Domain transfer (or, to use the terminology of the .hu registry, a ‘change of registrar’) means that another registrar takes over the management of your domain name. The name, the website and your email address remain the same; the only thing that changes is who you pay for the renewal and where you manage your domain details.

If you’re well prepared, nothing will come to a standstill during the switch. The problem is almost never caused by the transfer itself, but rather by the old provider discontinuing the DNS or email service after the switch, before you’ve had a chance to set it up elsewhere. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what to check before you start, how to request the authorisation code, what restrictions and deadlines apply to .hu and international extensions, and what to do if the process gets stuck.

What does the transfer involve, and what does it not involve?

A domain always has a registrar: this is the service provider that maintains the domain on your behalf with the registry (ISZT Nonprofit Kft. for .hu domains, and Verisign for .com domains). You can read more about these parties in our article ‘Registry, registrar, registrant – who’s who?’. When you transfer a domain, this registrar is changed. It is worth distinguishing between three things:

Action	What’s changing?	What will remain the same?
Transfer (changing registrars)	The provider with whom you register and renew your domain.	The domain holder, the name servers, the website and email.
Name server modification	Which DNS server responds to the domain’s records.	The registrar and the domain holder.
Transfer	The domain holder (a new individual or company will be assigned the domain).	The registrar, unless you change it yourself.

Hosting and email accounts are therefore not transferred along with the domain. If you wish to move these to another provider as well, this is a separate process: you will need to copy the website’s files and database, as well as your emails, and then point the domain to the new servers in the DNS. Our article ‘Name Server Modification: A Guide to a Secure Transition’ covers changing the name servers, whilst our article ‘Domain Transfer’ covers changing the domain holder.

When is it worth switching registrars?

• You want to manage all your services in one place. If your hosting and email are already with one provider, it’s more convenient to have your domain there too: one bill, one control panel, one support team.
• Renewals can be expensive. There can be a big difference in prices between registrars, particularly when it comes to renewals. It’s worth comparing renewal fees, not just the discounted price for the first year.
• The process is a bit of a faff. If you can’t change the name servers or DNS records yourself, or if you have to wait days for a reply, switching providers will save you a lot of hassle later on.
• Your current provider is either ceasing trading or undergoing a restructuring. In such cases, it’s better to act in good time rather than wait until the last few days before your contract expires.

However, you don’t need to change your registrar if you’re simply moving your website to another hosting provider: all you need to do is change the DNS or name servers.

Before you get started: a checklist

Most transfers get stuck because something wasn’t quite right before the process began. Check the following:

1. You have access to the email address and telephone number provided for the domain. You will receive the code and verification requests here. For .hu domains, the registry uses these ‘factors’ to verify your identity; for international extensions, the verification is sent to the domain holder’s email address. If either of these is no longer valid, please update them with your current registrar first.
2. The domain details are correct. Name, address, company name – if these are out of date, the transfer may be delayed or rejected.
3. The domain has not been newly registered or transferred. The lock-in periods are detailed below, by domain extension.
4. It won’t expire in the next few days. If the expiry date is approaching, it’s best to start the transfer process sooner rather than later, or renew with your current provider. Different rules apply to expired or cancelled domains; you can read about this in the article ‘What happens when my domain name expires?’.
5. There are no outstanding debts or disputes. In the event of unpaid fees or an ongoing domain dispute, the previous registrar may refuse to transfer the domain.
6. You have saved your DNS settings. This is the most important step, which is why it has its own section.

You can see the current status of the domain (registrar, expiry date, locks) in the WHOIS query; the article ‘How can you check the status of a domain via WHOIS?’ shows you where to look.

How to prevent downtime: DNS

The transfer of the domain does not, in itself, change the name servers. If the domain uses the old registrar’s name servers, the old provider will also store your DNS zone there and may delete it once the contract has expired. In such cases, both the website and email services may become inaccessible, even if the domain itself has been successfully transferred.

So, before you get started:

• Take a backup of the entire DNS zone. List or export all records: A and AAAA (website), CNAME (subdomains, external services), MX (email), TXT (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, Google or Microsoft verification), SRV and CAA, if any. You can read about record types in the article ‘Types of DNS records’.
• Decide where your DNS will be hosted after the switch. If your DNS is hosted by a third party (such as your web hosting provider or Cloudflare), you don’t need to do anything; the name servers will remain unchanged. If it’s with your old registrar, set up the same records at the new provider, and only then change the name servers – you can even do this before the transfer is complete.
• Pay attention to DNSSEC. If DNSSEC is enabled on your domain and you are also changing your name servers, you must configure DNSSEC first; otherwise, the domain resolution will fail. We’ve written about this in the article ‘Why can DNSSEC cause problems?’.

