Domain Registration Transfer Policy
On December 1st, 2016, a new policy regarding domain transfers went into effect. The Transfer Policy was mandated by ICANN to all accredited registrars. This new policy, briefly, states that any “material” change to a domain’s registrant, organization, or email address will trigger a new Change of Registrant process.
Any time a change is made to the above-mentioned registrant information, a confirmation email will be sent to all parties. Only once approval(s) have been received is the change of registrant information completed. The domain will then be placed in a 60-day transfer lock.
Note: When changing the Registrant email address, be sure that both the new and old email addresses can receive email.
What is the Change of Registrant Policy?
The Transfer Policy is a procedure that all ICANN-accredited registrars must implement by December 1, 2016. The updated policy now includes rules regarding changing or updating a domain name’s registrant contact information.
What is the 60-day Transfer Lock?
The 60-day transfer lock is a period after a “material” change to a domain’s registrant’s name, organization, or email address during which a domain cannot be transferred to another registrar.
What is the difference between the Whois Contact Verification and the Change of Registrant Policy?
The Whois Contact Verification, a required check of the registrant’s email address, and the Change of Registrant Process both call for the confirmation of contact information. However, the Change of Registrant policy only pertains to a change of registrant contact name, organization, or email address is updated. The Whois Contact Verification is an approval required both when a domain is registered for the first time, and when updating the contact information of an already registered domain. For example, if you change the registrant email address on a domain name that has previously been registered, the new email address will receive an email to confirm that the email address is valid. Additionally, both the former and the new email addresses will receive a confirmation that the change has occurred as well as notice of the 60-day transfer lock, if applicable.