Domains
Transfer your domain to us, with email and website untouched
Moving a domain shouldn’t take your email down. We copy your DNS first, handle the paperwork, and check everything still works when it lands.
The short answer
A domain transfer moves the management of your domain from one provider to another. Your website and email don’t move and shouldn’t stop. You need the domain’s auth code (EPP code), the domain must be unlocked, and the owner must approve the transfer. Most .com.au transfers finish within a day.
What moves in a domain transfer, and what doesn't
This is where most transfer worries come from, so it’s worth being clear.
What moves: the place you manage and renew the domain, and the DNS records if you choose to move them too.
What doesn’t move: your website files, your mailboxes and your ownership. You’re still the registrant. If your website and email are hosted somewhere else, they stay there unless you also want them moved.
Moving everything at once? Pair the transfer with our free website migration and we’ll do it in the right order.
How a domain transfer works
Step 1
Get your auth code
Ask your current provider for the domain password, also called an auth code or EPP code.
Step 2
Unlock the domain
Turn off the transfer lock at your current provider, if one is set.
Step 3
We copy your DNS
Before anything changes, we recreate your DNS records so website and email keep working.
Step 4
Approve the transfer
The registrant approves the request by email or in the old provider's account.
Step 5
We check it landed
We confirm the domain, website and email are all working, then lock it again.
What you need before you transfer
- The auth code (EPP code or domain password) from your current provider.
- The domain unlocked for transfer.
- Access to the registrant’s email, or someone who can approve the transfer.
- For .com.au and .au, an active ABN or ACN if the domain belongs to a business.
- A list of anything special: email providers, verification records or subdomains you use.
How long does a domain transfer take?
| Domain | Typical time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| .com.au, .net.au, .au | Same day, often under an hour | Once the auth code is entered and approved |
| .com, .net, .org | Up to 5 days | The old provider can release it sooner |
| Recently registered or transferred | May be blocked | Many global extensions lock transfers for 60 days |
Stuck transfers usually come down to a wrong auth code, a lock that’s still on, or an approval email going to an old address. If yours is stuck, call us and we’ll find out why.
Start your domain transfer
We’ll keep your website and email running while your domain moves.
Emergencies, 24/7: 0426 833 422
Domain transfer FAQs
Will my email stop working during a domain transfer?
No, if your DNS is copied before the transfer completes. We do that first, so your email keeps flowing.
Where do I find my domain's auth code?
In your current provider’s account, usually under domain settings. For .au domains it may be called the domain password. If you can’t find it, the provider must give it to the registrant on request.
Can I transfer a .com.au domain to another provider?
Yes. Any .au domain can be transferred. You’ll need the auth code, and the registrant must still be eligible.
Does a transfer change who owns the domain?
No. A transfer changes the provider, not the owner. Changing the owner is a separate process called a registrant transfer.
Does transferring renew my domain?
Transfers of global domains like .com usually add a year. .au transfers don’t automatically extend the licence period.
How much does a transfer cost?
Talk to us. For most customers moving their hosting or care to us as well, we handle the transfer at no extra charge.
Domain transfer guides
Practical guides from our blog on the same topic.
