A domain transfer can refer to two separate and distinct domain name
transactions. These are 1) a Registrant Domain Transfer and 2) a Registrar
Domain Transfer.
1) A Registrant Domain Transfer takes place when the current Registrant of a
domain name wishes to transfer all rights to a third party. Only the current
Registrant or Administrative contact of a domain name can initiate the
Registrant Transfer process.
As there has been some fraudulent activities in the past regarding registrant
domain transfers the process usually requires some level of security, but this
differs for different Registrar companies. Some Registrars require only a user
name and password to conduct a Registrant domain transfer online. Other
registrar companies require a notarized form (or other formal identification
document depending on the county the registrant lives in) proving that the
registrant is the actual owner. In all cases the domain name owner contacts
their current Registrar company and requests that the domain name be transferred
to the new third party.
When conducting a Registrant transfer the Registrar company must add at least
one year to the remaining term of the domain name registration. For example, if
www.nic.net had three months remaining on its domain name registration and they
sold their domain name to a third party the new party would need to add at least
a one year registration term to the remaining three months and end up with one
year and three months until they needed to renew their domain name again.
2) A Registrar domain transfer is when the current Registrant of a domain name
wishes to switch domain name Registrar companies. A Registrant may wish to
switch companies because they are unsatisfied with the level of customer service
they are receiving at their current domain Registrar company or for any other
reason.
To conduct a Registrar transfer a Registrant or the domain names Administrative
contact must initiate the request through the new Registrar company and then
reply to the old Registrar companies e-mail which asks for verification of the
Registrar transfer.
For example, you want to switch from Registrar “A” to Registrar “B.” You need to
be the Registrant of record of the administrative contact for the domain name.
First you visit Registrar B’s web site and complete their process telling them
that you want to transfer your domain name to them. Next you will receive an
e-mail from Registrar A asking you if you did in fact request a Registrar
Transfer. You must follow the instructions on Registrar A’s e-mail or they will
deny the request for security reasons (as stated there have been a lot of
fraudulent domain name transfer requests). Next you will be contacted by your
new Registrar B telling you the status of your Registrar transfer request. Once
the Registrar transfer is complete you can log in to your new account at the new
Registrars web site.
