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Frequently Asked Questions

Transferring Away from Tucows

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Last Updated: May 22, 2015 11:32 AM

Before you can transfer your domain name registered with Tucows to us, you need to prepare your domain name so it will successfully complete the transfer process.

If your domain name is not registered with Tucows, visit Transferring Your Domain From Another Registrar for instructions for other registrars.

To Transfer Away From Tucows

NOTE: Hover is a domain name registrar division of Tucows.

1. Verify that Your Domain Name is Transferable

To make sure your domain name can be transferred, confirm that:

  • The domain name has been registered for at least 60 days, and has been with Tucows for at least 60 days.
  • The domain name contact information hasn't been changed within 60 days.

NOTE: Some registrars prevent domain names from transferring away if the contact information associated with a domain was updated within 60 days.

2. Confirm Administrative Contact Information

The administrative contact (admin) is one of the four contacts listed in the Whois database for a registered domain. The contact information is defined by the registrant. As part of the domain transfer process, our system will send a transfer-approval e-mail message to the domain's administrative contact listed in the Whois database. The e-mail message contains the Transaction ID and Security Code that enable the administrative contact to approve the transfer.

NOTE: If your domain name has private registration, a service that hides your personal information from the public, you cannot verify your admin email address in the Whois database. You must contact your current registrar to cancel the private registration, and then you can update the email address, if necessary.

To update this contacts at Tucows

  1. Log on to your domain name at https://manage.opensrs.net.
  2. Click Manage Domain.
  3. Update your Administrative contact email address,and then click Save.

3. Obtain the Authorization Code

Get an authorization code (also known as an EPP code or transfer key) from your current registrar, if required. Some domain name extensions, primarily country-code top-level domain names (ccTLDs), do not require an authorization code.

To obtain the authorization code from Tucows

  1. Log on to your domain name at https://manage.opensrs.net.
  2. Click Manage Domain.
  3. You'll find the authorization code is in the Domain Extras section.

4. Unlock Your Domain Name

If Domain Locking is enabled for your domain, you must contact your Tucows reseller to have the lock removed. The lock must be removed and the registry status verified as “Active” before you can request a domain transfer.

NOTE: It may take 24 hours before our system identifies and recognizes the domain status change.

To unlock your domain name

  1. Contact Tucows technical support.
  2. Ask them to unlock the domain name.

5. Purchase a Domain Name Transfer

Purchase a domain name transfer from our website. If the extension you want to transfer is not listed, you cannot transfer the domain name to us.

When you purchase the transfer, select one of the following nameserver options:

  • Keep the existing nameservers... — If you have a hosted website for your domain name (with us or another company), select this option to ensure that your site does not go down during the transfer.
  • Change ... to park nameservers — If you have email with us for the domain name, are using our Off-site DNS, or created a Premium DNS transfer template prior to the transfer, select this option. For more information, see Managing Domain Names with Off-site DNS and Creating Transfer Templates in Premium DNS.

6. Authorize the Domain Name Transfer

When you have successfully prepared your domain name to be transferred, see Transfer domain to IX-ONE DOMAIN HOST for information on completing the domain name transfer with us.