Why transfer a domain in the first place?
The first step we recommend considering is whether you even need to transfer your domain. In many cases, you can get by with just changing your DNS servers. This allows you to set individual DNS records with practically any provider. As an example, we can mention our own practice, where we do not use our own servers as DNS servers (even though we could easily), but instead utilize the services of Cloudflare, which has resulted in consistently good results. 🙂
Another practical example is when you use hosting from a company like Wedos, but registered your domain with Forpsi. In this case, it would be easier to manage everything from a single administrative interface, and changing just the DNS servers would be sufficient, rather than transferring the domain.
When is a change appropriate?
Of course, there may be situations where your current registrar does not allow you to change DNS server settings, or their domain renewal fee is much higher than the average of others. This happens mainly with smaller providers. In such a case, changing the domain registrar is entirely appropriate.
How to start with domain transfer?
Domain transfer is facilitated by a new domain registrar and the process is always slightly different depending on the domain in question. For example, transferring a “.cz” domain is a bit simpler than transferring a “.fans” or “.service” domain, although the main features remain the same. However, the problem may arise mainly with “new” domain extensions that are not yet supported by some providers, although this issue is slowly improving.
Once you have chosen a new registrar, you need to create a request for the domain transfer. In most cases, you will be presented with a clear ordering process, and larger providers offer online or telephone support in case of any issues. However, in many cases, domain transfer is associated with the need to extend the validity of the domain for one calendar year.
After creating the request and paying for any extension, the new registrar will ask you for the AUTH-ID, which is a code that is needed to transfer the domain.
In most cases, the code will be sent to your email automatically. In exceptional cases, you may need to request the AUTH-ID through support, or generate the code in the administrative interface of the original registrar. However, for “.cz” domains, which are the most commonly transferred, this step is not required. Once you provide the AUTH-ID to the new domain registrar, the transfer process is essentially complete, and you only need to wait for the domain to be transferred, which usually takes up to 24 hours. However, for more exotic domains such as “.service” or “.fans”, the transfer may take several days.
Will transferring the domain cause my website to malfunction?
In the vast majority of cases, you don’t have to worry about website downtime when transferring a domain. Transferring a domain is typically done without any downtime. However, we still recommend checking the DNS servers and individual DNS records after the domain transfer. Additionally, it’s important to check the contact information for the domain to ensure that none of it points to the original registrar. In particular, check the administrative/technical contact for the domain. During the transfer, the ownership details of the domain will not change; only the billing details will be updated.
In conclusion
As you can see, transferring a domain is not a complicated process. If you use our services, we will be happy to guide you through the transfer process to make sure everything goes smoothly for you.
