How to transfer a domain name to another Alibaba Cloud account - Domain Names

Transfer a domain name between Alibaba Cloud accounts to centralize management or reassign permissions. This changes only the managing account — the registrant, expiration date, DNS, ICP filing, and SSL certificate are unaffected. To change registrant information, Modify registrant information.

Common use cases:

Centralizing management: Transfer a domain name from an employee's personal account to a company account.
Transferring permissions: Move a domain name to a new account when an employee leaves.
Aligning with business structure: Reassigning a domain name's management account to match organizational restructuring.
Simplifying renewals: Consolidate domain names into one account to streamline renewals.

Procedure

Step 1: Perform pre-transfer checks

Verify the following before you start.

Check item	Requirements and instructions
Domain name validity	The domain name must be active. If expired, renew it before transferring.
Identity verification	For`.cn` domain names, the registrant must complete identity verification.
Registration date	The domain name must meet a minimum registration period. The console displays the specific requirement.
Account type	Initiate the transfer from the source Alibaba Cloud account. RAM users cannot perform this operation. Direct transfers between China site and international site accounts are not supported. Instead, transfer the domain name away from Alibaba Cloud from the source account, then transfer it back in to the destination account. This incurs a fee and extends registration by one year.

Step 2: Initiate the transfer

The source account must perform the following steps:

Go to the transfer page.
Log on to the Domain Names console. On the Domain Names page, find the target domain name and click Manage in the Actions column. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Transfer Between Accounts.

For batch transfers: The process for .cn domain names and other TLDs is different. You must process them in separate batches.
- .cn domain names: In the left-side navigation pane, click Batch Operations > CNNIC Batch Operations > Account Transfer.
- Other TLDs: In the left-side navigation pane, click Batch Operations > Common Batch Operations > Account Transfer.
Enter information and submit.

Important
This operation is irreversible. The destination account gains full management rights immediately. Verify the destination account ID before proceeding.
- Batch Mode:
  - Enter Domain Name: One domain name per line, up to 1,000.
  - Upload File: Supports .xls and .xlsx formats, up to 2 MB.
- Transfer To: Enter the UID of the destination account. Click your profile picture in the upper-right corner to view your UID.
After completing the email verification, click Submit. The transfer takes effect immediately. Ensure that the UID you entered is correct.

Step 3: Check the transfer result

The transfer takes effect immediately without confirmation from the destination account.

Source account (original account): The domain name is no longer listed in the source account. The transfer record is available in Change Log.
Destination account: The domain name is now listed in the destination account's Domain Names list.

FAQ

What should I do if I can't see the domain name after the transfer?
- Confirm that you are logged on to the correct destination account. The domain name will no longer be visible in the source account.
- Verify that you performed a cross-account transfer, not an ownership change. An ownership change modifies registrant information but does not move the domain name to another account.
How long does a domain name transfer between Alibaba Cloud accounts take? Is there a fee? Does it affect the domain name's expiration date?
- Time: The transfer is instant. The domain name appears in the destination account immediately.
- Fee: Free. No fee applies.
- Expiration date: Unaffected. Your domain name's expiration date remains the same.
Will transferring to another account affect my DNS resolution, ICP filing, or SSL certificate?
- DNS resolution: DNS resolution is not affected by the transfer.
  
  Free Edition DNS records migrate with the domain name. Paid Edition DNS records remain in the source account. Transfer a domain name between Alibaba Cloud accounts.
- SSL certificate: Not affected. The certificate is bound to the domain name, not the account. Use SSL certificate upload, synchronization, and sharing to share certificates between accounts with the same identity verification.
Does a cross-account transfer change the domain name's ownership?

A cross-account transfer changes only the managing account. Registrant information (ownership) is unchanged. To change the registrant, perform a registrant information change.
Can the transfer be revoked? What if I transfer the domain name to the wrong account?

No, the transfer is irreversible. Management rights transfer immediately upon submission. If transferred to the wrong account, contact that account's owner to arrange a return. Alibaba Cloud cannot intervene.