Domain Names:FAQ about inter-registrar transfers

What is a domain name transfer-in?

A domain name transfer-in moves the registration from another registrar to Alibaba Cloud. After a successful transfer, Alibaba Cloud manages all domain services, including renewal, information management, and security settings.

How do I transfer a domain name to Alibaba Cloud?

Follow the instructions in Transfer a domain name to Alibaba Cloud.

How can I check if my domain name is eligible for transfer?

Check the Domain Prices page. If your TLD appears in the Transfer column with a listed price, the domain name is eligible. A missing TLD or a hyphen (-) means the transfer is not supported.

What are the rules for a domain name transfer-in?

• Supported TLDs: Your TLD must appear with a price in the Transfer column on the Domain Prices page.

  Note

  Alibaba Cloud currently supports the transfer-in of domain names with English and Chinese TLDs. Domain names with TLDs in other languages, such as Russian or Japanese, are not supported.

• Registration time: The domain name must have been registered for more than 60 days.

• Time to expiration: The domain name must be more than 15 days from its expiration date.

• Domain name status: The domain name cannot be in an abnormal state, such as clientTransferProhibited, serverTransferProhibited, or clientHold.

• Dispute status: The domain name cannot be involved in any dispute, arbitration, or court-ordered transfer restriction.

• Registration period: The total registration period after the transfer cannot exceed 10 years. If a transfer would extend the registration beyond this limit, it will fail.

  ICANN policy may void a renewal applied within 45 days of a transfer. Wait at least 45 days after renewal before transferring.

• Contact information: Make sure that the administrative contact information for the domain name is correct. All subsequent confirmation emails related to the transfer-in will be sent to the administrative contact's email address.

Is there a fee for a domain name transfer-in?

Yes. While the transfer itself is free, ICANN regulations require a one-year renewal when transferring to a new registrar. The transfer fee equals a one-year renewal. View transfer-in prices in the Transfer column on the Domain Prices page.

For example, if the original expiration date of a domain name is August 1, 2016, you must pay a one-year fee for the transfer-in. After the transfer is successful, the expiration date of the domain name is extended by one year to August 1, 2017.

How long does a domain name transfer-in take?

A domain name transfer typically takes five to seven business days. The exact duration depends on how quickly your current registrar processes the transfer-out request.

Can I transfer in a domain name that I just renewed?

Yes, but wait at least 45 days after renewal. ICANN policy may void the renewal year if you transfer within 45 days. Although the transfer adds one year, you risk losing the renewal year. Contact your original registrar to understand their refund policy.

How do I transfer a domain name to Alibaba Cloud if it was registered less than 60 days ago?

Per ICANN policy, a domain name cannot be transferred within 60 days of its initial registration. Wait for this period to pass before initiating a transfer.

Can I transfer in a domain name that is about to expire?

Yes, as long as the domain name is more than 15 days from its expiration date.

How do I transfer an expired domain name to Alibaba Cloud?

Renew or redeem the domain name with your current registrar first. Once active, you can initiate the transfer. To avoid losing the renewal year, wait at least 45 days after renewal or redemption before starting the transfer.

Are DNS records transferred along with the domain name?

No. A domain name transfer only moves the registration between registrars. DNS records (A, CNAME, MX, etc.) remain with your current DNS provider. Migrate your DNS records to Alibaba Cloud DNS before initiating the transfer to avoid downtime. For more information about how to migrate DNS resolution, see Migrate DNS resolution to Alibaba Cloud DNS.

Does a domain name transfer-in affect DNS resolution?

Yes, a transfer can affect DNS resolution if not managed correctly. For more information, see How to avoid DNS resolution issues when you transfer a domain name to Alibaba Cloud.

Does a domain name transfer-in affect ICP filing information?

No, a domain name transfer does not affect your ICP filing. The filing remains valid unless you cancel it or your service provider cancels it.

What information should I use for the gaining registrar during a transfer?

If your current registrar requires you to specify the gaining registrar's information to approve a transfer, use the following details for Alibaba Cloud.

