Transfer a domain to OrbitFour

Move a domain from another registrar: what you need, how long it takes, and what it costs.

To move a domain to OrbitFour, unlock it at your current registrar, get its authorization code, and start the transfer at /domains/transfer.

Before you start

  • The domain must be at least 60 days past its registration or its last transfer. This is an ICANN rule, so no registrar can lift it.
  • The domain must be unlocked at your current registrar.
  • You need its authorization code, sometimes called the EPP code or transfer code. It must be at least 8 characters.

Treat the code like a password: anyone who has it can request your domain. We store it encrypted and use it only to request your transfer.

Steps

  1. At your current registrar, turn off the transfer lock. If their WHOIS privacy blocks the confirmation email, turn that off too.
  2. Copy the authorization code from your account there.
  3. On Transfer Domain In, enter the domain name and the code, then select Continue.
  4. Review the details, choose your nameservers and the number of years, then select Add to Cart and check out.
  5. If your current registrar emails you to confirm the transfer, approve it.

The review step tells you whether the code checked out. If it shows Domain Transfer Lock Detected, unlock the domain at your current registrar before you pay.

How long it takes

Your current registrar has up to 5 days to respond, and most transfers finish sooner. We email you along the way, and you can follow progress on Domain Transfers.

Your website and email

We keep your current nameservers unless you choose otherwise, so your website and email keep working during the move. If you pick OrbitFour nameservers instead, the domain starts on a default landing page until you add DNS records. See Changing nameservers.

Cost and the added year

A transfer adds at least one year, counted from the domain's current expiration date. The review step shows the transfer price, any ICANN fee and the total before anything goes in your cart.

On most extensions you can add up to 10 years. Some registries fix the period: a .org transfer adds exactly one year, and a few extensions require more than one. You can add years by renewing after the transfer completes.

Many domains at once

Bulk Domain Transfer moves up to 250 domains per upload. Upload a CSV with domain_name and auth_code columns, or select Template to download a starting file.

After the transfer

We turn on the transfer lock when the domain arrives, and the 60-day rule starts again. See Domain lock vs. the 60-day transfer lock.

If something goes wrong, see My transfer failed: retrying.

Still stuck? Contact support.