What is a domain transfer?
A domain transfer moves your domain from one registrar to another. A registrar is a company that sells and manages domain names. Think of it like moving your phone number to a new phone company. The number stays the same. Only the company changes.
What happens to the time left?
Say your domain expires in eight months. You transfer it. For common extensions like .com, .net and .org, the transfer adds one year to your expiry date. The months you had left are normally kept. So you would have about twenty months in total.
Rules are set by the registry, the group that runs each extension. Some extensions work differently. For some, the transfer adds no time. For others, the time left may not be carried over. Check the rules for your own extension before you start.
How to check before you transfer
- Look up your domain on a WHOIS lookup site. Note the expiry date.
- Log in to your client area and open the Domains menu to see transfer options for your extension.
- If you are not sure how your extension works, open a support ticket and ask.
- After the transfer ends, check the expiry date again. It should be later than before.
Things that can change the result
- A domain that has already expired may need a renewal first.
- A domain that is locked or has the wrong code cannot move at all.
- A domain registered or renewed in the last 60 days may be blocked from transfer. This is a common rule for many extensions.
Will my website stop working?
A transfer on its own does not change your website or email. Your DNS settings stay as they are. Just do not change nameservers during the move unless you mean to.
Quick recap
- For most common extensions, the transfer adds one year on top of your time left.
- Some extensions follow other rules, so check yours.
- Note your expiry date before and after the transfer.
- Start early, and ask support if you are unsure.