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content/migrate/transfer-domain.md

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+---
+title: "Transfer a Domain to Arcline"
+description: "How to transfer your domain registration to Arcline's registrar service — what you need to unlock, what it costs, and what to expect during the transfer."
+section: migrate
+order: 7
+---
+
+# Transfer a Domain to Arcline
+
+Domain transfers move your domain **registration** from one registrar to another. It's separate from moving your website hosting — you can host at Arcline while keeping your domain registered wherever it is now, or you can transfer the registration to Arcline so everything is in one place.
+
+---
+
+## Before you transfer
+
+A domain transfer typically takes **5–7 days**. During that time:
+
+- Your website and email **are not affected** if DNS records stay the same
+- You can't update nameservers or DNS records at the old registrar
+- The domain is locked for 60 days after the transfer completes (ICANN rule)
+
+**Transfers are not free.** ICANN charges registries a transfer fee, which becomes the renewal cost. When you transfer a domain to Arcline, you pay for **one additional year of registration** added to your current expiration date. If your domain expires in 6 months, after the transfer it will expire in 18 months.
+
+---
+
+## Step 1 — Check eligibility
+
+A domain must meet these requirements to transfer:
+
+- **Registered more than 60 days ago** — ICANN prohibits transfers within 60 days of initial registration
+- **Not transferred in the last 60 days** — same lock applies after a previous transfer
+- **More than 15 days from expiration** — most registrars block transfers of domains about to expire
+- **Not in redemption or pending delete status** — the domain must be active
+
+You can check your domain's registration date and status via WHOIS:
+
+```
+whois yourdomain.com
+```
+
+Or use a web-based WHOIS lookup at [whois.icann.org](https://whois.icann.org).
+
+---
+
+## Step 2 — Prepare the domain at your current registrar
+
+### Unlock the domain
+
+Most registrars keep domains locked to prevent unauthorized transfers. Find the lock setting:
+
+- **GoDaddy:** Domain Settings → Domain lock → toggle off
+- **Namecheap:** Domain List → Manage → Sharing & Transfer → unlock
+- **Google Domains:** DNS → Registration settings → unlock
+- **Cloudflare:** Domain Registration → Manage → Configuration → unlock
+- **Other registrars:** look for "Domain lock", "Registrar lock", "Transfer lock", or "Theft protection"
+
+The lock may take a few minutes to a few hours to release.
+
+### Get the authorization code (EPP code)
+
+The authorization code (also called EPP code or transfer key) is a one-time code required to approve the transfer:
+
+- **GoDaddy:** Domain Settings → Transfer domain away from GoDaddy → Get authorization code
+- **Namecheap:** Domain List → Manage → Transfer Out → Request EPP code (sent to your email)
+- **Google Domains:** DNS → Registration settings → Get authorization code
+- **Cloudflare:** Domain Registration → Manage → Configuration → Request auth code
+- **Other registrars:** look for "Transfer out", "Authorization code", "EPP code", or "Auth info"
+
+The code is typically a string of 6–32 characters. Save it — you'll need it in the next step.
+
+### Verify admin contact email
+
+Transfer confirmations are sent to the domain's **admin contact email** listed in WHOIS. Make sure this email address:
+
+- Is one you have access to
+- Isn't an email address at the domain you're transferring (e.g., `admin@yourdomain.com`) — because if DNS changes, you might miss the confirmation email
+
+If needed, update the admin contact email at your current registrar before starting the transfer.
+
+### Disable WHOIS privacy (if required)
+
+Some registrars require WHOIS privacy to be disabled during a transfer. Check your registrar's transfer documentation. If required:
+
+- **GoDaddy:** Domain Settings → WHOIS privacy → turn off
+- **Namecheap:** Domain List → Manage → Domain Privacy → disable
+- **Others:** look for "WHOIS privacy", "Privacy protection", or "ID protection"
+
+Turn it back on after the transfer completes.
+
+---
+
+## Step 3 — Initiate the transfer at Arcline
+
+Contact Arcline support to start a domain transfer. Provide:
+
+- The domain name
+- The authorization code (EPP code) from Step 2
+- Confirmation that the domain is unlocked
+
+Arcline will initiate the transfer through our registrar. The cost is one year's renewal fee, which will be added to your Arcline invoice.
+
+---
+
+## Step 4 — Approve the transfer
+
+After Arcline initiates the transfer, you'll receive two emails:
+
+1. **From your current registrar** — asking for confirmation that you want to transfer the domain away. You must click the approval link within a few days, or the transfer cancels.
