In most cases you do pay to transfer a domain, but not the way people expect. For common domains like .com, the transfer fee is really a one-year renewal: you pay the new registrar roughly the price of a single year, and that year is added on top of whatever time was left on your domain. You do not pay your old registrar a separate fee to leave. Here is how it actually works.
Who do you pay when you transfer a domain?
You pay the new registrar, the one you are moving to. A standard domain transfer includes a mandatory one-year renewal under ICANN rules, so the charge you see is essentially a year of registration. The best part is that the year you pay for is not wasted: it is added to your existing expiry date, so you keep any time that was left on the domain. You are not paying twice, you are extending.
Your current registrar does not get a payment from you to release the domain. They simply provide the authorization code you need to move it.
This renewal-included rule exists for a practical reason. A domain transfer and a renewal are handled by the same underlying process at the registry level, so ICANN folds a year of registration into every transfer rather than treating them as separate transactions. For you, that means a transfer is never pure cost: you always walk away with at least a full extra year on the clock, no matter how much time was left before you moved.
What about a “transfer-away” fee?
Many owners worry about a penalty for leaving their current provider. For the common ICANN-governed domains, registrars are not permitted to charge a fee simply to transfer a domain away. If your current provider is asking for money before they will release your domain or hand over the authorization code, that is a red flag worth questioning. The legitimate costs live on the receiving side, as the one-year renewal, not on the exit side.
The fees and rules at a glance
This table sums up what you actually pay and the rules that govern a transfer. Details are accurate as of November 2026.
| Item | Do you pay? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer to new registrar | Yes | Priced as a one-year renewal, added to your remaining time |
| Leaving your old registrar | No | Registrars cannot charge to transfer a common domain away |
| Authorization (EPP or TAC) code | No | Your current registrar must provide it on request |
| Privacy protection | Varies | Often included free, sometimes an add-on |
The 60-day rule that can block your transfer
Before you start, know about the ICANN 60-day transfer lock. A domain cannot be transfered to a new registrar within 60 days of three events: its initial registration, a previous transfer, or a change to the registrant’s contact details. This rule exists to prevent fraud and domain hijacking. If you just registered the domain or just updated the owner information, you may have to wait. Plan your move around this so you are not caught by surprise.
There is one more timing detail worth knowing. If your domain is close to its expiry date, finish the transfer before it lapses rather than racing the deadline, because a transfer started on an expired or nearly-expired domain can fail or get tangled up with the renewal process. When in doubt, renew first at your current registrar, then transfer once the domain is safely active again.
How to transfer a domain, step by step
When you are past the 60-day lock, a transfer is simple. Follow these steps.
- Unlock the domain at your current registrar (look for a “registrar lock” setting).
- Request the authorization code, sometimes called an EPP code or TAC.
- Start the transfer at your new registrar and enter that code.
- Pay the transfer, which includes your one-year renewal.
- Approve the transfer from the confirmation email, which speeds it up.
- Wait for completion, usually about five to seven days, then confirm your site and email still work.
Make your transfer painless
A transfer that is planned well is routine, but a rushed one during a 60-day lock or with a provider that stalls on the authorization code can be stressful. If you are moving your domain to us, our team walks you through the unlock and code steps and times the move so your website and email never skip a beat. You can keep your domain and hosting together, which removes most of the friction. Have a question first? Contact our team and we will talk it through, or get started and we will handle the transfer for you.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay to transfer a domain?
Usually yes, but the fee is really a one-year renewal paid to the new registrar, and that year is added to the time already left on your domain. You are extending your registration, not paying a pure penalty, and you do not keep paying twice.
Who do you pay when you transfer a domain?
You pay the new registrar you are moving to, not your old one. The charge covers the mandatory one-year renewal that comes with a transfer. Your current registrar does not receive a payment from you to release the domain; they only supply the authorization code.
Is there a fee to transfer a domain away from a registrar?
For common ICANN-governed domains, no. Registrars are not allowed to charge a fee simply to transfer a domain away. If a provider demands payment before releasing your domain or authorization code, that is a warning sign worth questioning.
Why can’t I transfer my domain right now?
You are probably inside the ICANN 60-day transfer lock. A domain cannot move within 60 days of its initial registration, a previous transfer, or a change to the registrant’s contact information. Once that window passes, the transfer can proceed normally.
Do I lose the time left on my domain when I transfer?
No. The one-year renewal you pay during a transfer is added to your existing expiry date, so any remaining time carries over. You keep what you already paid for and simply gain another year on top.