / .COM.ES / .ORG.ES / .NOM.ES transfers to Namecheap

You can discover Namecheap’s transfer prices by checking out our domain name price page. Or why not find a domain name and register it the old fashioned way? The choice is up to you.

Four reasons to transfer to Namecheap today

If you’re new to Namecheap, here are a few reasons why you should choose us over your current registrar.

1. You can carry time over.
   Any time left with your current registrar will be added to your one-year renewal. (Excluding .UK group TLDs.)
2. Enjoy zero downtime while you transfer.
   Use our FreeDNS to avoid downtime during transfer.
3. Benefit from free lifetime privacy protection.
   domain privacy keeps your sensitive data safe from spammers, marketing firms, and fraudsters.
4. You’ll get 24/7 expert support.
   Help is on hand, whenever you need it from concierge support during the transfer for as long as your domain is with Namecheap.

Transfer your domain today!