Transfer Your Domain to Porkbun
Prepare Your Domain For Transfer
Okay, first things first, if you've never transferred a domain before you may want to read our knowledge base article on the subject: How to Transfer a Domain to Porkbun From Any Registrar. We also have articles on how to transfer a domain from specific registrars likes GoDaddy: Other Articles on how to Transfer a Domain.
Check Timing
Make sure your domain has been registered with the current registrar for at least 60 days. Some less honorable registrars might also impose a 60 day lock after the change of registrant, although they may allow you to opt out of this.
Email Access
Make sure that you have access to the registrant and / or administrative email address for the domain. In some situations we may send a domain transfer authorization email to this address.
Unlock It
Make sure the domain is unlocked at your current registrar. Different registrars might use different names for this such as "security lock," "domain lock," "transfer lock," etc. If it is locked, it will delay the domain transfer.
Get Auth Code
You will need a domain transfer authorization code from your current registrar. They might call it the "authorization code," "transfer code," "auth code," or some other name. They are required to give you this code to allow you to transfer a domain away.
What to Expect when You're Expecting...
a Domain Transfer
Check Your Email
Your current registrar and / or us may send you an email. It's important to confirm and accept the domain transfer.
Waiting Game
The complete process can take less than a day and not generally more than eight days.
Domain Transfer Success
Once the domain transfer is complete, it will be added to your Porkbun account and we'll send you an email letting you know.
Nameservers
The domain's nameservers will remain the same as they were with your previous registrar. If you're using your registrar's nameservers, be aware that some will immediately disable DNS and therefore break any websites, email hosting, and other services attached to it.
Contact Information
The domain's contact info will generally remain the same as at your old registrar. If we are unable to properly query your current registrar's WHOIS server we may set the contacts to the defaults in your account.
Pricing and Renewal
Looking for domain transfer pricing? Check out our domain pricing page. All transfers of gTLD domain names include a one year renewal of the domain unless the domain is inside the auto renew grace period. Country code TLDs can be wonky, see below.
Warnings, Exceptions, and other Wonkiness
Some Registrars Will Break Your Domain
If you are using your current registrar's nameservers, some will disable your DNS after transferring a domain so you may need to preconfigure DNS on our side first. To do so, please read the knowledge base article "How to transfer a domain to Porkbun with little to no DNS downtime." If you are using third party nameservers not offered through your registrar you should be fine.
No Renewal For You
A lot of country code TLDs (ccTLDs) play by their own rules. The following TLDs do not offer a free renewal as part of a domain transfer: uk, co.uk, org.uk, me.uk, de, cx, ph, com.ph, net.ph, org.ph.
These TLD's Make No Sense
Other country codes are straight up weird and will delete any amount of registration term over one year. These TLDs only carry over a maximum of one years' worth of registration: nl, de.
.UK Is Special
Domains in the .uk family do things their own way and have a special domain transfer process. Read more info about how to transfer in a domain from the .uk family.
