URL: /guides/transferring-in

---
title: Transfer a domain in
description: Bring a domain registered elsewhere over to DomainGenius.
---

A transfer-in moves a domain from another registrar to us. It does not change DNS or zone data — that comes along for the ride.

## Prereqs at the losing registrar

<Steps>
  <Step title="Unlock the domain">
    Find the registrar lock setting and turn it off.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Get the EPP/auth code">
    Some registrars hide it three menus deep. The code is a short string of letters and digits — copy it exactly, including case.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Confirm WHOIS email">
    The transfer approval email goes to the registrant or admin contact email on file. Make sure it's an inbox you can read.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Disable WHOIS privacy">
    Some TLDs (notably `.com`, `.net`) reject transfers with privacy on. Turn it off until the transfer completes; we re-enable it after.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Start the transfer

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.domaingenius.com.au/api/v1/orgs/$DG_ORG/domains/transfer" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DG_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"domain": "example.com", "auth_code": "..."}'
```

The transfer cost is one year of registration — we extend the existing expiry by 12 months. You don't lose time.

## Approval window

ICANN rules: the registrant has up to 5 days to approve via the email link. Most transfers finish in under an hour once approved; some TLDs (`.com.au`) finalise in seconds.

Track status with `GET /v1/orgs/{org_oid}/domains/transfers` or by listing pending confirmations.

## After the transfer

- Auto-renew defaults to **on**. Disable per-domain if you'd rather not.
- Contacts are imported as a single registrant record; fan it out into admin/tech/billing roles via [contacts](/guides/contacts-and-whois).
- DNS is unchanged — same nameservers, same records, even though the registrar field flipped.

## ICANN 60-day lock

Newly registered or recently transferred gTLDs are locked for 60 days at the registry. You can move them again after the lock expires. `.au` domains have no equivalent restriction.