How long does a domain transfer take? Between two registrars, a .com, .net, .org or other generic domain usually moves in about five to seven days. The main reason is a rule in ICANN's Transfer Policy: once the transfer is requested, the current registrar has five calendar days to respond, and if it does nothing, the transfer is approved by default. A move between two accounts at the same registrar (an account push) skips that step and is usually much faster.
The domain transfer timeline, step by step
A transfer to another registrar runs through the same stages every time. Most delays happen before the clock starts.
- Unlock the domain at the current registrar. The registrar lock shows in WHOIS and RDAP as
clientTransferProhibited. Where the registrar has no self-service switch, ICANN's policy gives it five calendar days to remove the lock on request. - Get the domain transfer auth code. Also called the AuthInfo code or transfer code. ICANN's FAQ for registrants says the registrar must provide it within five calendar days of your request. Most hand it over instantly in the control panel.
- Start the transfer at the new registrar. Enter the domain and the code, and pay for the transfer. Depending on the registrar, you may get an email asking you to confirm. If you ignore it, the transfer does not go ahead.
- The approval window. The registry tells the current registrar about the request. That registrar can approve at once, refuse for one of the reasons the policy allows, or stay silent. Silence counts as approval after five calendar days.
- The registry moves the domain. The domain now appears under the new registrar in WHOIS and RDAP. The policy says a completed transfer extends the registration by one year, up to the ten-year maximum.
Say you start on a Monday, already unlocked and with the code in hand. If the old registrar approves the same day, you may be done within hours. If it waits out the window, expect the domain around Saturday. Add a day or two for slow emails and you have five to seven days.
The five-day rule in ICANN's Transfer Policy
The Transfer Policy sets the clock for every ICANN-accredited registrar. The current registrar either acknowledges the transfer or refuses it within five calendar days. If it does neither, the registry completes the transfer.
This is why one transfer finishes in an hour and another takes a week. Some registrars approve at once or let you approve from your account; others let the five days run out. If the old registrar has an "outgoing transfers" page, approving there is the surest way to shorten the wait.
ICANN revises this policy. The version on its site was updated in February 2024, and a broader review of transfers has been under way, so confirm the current text before relying on a deadline.
Which delivery route is fastest after you buy a domain
A domain you win or buy can reach you in three ways, and they differ more in total wait than registrars do.
| Route | What happens | Typical speed | Lock afterwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account push at the same registrar | The seller moves the domain into your account; no registrar change | Fast once the seller acts; the registrar's own steps decide it | Possibly the 60-day change of registrant lock |
| Transfer to your registrar | The seller unlocks the domain and sends the code; you request the transfer | About five to seven days after the code arrives | 60 days from the transfer |
| Marketplace or auction delivery | The platform assigns the domain to your account under its own rules | Set by the platform | Often a platform lock, plus the cases above |
If speed matters, open an account at the seller's registrar and take a push. You can move the domain to your preferred registrar later, once any lock has run out.
Expiry auctions follow the auction house's schedule, not the Transfer Policy. In GoDaddy's published expiry timeline, a domain sold in its expiry auction is assigned to the winner on day 43 after expiry. The original owner can still redeem during part of that window, so a won auction can be cancelled; the GoDaddy Auctions walkthrough covers the details. Some marketplaces add a holding period after delivery: Dynadot documents an auction lock of about 15 days, described in the Dynadot auctions guide.
What delays or stops a running transfer
If your transfer has been pending for more than a week, one of these is usually the cause.
- A wrong or outdated auth code. Codes can be regenerated, and an old one stops working. Ask for a fresh code and paste it without extra spaces.
- An unanswered confirmation email. It often goes to the address on the registration, which may be the seller's or a privacy forwarding address. ICANN's FAQ is clear that the transfer will not be processed without it.
- A transfer-prohibited status still set. Check the status codes again. Some, such as
serverTransferProhibited, are set by the registry and cannot be removed by you; the guide to domain status codes explains each one. - Expiry. You have the right to transfer an expired domain, according to ICANN's FAQ, but a domain in the redemption period must first be restored by its current registrar, with a restore fee. Unpaid previous registration periods are another permitted reason to refuse. The limits are covered in can you transfer an expired domain.
- Disputes. The registrar must deny the transfer during a pending UDRP or URS proceeding or under a court order, and may deny it for evidence of fraud or an express objection from the owner.
- The 60-day locks. A transfer requested within 60 days of registration, of a previous transfer, or of a change of registrant is usually refused. These are explained in full in the domain transfer lock.
A refused transfer does not fix itself. You start a new request after the cause is gone, and the five-day clock starts again.
How to check domain transfer status
Check from three places, because each shows a different part of the process.
- The new registrar's account. It shows whether the request was submitted, is waiting for confirmation, or was rejected and why.
- The old registrar's account. A pending outgoing transfer usually appears here, with the option to approve it.
- RDAP or WHOIS. Look up the domain with a WHOIS lookup. During the window the status often shows
pendingTransfer. When the transfer completes, the registrar field changes to the new one.
DNS and the site during a transfer
A registrar transfer normally keeps the domain's nameservers, so a site hosted elsewhere keeps resolving. The risk is DNS hosted by the old registrar, which can stop answering once the domain leaves.
Before you start, look up the current records with a DNS lookup, copy them to the DNS host you will use afterwards, including the email records (MX, SPF, DMARC), and switch the nameservers. Request the transfer once the change has taken effect.
Country-code extensions follow their own rules
The five-day rule applies to generic extensions under ICANN. Country-code extensions such as .uk, .de, .ca or .com.tr are run by their own registries, which set their own procedures and timings. Read the registry's documentation before you promise a buyer a date.
If you buy expired domains regularly, plan delivery before you bid. Names on the live list of expired domains at hunter.domains show where each one is sold, which tells you whose rules the transfer will follow, while names on the PendingDelete list arrive as new registrations at whichever registrar catches them.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a domain transfer take between registrars?
For generic extensions such as .com, usually about five to seven days. The current registrar has five calendar days to respond, and silence counts as approval. If it approves early, the transfer can complete within hours.
Why is my domain transfer taking so long?
Usually an unanswered confirmation email, a wrong auth code, a lock still set, or the old registrar letting the five-day window run out. Check both registrar accounts and the status codes to see which applies.
Can I speed up a domain transfer?
Yes. Unlock the domain and get the code first, answer confirmation emails at once, and approve the outgoing transfer at the old registrar if it allows. When buying, an account push at the seller's registrar is usually fastest.
Does a domain transfer cause downtime?
Not normally, because the nameservers move with the domain. Downtime happens when the old registrar hosted the DNS. Move the records to an independent host before you transfer.
