Domain Transfer Guide — Step by Step

Domain transfers aren't complicated — but they're sensitive. Any mistake can mean days of downtime, lost email, or in rare cases, losing the domain itself. This guide covers everything you need, based on experience transferring 1,200+ domains via Best Host.

When do you need a transfer?

• Bad service at current registrar (slow support, ignored tickets, clunky UI)
• Predatory renewal prices (many foreign registrars jack prices 2–3× after year one)
• Consolidate all domains in one account for easier management
• Current registrar is shutting down, unlicensed, or in dispute
• Moving to a Saudi registrar (why Saudi hosting matters)
• Consolidating domain + hosting with one provider to cut costs and overhead

Before you start: prerequisites

1. 60 days since registration or last transfer (strict ICANN policy)
2. Domain unlocked (Domain Lock disabled at the current registrar)
3. WHOIS Privacy temporarily disabled (some registrars require this)
4. WHOIS owner data is correct — the registered email receives confirmation
5. Domain not expired or near expiry (renew an extra year before transferring)

Steps for .com / .net transfers

1. Request the EPP / Auth Code

A secret code from your current registrar. Usually emailed to the owner within 24 hours. The code proves you're the actual owner.

2. Start the transfer at the new registrar

Enter the domain and code at the new registrar's panel, pay the transfer fee (usually includes a year's renewal, SAR 45–60 for .com).

3. Confirm via email

You'll get a message from your old registrar to confirm the transfer. If ignored, transfer auto-completes after 5 business days. If approved, it's faster.

4. Wait 5–7 business days

Transfers aren't instant — typically 5 to 7 business days. The domain keeps working normally on its current settings (no downtime).

.sa and .com.sa transfers

The process is a bit different via the SaudiNIC portal:

1. Ask your current provider to start "control transfer" via the SaudiNIC portal
2. Register with the new provider's portal as an authorized registrar
3. Verify ownership via the official email
4. Process takes 3–10 business days

Important: DNS records don't transfer automatically. Document yours before transferring (at minimum copy them into a text file).

Catastrophic mistakes (avoid these)

1. Letting the domain expire mid-transfer

If the domain lapses during transfer, it loses priority and may be listed for sale. Renew an extra year before transferring.

2. Forgetting DNS records

A transfer moves ownership only. DNS records (A, MX, etc.) may be wiped when nameservers change — back them up and be ready to re-enter immediately.

3. Inactive owner email

All confirmations go to the WHOIS email. If it's dead, transfer fails.

4. Expired card on file

Some new registrars cancel the transfer if payment fails.

5. Not disabling domain lock

If the domain is locked at the old registrar, the new one can't pull it.

6. Transferring on the expiry day

Disaster. Plan transfer for at least 30+ days before expiry.

Expected fees (Saudi market, 2026)

Extension	Transfer fee (incl. 1-yr renewal)
.com	SAR 45–60
.net	SAR 60–75
.org	SAR 65–85
.sa	SAR 35–70
.com.sa	SAR 35–70
.store	SAR 80–120
.io	SAR 200–300

After the transfer: checklist

• Verify all DNS records (A, MX, CNAME, TXT, SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
• Re-enable WHOIS Privacy if you were using it
• Lock the domain to prevent unauthorized transfers
• Enable auto-renewal
• Save the domain file in your operations doc
• Verify SSL certificate still works
• Monitor Search Console for crawl errors for a week
• Update info in third-party services (email, CRM, billing)

What if the transfer fails?

Common causes and fixes:

Cause	Fix
Wrong EPP code	Request a new one from the old registrar
Domain locked	Ask for unlock before retrying
WHOIS Privacy enabled	Temporarily disable
Wrong registered email	Update WHOIS first
Domain registered < 60 days ago	Wait, can't transfer yet
Commercial dispute	Resolve legally

Transferring dozens of domains at once

If you have 10+ domains to move, contact our team. We offer:

• Special bulk discount
• Managed transfer service (we handle every detail)
• Date consolidation under one annual renewal
• Unified dashboard to manage everything

Pro tip: domain renewal strategy

If you have several domains, set them all to expire in the same month every year. That gives you:

• One annual review instead of 12
• One reminder instead of dozens
• Lower chance of forgetting a domain

Bottom line

Domain transfer is simple with prep. If you'd rather not worry, our team handles transfers for free for every new customer and ensures no DNS record or email is lost. Our experience with 1,200+ previous transfers guarantees success on the first try.