After changing the name servers, the change takes a few hours to propagate across the internet (see: What is DNS propagation?). If the old and new DNS servers contain the same records, your visitors won’t notice a thing during this time.

Steps for the transfer

The process is based on the same three steps at the end of each extension; the details (who issues the code, whether confirmation is required, and how long it takes) depend on the extension in question.

1. Unlocking a domain. Most domains are locked by default to prevent them from being transferred without your knowledge. Go to your current registrar’s control panel and disable the transfer lock (transfer lock, clientTransferProhibited). Read more: What is a domain transfer lock?
2. Requesting an authorisation code. The code (EPP code, auth code, AuthInfo) confirms that you are authorised to transfer the domain. Treat it like a password: anyone who knows it can transfer the domain. See: What is an EPP code and how do you use it?
3. Placing an order with the new registrar. You place an order for the transfer with the new provider, enter the domain name and the code, and then, if necessary, confirm the transfer via the email you receive.

Once the switch has been successfully completed, check the domain’s expiry date and the name servers in the new control panel. You do not need to cancel the domain with your old provider separately; it will be transferred as part of the switch. However, do check whether any services linked to the domain (DNS, email, automatic renewal) remain with them that you are still using or that you need to cancel.

.hu domain transfer

The registration of .hu domains is managed by ISZT Nonprofit Kft., and the rules are set out in the Domain Registration Regulations (DRSZ). For important transactions – including a change of registry – the registry uses two-factor authentication (using your email address and telephone number) to verify that the request is genuinely from you.

The process of transferring a .hu domain

1. Request the authorisation code from your current registrar. The registrar will initiate the request, and you will receive the code from the registry once you have verified your identity using your credentials and approved the request. If the request cannot be processed via the registrar (for example, if they do not respond), you can request the code directly from the registry via the start.domain.hu website; this route may take longer, so the registry recommends it only as a last resort.
2. Order the transfer from the new registrar and enter the 16-character code (hyphens, upper- and lower-case letters do not matter). If your details have not yet been verified, or if you have not yet made the necessary declarations, the registry will also send you an email regarding this.
3. The transfer takes place immediately upon entering a valid code; if the registry requests further confirmation, it will take place once this has been provided. The domain’s expiry date is extended by one year.

What to look out for with .hu domains

• The code is valid for 30 days after approval and can only be used once. There is one code per domain, and it can be used to change the domain holder, so do not share it with anyone other than the new registrar.
• Only the registrar can be changed. For newly registered .hu domains, this is not yet possible during the 8-day publication period (whilst the domain is in provisional registration status).
• For 30 days following the switch, neither a further registrar change nor a transfer may be initiated.
• Registry lock. If your domain is protected by the registrar’s optional registry lock service, you must first unlock it on the start.domain.hu website; whilst it is active, you cannot request a code.
• Domains protected by a private deed. An authorisation code cannot be requested for domains registered under the old application form system. In such cases, a declaration set out in a private deed with full probative force is required, in which you request the switch to factor-based authentication; a template can be found amongst the document templates on domain.hu.
• If the process gets stuck with an error such as ‘Another task in progress’, it is usually blocked by an uncompleted change (for example, a data change awaiting approval). You will either need to approve this, or the old registrar will need to cancel it.

The registry also verifies the contact details provided for .hu domains on an annual basis: if it is proven that the email address associated with the domain is not working, the domain may even be removed from the zone. It is therefore advisable to keep your details up to date, regardless of whether you are switching providers or not. You can read more about .hu transfer, registration and prices on our .hu domain registration page and in our step-by-step guide to .hu domain registration.

.com, .net, .org and other international extensions

The transfer of generic extensions (gTLDs, such as .com, .net, .org and .info) is governed by the ICANN Transfer Policy. The main rules in force at the time of updating this article are:

• The 60-day lock-in period applies following the first registration and any subsequent transfer. During this period, the registrar may refuse the transfer, and most registrars do so.
• The 60-day lock will be applied following any significant change to the domain holder’s details, unless you opted out of this when making the change. Therefore, if you wish to change your name or company name before the transfer, ask your registrar how you can avoid this lock.
• The authorisation code must be issued by the previous registrar within 5 calendar days if you are unable to retrieve it yourself via the control panel.
• Confirmation by email. The old registrar will typically send an email to the domain holder, allowing you to approve or reject the transfer. If you do not respond, and the old registrar does not reject the request within 5 days, the registry will automatically process the transfer. If you approve it, the process is quicker.
• The expiry date is extended by one year, but the total remaining period cannot exceed 10 years.

ICANN is currently revising its rules (including shorter lock-out periods and a new name for the code). Until the changes come into effect, the above rules remain valid; should they change, we will update this article.