+2. **From the registry** (Verisign for `.com`/`.net`, Public Interest Registry for `.org`, etc.) — confirming the transfer has been requested.
+
+Follow the instructions in both emails. If you don't receive them within a few hours, check your spam folder and verify the admin contact email is correct.
+
+Some registrars (GoDaddy, Namecheap) allow you to approve the transfer from their dashboard instead of waiting for the email. If that option is available, use it — it's faster.
+
+---
+
+## Step 5 — Wait for the transfer to complete
+
+Once approved, the transfer takes **5 days by default**. The losing registrar can release the domain sooner, but most of them wait the full period as a security measure.
+
+During this time:
+
+- Your website and email **continue working normally** — the transfer only affects the registration, not DNS
+- You can't change nameservers at your current registrar
+- The domain shows a "pending transfer" status in WHOIS
+
+If your domain's DNS is managed at your current registrar, your DNS records are copied as-is and continue pointing wherever they pointed before. Nothing breaks during a transfer.
+
+---
+
+## Step 6 — After the transfer completes
+
+Once Arcline confirms the transfer is complete:
+
+1. **Verify your DNS records** — log in to your Arcline account and check that your DNS zone is correctly set up with the records you need (A, MX, CNAME, TXT, etc.)
+2. **Update nameservers** — if you want DNS managed by Arcline, make sure nameservers are set to `ns1.arcline.it` and `ns2.arcline.it`
+3. **Re-enable WHOIS privacy** — turn privacy protection back on if you want it
+4. **Check email** — if your email uses the domain (e.g., `you@yourdomain.com`), verify that MX records are present and mail is flowing
+
+---
+
+## Transferring from specific registrars
+
+### GoDaddy
+
+GoDaddy often tries to retain domains by making the transfer process confusing. The key steps:
+
+1. Unlock: Domain Settings → scroll to **Domain lock** → toggle off. Wait 10 minutes.
+2. Auth code: GoDaddy calls it the **Authorization Code**. They'll email the admin contact with a link to retrieve it.
+3. After initiating: GoDaddy sends a confirmation email with a link to approve the transfer. If you ignore this email, the transfer **will still complete after 5 days** — GoDaddy changed this policy and now auto-approves transfers after the waiting period.
+
+### Namecheap
+
+1. Unlock: Domain List → Manage → Sharing & Transfer → unlock
+2. Auth code: Request via **Transfer Out** tab → **Request EPP Code** (emailed to you)
+3. Namecheap's confirmation email includes an "Approve Transfer" link — click it for a faster transfer
+
+### Google Domains
+
+1. Unlock: DNS → Registration settings → unlock
+2. Auth code: **Get authorization code** in Registration settings
+3. Google Domains generally processes transfers quickly
+
+### Cloudflare (as registrar)
+
+1. Unlock: Domain Registration → Manage → Configuration → unlock
+2. Auth code: **Request auth code** in Configuration
+3. Cloudflare automatically removes your DNS zone after a successful transfer, which can cause downtime. Before transferring away from Cloudflare, export your DNS records (Cloudflare dashboard → DNS → Export) so you can re-import them at Arcline.
+
+---
+
+## What if the transfer fails?
+
+Common reasons for transfer failure and how to fix them:
+
+| Problem | Fix |
+|---|---|
+| Domain is locked | Unlock at current registrar and try again |
+| Wrong authorization code | Request a new one from the current registrar |
+| Domain registered less than 60 days ago | Wait until 60 days have passed since registration |
+| Transferred within last 60 days | Wait until 60 days have passed since the previous transfer |
+| Domain expired | Renew at current registrar first, then transfer |
+| Admin contact didn't approve | Check email and spam folder. Ask Arcline support to resend |
+| WHOIS privacy blocking | Disable privacy protection at current registrar |
+
+Contact Arcline support if a transfer fails unexpectedly — we can check the exact reason and help you fix it.
+
+---
+
+## Transfer vs. just changing nameservers
+
+You don't need to transfer your domain to host at Arcline. The alternative is simply updating your nameservers to `ns1.arcline.it` and `ns2.arcline.it` at your current registrar (see [Point Your Domain to Arcline](/getting-started/nameservers/)).
+
+**Transfer when:**
+- You want all billing in one place (Arcline)
+- Your current registrar has raised prices or has bad support
+- You're consolidating after an acquisition (Google Domains → Squarespace, etc.)
+
+**Just change nameservers when:**
+- You like your current registrar
+- The domain isn't eligible for transfer yet (within 60-day lock)
+- You want to keep registration and hosting with different providers
+