Transfers - Transferring an expired domain

Answer ID: 9012

Can I transfer an expired domain, or domain that will expire during the transfer process?

Incoming Transfers

Yes, you can transfer an expired domain name, or domain that will expire during the transfer process, if it is still in the registrar's renewal grace period. Grace periods differ by registrar and domain name extension. However, once the status indicates that the domain name is in registry redemption, you can no longer transfer it.

Outgoing Transfers

Yes, you can transfer an expired domain, or domain that will expire during the transfer process, if it is still in renewal grace period (generally lasts 29 days after a domain expiration, depending on the TLD). Once a domain is expired, you will not be able to obtain the EPP key or unlock the domain from the website interface. If you need to acquire the EPP key and unlock the domain for an expired domain, you can contact us, and we can do this for you. 

Once the transfer request is submitted at the new registrar, a verification email will be sent from the new registrar to the WHOIS registrant email address for the domain. Depending on the registrar, you may or may not need to actively verify the transfer via the verification email. The domain retains its public WHOIS information for 15 days after expiration (where the transfer verification email is sent). After being expired for 15 days, the public WHOIS information for the domain will automatically change to a different email address, so the transfer verification email would not go to the original registrant email address. If this is the case, you can contact us, and we can change the WHOIS information back to the previous information for the transfer.

Once the status indicates that the domain name is in registry redemption, you can no longer transfer it.

Note: If a domain expires, is renewed and then transferred between registrars within the first 45 days after the expiration date, the domain will not retain the original renewal year once the transfer completes.  This is a registry restriction and applies to all registrars.  However, the new registrar will still renew the domain when the transfer is completed. You can find more information on this scenario in this article: "Extra Year Missing After Transfer Completed".