Full name: Alibaba Cloud Computing Ltd. (d/b/a HiChina)

Registrar contact: 4008013260

What should I do if the original registrar does not approve the transfer-out?

If your current registrar rejects or improperly restricts the transfer, you can file a complaint directly with them. If they do not cooperate, you can escalate the issue to the registry.

For international domain names: File a complaint at Complaint regarding international domain names.

Why was the expiration date of my domain name not extended by one year after the transfer-in?

A domain name transfer includes a one-year registration extension. If the expiration date was not extended after a successful transfer, one of the following causes applies:

• Cause 1: The domain name was transferred within 45 days of renewal. Per ICANN policy, if you transfer a domain name within 45 days of its renewal, the registry voids that renewal year and refunds the fee to the original registrar. Although the transfer adds one year, the net result is no change to the expiration date.

  Solution: Contact the original registrar to request a refund of the renewal fee.

  Note

  To avoid this issue, always wait at least 45 days after renewing a domain name before initiating a transfer.

• Cause 2: The previous registrar had not processed your renewal. You may have paid for a renewal with your previous registrar, but they did not submit it to the registry before you initiated the transfer. In this scenario, only the one-year extension from the transfer is applied.

  Solution: Use a WHOIS lookup tool to verify the domain name's official expiration date. You must contact your previous registrar to request a refund for the renewal fee they failed to process.

Is my domain name's remaining validity period preserved after a transfer?

Yes. The transfer process adds one year to your domain name's existing expiration date. However, per ICANN policy, a domain name's total registration period cannot exceed 10 years.

For example, if your domain name has two years remaining, it will have three years after a successful transfer. If your domain name has 9.5 years remaining, the transfer will extend its validity to the 10-year maximum, resulting in only a 6-month extension. You are still charged the full transfer fee in this case.

How long does a domain name transfer-out take?

A transfer-out moves a domain name from Alibaba Cloud to another registrar. This typically takes five to seven business days.

What are the rules for a domain name transfer-out?

How do I transfer a domain name out of Alibaba Cloud?

For more information about the transfer-out procedure, see Transfer a domain name out of Alibaba Cloud.

Can a domain name transfer-out be canceled?

Yes, you can cancel a pending transfer-out before it is approved:

1. Log on to the Alibaba Cloud Domain Names console and click the domain name to open the Basic Information page.

2. In the left-side pane, click Domain Transfer-out > Cancel Transfer-out.

   Important

   If Cancel Transfer-out is unavailable, the transfer is already complete and cannot be canceled. You can initiate a transfer back to Alibaba Cloud after 60 days. Transfer to Alibaba Cloud.

How do I check the status of a domain name transfer-out?

Perform a WHOIS lookup on the domain name. The transfer is complete when the registrar information shows your new registrar.

1. Go to the WHOIS lookup page.

2. Enter the domain name to be checked and click Search.

   If the registrar listed is no longer Alibaba Cloud, the transfer-out was successful.

Is the validity period of a domain name affected by a transfer-out?

Yes. A transfer-out adds one year to the domain name's current expiration date. For example, if a domain name expires on March 1, 2024, and is transferred in December 2023, its new expiration date becomes March 1, 2025.

If you renewed the domain name recently, wait at least 45 days after renewal before transferring to ensure both the renewal year and transfer year are applied correctly.

What is an authorization code?

An authorization code (also known as an Auth Code or EPP key) is a unique password for a domain name, required to authorize an inter-registrar transfer.

Obtain the code from your current registrar and provide it to the new registrar. For Alibaba Cloud domains, see Obtain the authorization code for a domain name.

What should I do if the reseller does not provide the authorization code?

1. File a complaint directly with the registrar.

2. If the registrar does not cooperate, file a complaint with ICANN.

After I obtain the authorization code, how long do I have to submit a transfer-in request to the new registrar?

Authorization codes typically expire after 15 days. Initiate the transfer promptly after receiving the code. If it expires, request a new one from your registrar.

If a domain name transfer-in fails or is canceled, will the fee be refunded?

Yes. If a transfer fails or is canceled, the fee is refunded to your original payment method. Vouchers are non-refundable.