Domain Name Transfers FAQ

How do I transfer a domain name?

A domain name transfer refers to the process of changing the designated Registrar of the domain name from its current provider to Dreamscape and moves the domain name under your control in your Reseller account. To ensure a smooth transfer, you will need the following before starting the transfer to us:

1. The domain name 'auth key' - this is also called registry key, domain password or UDAI. The auth key is like a password for the domain name and each domain name will have their own unique key. You can obtain this key/password from your current Registrar by logging into their account manager or by contacting them directly.
2. The domain name is unlocked - when a domain name is locked with the current Registrar, it is also locked from being able to be transferred away. You can unlock the domain name by logging into their account manager or by contacting them directly. 
3. The Registrant Contact email is valid - the last step to confirm a domain transfer is to confirm ownership by clicking a link sent to the Registrants email address listed with the current Registrar. If this is incorrect or hidden by a privacy service, you will need to request this to be updated with them before starting the transfer.

Once these 3 steps are confirmed, you can start the transfer by applying within your Reseller console, API or members area and providing the auth key for your domain name. The confirmation email will be sent to the Registrant email and the transfer will then start upon confirmation. Please contact us if you have issues with confirming the link in the email. Please see below for timeframes of the transfer once confirmed.

How do I transfer a UK domain name?

UK domain names have different registry rules and the method of transferring UK domains is different to other TLDs. UK domain names do not have a domain password/registry key but a 'IPS Tag' must be updated with the current registrar or Nominet directly. 

1. Apply for the domain name transfer within your Reseller Console or on your Storefront.
2. Contact the current Registrar of the domain name and request them to update the IPS Tag to 'DREAMSCAPE'
   This can also be updated with Nominet, if the current Registrar is not available, but charges may apply.
3. Please email our support team on resellers@dreamscapenetworks.com once the tag has been changed so we can complete the transfer for you.

Do I need to renew the domain name on transfer/why is there a cost to transfer?

Generally to transfer a domain name, there is no cost for the transfer itself, but some Registry rules and policies state that a domain name must be renewed for at least 1 year on transfer. This means we will simply charge the renewal rate on transfer and when the domain name has successfully transferred to us it will renew for the years paid for. This means you can renew the domain for multiple years on transfer too. Some Registries such as .au, .nz, & .uk will allow free transfers where the expiry date will not change on transfer.

What are the domain name statuses for transfers?

You will see different domain name statuses in your Reseller Console/API for the different steps of the transfer:

Transfer Pending - the application for transfer has been received but the confirmation email has not yet been confirmed. If there is an error on email confirmation, that issue will need to be corrected (like remove domain lock) before the email confirmation can be accepted again

Transfer In - the domain name transfer has been confirmed and everything is underway. Transfers can take some time to transfer to us, please see the approximate times of transfers below.

Registered - this will then be used once the transfer is complete, the new Registrant will also be emailed to advise the transfer is complete!

What will change on the domain name on completion of the transfer?

In short, not much. A domain name transfer will simply update the Registrar of record for the domain name on the Registry which will give you access to the domain under our Reseller Console instead of the old Registrar. This means that any website or services attached to the domain name will not be affected before, during or after the transfer due to the name servers and status remaining the same.

Please note that some losing Registrars that provide 'free' DNS hosting may cancel the service once the domain name has been transferred away, so it is recommended to change your DNS host before transferring.
We also may need to update the contacts for the domain name to match the new account you have transferred to.

Can I update the domain name and will it expire while transferring?

No. When a domain name transfer has been confirmed and it is being transferred to us, it enters a transfer status that 'locks' the domain name from any updates. 

This means that even if your domain name reaches its expiry date during the transfer period, it will not go down. If you have selected to renew the domain name on transfer (some TLDs require renewal to transfer), then it will also renew once it transfers to us, avoiding any downtime at all.

The lock also means that you cannot update the domain name, such as name servers, with the current Registrar and any updates must be made with us once the transfer is complete. Please ensure that any changes you need to make on your domain name are performed before initiating a domain name transfer to us.

Why does a domain name transfer fail?

There are several reasons which could cause a domain name transfer to fail. Below are the potential causes and how to fix them, please try to initiate the domain name transfer again once you have fixed the issue.

1. The domain name is locked or has the 'transferprohibited' status.
   You can check for the statuses of a domain name on a WHOIS search. If the domain name is locked or has the 'transferprohibited' status, please login to the members area of the current registrar or contact them to unlock it.
   
   
2. Domain Name is set to Private / Invalid Registrant Email.
   Most domain name transfers require a confirmation email sent to the Registrant email address listed on the public WHOIS search. If the domain name has private information or the Registrant email is incorrect, the confirmation email cannot be received. Please update the email address or turn off privacy with the current Registrar.
   
   
3. Auth Code or Registry Key is Incorrect.
   A domain name password, also known as the 'Auth Code' or 'Registry Key' is required and checked to be valid when a domain name transfer is requested with us. But at times the password can change by the current Registrar. Please obtain the new password from their members area and provide us the new key to initiate the transfer.
   
   
4. Not 60 days post registration, renewal or ownership update.
   As per ICANN policy, gTLDs can be rejected from transferring away if it is within 60 days of registration, renewal, transfer or ownership (Registrant) updates. If your domain name is under 60 days of these, please try again after the 60 day timeframe. ccTLD domain names are not applicable.
   
   
5. Domain Name is in Redemption Period.
   The domain name cannot be transferred if it has passed the expired status, and has entered the Redemption Period. This is a deletion period that requires the domain name to be restored with the current Registrar. Please note that most TLDs can be transferred while Expired.

How long does a domain name take to transfer? 

Once the domain name transfer is confirmed and approved from the instructions above, each registry has different timeframes & policies of when a domain name will finish the transfer and come under our control. 

You may refer to the below information as a guide for the domain transfer processing period with different extensions: 

.AU - 48 hours

.NZ - instantly

.EU - instantly

.DE - instantly

.UK - instantly on TAG change (please see instructions above)

gTLDs & all other domains - 5 to 7 days

All domain name transfers will be officially complete once our system has updated the status to 'Registered' and an email has been sent to the domain name owner advising of the completed transfer.