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Transfer Grace Period: After Moving Your Domain
Transfer Grace Period: After Moving Your Domain
Part 5 of 12 in the Domain Mastery series — Previous: Auto-Renew Grace Period
The Transfer Grace Period is a 5-day window that begins immediately after a domain is successfully transferred from one registrar to another. If the transfer was made in error, the new registrar can delete the domain during this period and receive a credit for the transfer fee.
How Domain Transfers Work
- You unlock the domain at your current registrar
- You obtain the authorization code (also called Auth Code or EPP Code)
- You initiate the transfer at the new registrar using the code
- The current registrar has 5 days to approve or deny the transfer
- Transfer completes — one year is added to the domain's expiration date
- Transfer Grace Period begins (5 days)
Transfer Grace Period Details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 5 calendar days from transfer completion |
| Domain active? | Yes |
| Can you cancel? | Yes — transfer fee refunded to gaining registrar |
| Can you transfer again? | No — 60-day lock |
| Cancellation result | Domain enters Redemption Period |
One Year Added on Transfer
Every successful transfer adds one year to the domain's expiration date:
| Before Transfer | After Transfer |
|---|---|
| Expires: January 2027 | Expires: January 2028 |
This year cannot exceed the 10-year maximum registration period.
The 60-Day Transfer Lock
After a transfer completes, the domain cannot be transferred again for 60 days. This is an ICANN policy that prevents:
- Transfer abuse and rapid registrar-hopping
- Difficulty tracking domain ownership
- Potential fraud schemes
The same 60-day lock applies after initial registration and after a change of registrant contact information.
Transfer During Auto-Renew Grace Period
If you transfer a domain that has already expired and been auto-renewed:
| What Happens | Result |
|---|---|
| Auto-renewed year | Cancelled (original registrar credited) |
| Transfer year | Added (+1 year) |
| Net result | One year extension from original expiration |
This is why transferring an expired domain does not give you two extra years — the auto-renewal is reversed.
Valid Reasons a Transfer Can Be Denied
| Reason | Description |
|---|---|
| Domain is locked | Transfer lock is enabled |
| Within 60 days | Of registration or previous transfer |
| Payment owed | Unpaid fees at current registrar |
| Fraud evidence | Reasonable evidence of fraudulent transfer |
| Legal dispute | Active UDRP or court proceeding |
| Domain in Redemption | Must restore before transferring |
Transfer Timeline
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| 0 | You unlock domain and get auth code |
| 1 | New registrar submits transfer request |
| 1-5 | Current registrar can approve or deny |
| 6 | Transfer auto-approved if no response |
| 6-11 | Transfer Grace Period (5 days) |
| 11+ | Normal operation, 60-day lock active |
| 66+ | Transfer lock expires |
Tips
- Back up your DNS records before transferring — they may not carry over automatically
- Unlock the domain and get the auth code before starting
- Don't let the auth code expire — they are typically valid for 5-14 days
- Be aware of the year calculation when transferring during auto-renew
- Plan ahead — the full transfer process takes 5-7 days