Overview
The following describes how to transfer your domain registration to another registrar.
Background
The instructions in this article only apply to transferring your domain’s registration to another registrar. Transferring your site's hosting is a completely different process, and you can read more about that process in this article.
When should I start a transfer?
A transfer can potentially take several days to complete, so it's best to start the process as soon as possible before the registration expires. DreamHost recommends initiating the transfer at least a full week before the domain expires.
Please note that due to ICANN restrictions, you cannot transfer a domain registration within 60 days of the original purchase or if it has been transferred to DreamHost in the last 60 days.
Due to ICANN's Transfer Policy, any change made to the registrant's name, organization, or email address will put the domain in a 60-day transfer lock. This change will also trigger notification emails to the old and new registrants, notifying them of the change. Before you initiate a transfer, be sure to opt out of the 60-day transfer lock using the panel.
For more information about the new policy and how to opt out of the 60-day transfer lock, see this article.
Please note that even if you change your privacy settings, the 60-day lock is triggered. Make sure the checkbox is selected to opt-out.
Preparing a domain registration transfer
Before you submit the transfer request to your new registrar, you must unlock the domain registration and obtain the EPP code to complete the transfer-in request at your new registrar.
Unlock your domain
The lock status is displayed on your panel’s Manage Registrations page and on a WHOIS lookup.
- The Manage Registrations page shows the Transfer Lock column.
- The status states either Locked or Unlocked.
- Clicking the toggle button changes the status.
Your domain may be locked to prevent the transfer of it. A locked domain appears as follows:
If it is locked, you must unlock it before proceeding with the request for the transfer. Click the toggle to switch to unlock it:
If you use a WHOIS lookup for the domain registration, you can also see the lock status there. Check the Domain Status section of the WHOIS lookup for the domain. If it’s locked, the following status appears:
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited https://www.icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited
If the domain is unlocked, the following status appears:
Domain Status: ok
Acquire your domain's EPP (Auth) code
The second step in preparing your domain registration for transfer is retrieving its EPP (or, Auth) code. This code allows you to make the transfer request with the receiving registrar. To view/send the EPP/Auth code:
- Navigate to the Transfer Registrations page.
- Click the Or transfer away from DreamHost link.
- A page opens that displays your domains.
- Click the Reveal Auth Code button.
Depending on your Top-Level Domain (TLD), you can either reveal your Auth code in the panel or have it sent to the Registrant contact address (as specified by your WHOIS).
When sending the EPP/Auth code through the Transfer Registrations page, please check the junk/spam folder for the Admin contact email address you set for the registration.
Request the transfer
After you complete the preparation for the transfer, you must initiate the request to transfer the domain at the receiving registrar's interface.
Each registrar has a different method for initiating domain registration transfers. If you're unsure what to do, please contact the receiving registrar and ask how to initiate a domain transfer to them. You can also view online guides at various registrars to learn more about how to transfer a domain to them (e.g., GoDaddy and Network Solutions).
Make sure you are aware of the following when requesting a transfer:
- Once you’ve completed the request for the transfer, you should expect to be notified to approve the incoming transfer with the new registrar.
- When DreamHost receives the transfer request, its system will send you an email to the address in your account profile. That email links you back to the panel, which allows you to click the Approve button to approve the release of the domain for transfer.
- The pending transfer shows in the Transfer a domain registration away from DreamHost section of the Transfer Registrations page.
- Once both the approval of the incoming transfer with the new registrar is completed, and the approval for the release of the domain is confirmed with DreamHost, the transfer should be completed within a few minutes but may take up to 7 days.
DreamHost does not provide a status for outgoing domain registration transfers — it only provides a status for incoming transfers. If you need to know the status of the outgoing transfer, you must contact the registrar to which you’re transferring it.
Transferring a *.uk domain away from DreamHost
To transfer a *.uk domain that you own at DreamHost to another registrar, you'll need to handle these a little differently. Since .uk domains do not have an EPP code, you must ask your new registrar for their IPS tag. IPS tags are case-sensitive, and once an IPS tag is changed, it cannot be reversed.
Once you obtain the new registrar’s IPS tag, log in to your DreamHost panel, unlock your domain, and use the Contact Support page to contact a support representative. When submitting your request, clarify that the IPS tag on your domain needs to be changed for you.
Please contact your new registrar after the IPS tag change has been confirmed, as their system may require additional steps to complete the process.