Country code extensions (ccTLDs, such as .eu, .de, .at) operate under their own rules: in some cases there is no lock-in period; in others, transfer is free and does not include an extension; whilst in others still, it can only be requested in conjunction with a one-year renewal. You can find the terms and conditions for a particular extension in the list of domain prices, on the extension’s own page.

How long does it take, and how much does it cost?

	.hu	.com and other gTLDs
Who provides the code?	After the registry has carried out two-factor authentication (via the registrar or the start.domain.hu website)	The current registrar
How long is the code valid for?	For 30 days from approval	It depends on the registrar
How long does the switch take?	Instant with a valid code	Typically 5–7 days, or sooner with the approval of the previous registrar
Account suspension following registration	During the 8-day promotion	60 days
Account suspension following transfer	30 days	60 days
Is the expiry date being extended?	Yes, 1 year	Yes, 1 year
Pricing at aWh	€5.44	.com: €13.20

Our transfer fee for the above domain extensions includes a one-year renewal, so you won’t be paying for nothing: your domain’s expiry date will be pushed back by one year. You can find the transfer fees for all extensions under ‘Domain Prices’.

Common errors and their solutions

The new registrar is flagging the code as invalid. Please check that you haven’t accidentally included a space and that the code hasn’t expired (the .hu code is valid for 30 days and can only be used once). If you’re unsure, please request a new code.

You haven’t received the verification email. Check your spam folder and verify which email address is registered for the domain. If the address is no longer valid, you’ll first need to update it with your previous registrar – for .hu domains, this may itself require two-factor authentication.

The previous registrar is refusing to provide the code. For international domain extensions, the deadline is 5 calendar days; for .hu domains, you can request it directly from the registry via the start.domain.hu website. If you have lost access to the email address or telephone number provided for your .hu domain, an emergency procedure is required: you can request a change of security factors from your current registrar, and if that fails, you can request the code via the start.domain.hu website.

The transfer has been rejected. Common reasons include: the domain is still within its lock period, the lock has not been lifted, there are outstanding payments, or the previous registrar has rejected the request. You can find out the reason for the rejection from the previous registrar.

After the switch, your website or email isn’t working. It’s almost always down to the DNS: either your old provider has deleted the zone, or the name servers are pointing to a DNS where records are missing. Set up the saved records, or change the name servers to point to a location where the zone is complete. Our article ‘Why won’t my website load after an NS change?’ will help you troubleshoot the issue.

If you run into a problem, do not initiate any further changes (such as a new code request or data modification) until you know which step is currently in progress: these may interfere with one another.

Domain transfer to aWh

aWh is an accredited .hu registrar, and in addition to .hu, we also handle the transfer of .eu, .com and over a hundred other extensions. You can request a transfer via the client portal: simply enter the domain name and the authorisation code, and we will forward the request to the registry. DNS management is free with us, so you can configure your zone with us either before or after the transfer. If you’d like to move your hosting to us as well, take a look at our web hosting plans.

If you’re not sure which situation applies to you (a .hu domain protected by a legal document, an expired or cancelled domain, or a lost email address), please write to us and we’ll guide you through the steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my website go offline whilst I’m performing a transfer?

No, provided the DNS remains accessible after the switch. The registrar switch itself does not change the name servers, so your website and email will continue to work as normal. Downtime may occur if the domain is using the old registrar’s DNS and the old provider discontinues this service after the switch. You should therefore back up the records and set them up with the new provider before cancelling your contract with the old one.

Will the hosting and email be transferred along with the domain?

No. The transfer only changes the registrar. The website files, databases and email accounts are separate services; if you wish to move these as well, this must be planned and carried out separately.

How long does it take to transfer a domain?

A .hu domain with a valid authorisation code will be transferred immediately once all details have been verified. For .com and other generic top-level domains, this typically takes 5–7 days, but if you approve the transfer with your previous registrar, the process will be completed sooner. For country-code top-level domains, the rules governing that specific extension apply.

Can I transfer a newly registered domain?

The registrar of a .hu domain can be changed after final registration, i.e. once the 8-day public notice period has expired. For .com and other generic extensions, the registrar may refuse a change for 60 days following registration.

Will I lose the remaining time if I switch before the expiry date?

No. The transfer adds one year to the existing expiry date for both .hu and international extensions (for the latter, up to a maximum of 10 years’ remaining validity). There may be exceptions for some country-code extensions, where the transfer is free of charge and does not result in a renewal of the validity period.

What is the difference between transfer and re-registration?

The transfer changes the registrar, whilst the domain holder remains the same. The transfer changes the domain holder: the domain is transferred to another person or company. These are two separate processes; for .hu domains, a transfer cannot be initiated for 30 days following the transfer.

What should I do if I don’t know who my current registrar is?

Look up the domain via WHOIS: for .hu domains, use the domain.hu search tool; for international extensions, use the ICANN Lookup to view the registrar and the domain’s status.

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