Transfer an Integrated Provider Domain to DNSimple
Table of Contents
- Before starting
- Caveats
- Starting the transfer
- Approving the transfer
- Transfer status
- Canceling the transfer
- After the transfer
Transferring a domain name to DNSimple is the process of moving your domain registration to DNSimple. DNSimple will act as a domain registrar, and you will be able to manage your entire domain configuration in your DNSimple account.
Before starting
To avoid the possibility of downtime, you should point the name servers for the domain to DNSimple (or another provider) before you begin the transfer. This will prevent downtime and allow you to perform changes to the DNS records during the domain transfer. You should also remove any existing DS records from your domain if you are changing DNS providers.
Caveats
- A domain can only be transferred if it was registered more than 60 days ago and has not been transferred within the last 60 days.
- It can take up to seven (7) days for a transfer to complete, depending on the domain’s Top Level Domain (TLD). To learn more about how to avoid downtime during this period, check out this article.
- Most registrars will not allow an expired domain to be transferred. However, if the domain expires during the transfer, the registrar may not block the transfer due to the expiration.
Starting the transfer
At DNSimple:
- Log in to DNSimple and click on your integrated domain.
- Select .
- Select a registrant and fill in any extended attributes.
- Press “Transfer Domain”.
Approving the transfer
Your domain transfer request will now be issued if there are no missing fields. For most domain extensions, the current registrant will receive an email from donotreply@name-services.com to authorize the transfer.
Follow the instructions in the email. We cannot issue the transfer request to the registry without approval of this email.
Once you’ve authorized the transfer, you may have to wait up to seven days for your domain transfer to complete.
The total transfer price will be held on your card immediately. Your card will be charged once the transfer completes. If the transfer fails, funds will be released.
Transfer status
You can go to your domain list to check on the status of pending transfers. Click on “transfer in process” to view detailed information about the transfer request.
Canceling the transfer
If the domain is still in the transfer process, you can cancel the transfer, and the domain won’t be moved away from your current registrar. To do this, navigate to your domain. Under the “Transferring” card, click “View status”, then “Cancel transfer”.
After the transfer
When the transfer is completed, you will receive a confirmation email from DNSimple. That means your domain is now transferred to DNSimple, and you can manage it from your DNSimple account.
Changing name servers
We don’t automatically point your domain to our name servers when the transfer completes.
To avoid unexpected downtime and confusion, we don’t change the domain name servers upon a successful transfer. When the domain is transferred to us, we will keep using the same name servers previously configured for the domain.
You can now decide to point the domain to DNSimple name servers in one click, or manually configure the name servers.
We suggest pointing your domain to our name servers before the transfer to avoid downtime during the transfer. Some DNS providers will stop serving the DNS for the domain as soon as the transfer is completed.
Expiration extension
Most transferred domains will be extended the minimum required extension period. For example, .com domains will always be extended one year when they are transferred.
The price of this extension is included in the transfer fee.
Ensuring DNSSEC is disabled
If you are currently using DNSSEC, make sure to disable it at your registrar before changing the name servers.
Then you must remove the current DS record before transferring your domain away from your current provider.