Many business owners in Noakhali first registered their domain through a freelancer, a friend or an overseas registrar they no longer use. Years later, renewal invoices arrive in US dollars, the login is lost, or the person who set it up has stopped answering the phone. The good news is that you can move your domain to a provider you trust without losing your website or email. This guide explains how to transfer a domain step by step, what an EPP or authorisation code is, how long a transfer takes, and how to avoid downtime.
What does "domain transfer" mean?
Every domain is managed by a registrar: the company you pay to register and renew it. A domain transfer moves the management of your domain from one registrar to another. Your domain name stays exactly the same, you remain the owner, and your website does not need to change. Only the company that handles renewals and settings changes.
It is important to separate three different things that people often mix up:
- Domain registrar: where the domain is registered and renewed.
- DNS / nameservers: which server answers questions about your domain, such as where the website and email live.
- Hosting: the server where your website files and mailboxes are stored.
You can transfer a domain without moving hosting, and you can move hosting without transferring the domain. Many people do both together to keep everything in one place with one invoice.
Why transfer your domain?
- Pay in Taka: renew with bKash, Nagad, Rocket or a local card instead of a dollar card.
- Local support: get help in Bangla from a team you can call or visit.
- One provider: domain, hosting and email on one account and one renewal date.
- Recover control: get your domain out of a former designer's personal account.
- Better renewal price or clearer billing.
Before you start: a transfer checklist
- Check the domain is at least 60 days old and has not been transferred in the last 60 days. Registrars normally block transfers during this period for .com, .net and similar extensions.
- Make sure it is not about to expire. If it expires within a few days, renew it first or start the transfer early.
- Get access to the current registrar account. If someone else holds the login, ask them for it or ask them to complete the steps below.
- Confirm the owner email address on the domain (the registrant contact) is one you can receive. Transfer approvals are often sent there.
- Write down your current DNS records if your DNS is managed at the old registrar: A records, MX records, TXT records for email and verification. You will need them if DNS moves too.
How to transfer a domain: step by step
Step 1: Unlock the domain
Log in to your current registrar and find the domain's settings. Turn off Registrar Lock or Transfer Lock. This lock exists to stop unauthorised transfers, so it must be switched off only when you are ready.
Step 2: Turn off privacy if needed
Some registrars require WHOIS privacy to be disabled so that transfer confirmation emails reach the real owner. You can turn privacy back on after the transfer.
Step 3: Get the EPP / authorisation code
The EPP code, also called the auth code or transfer key, is like a password for the domain. Request it from your current registrar's control panel. It is usually shown on screen or sent to the owner email. Keep it private: anyone with the code and an unlocked domain could try to move it.
Step 4: Order the transfer
Order a transfer on our domain transfer page, enter your domain name and the EPP code, and pay the transfer fee. For most extensions, the transfer fee includes one extra year of registration, which is added to your current expiry date, so you do not lose the time you already paid for.
Step 5: Approve the transfer
The current registrar may send an email asking you to approve or reject the transfer. Approving it speeds things up. If you do nothing, many transfers complete automatically after a waiting period of up to five days.
Step 6: Confirm and check
Once the transfer completes, you will receive a confirmation. Check that the expiry date has moved forward by one year, that your contact details are correct, and that your website and email still work.
How long does a domain transfer take?
For generic domains like .com, .net and .org, a transfer usually completes within five to seven days, and often faster when the old registrar approves it quickly. Country-code domains have their own rules. A .com.bd domain is managed by BTCL rather than the international transfer system, so moving its management involves updating records with the registry and can require documents; see our guide to .com.bd domains for how that registry works.
Will my website or email go down?
Not if you plan it properly. A registrar transfer does not change your nameservers or DNS records by itself, so your website and email keep running throughout. Downtime happens only when DNS is moved carelessly. To stay safe:
- Keep the same nameservers during the transfer. Change them afterwards, if needed, as a separate step.
- If your DNS records are hosted at the old registrar, copy every record to the new DNS before switching nameservers.
- Do not cancel your old hosting until the website is confirmed working on the new server.
Common reasons a transfer fails
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Domain still locked | Turn off Registrar Lock and retry |
| Wrong or expired EPP code | Request a fresh code and copy it carefully, without spaces |
| Registered or transferred in the last 60 days | Wait until the 60-day period ends |
| Owner email is old or unreachable | Update the registrant email at the current registrar first |
| Domain has expired | Renew at the current registrar, then transfer |
What if a freelancer or old company will not cooperate?
This is more common than it should be. Start by asking politely in writing for the EPP code or the account login, explaining that you are the owner. Most people cooperate once asked clearly. If the domain is registered in your name and you can access the owner email, you can usually request the code yourself from the registrar's support. If the domain was registered in someone else's name, the situation is harder, which is why we always register domains in the customer's own name. Contact us with what you know and we will suggest the best route.
After the transfer: good habits
- Turn the registrar lock back on.
- Re-enable WHOIS privacy if you want it.
- Turn on auto-renewal reminders and keep your phone and email updated in the client portal.
- Store your login details somewhere safe that more than one trusted person can access.
If you are also moving your website, now is a good time to check which hosting plan suits you today.
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose the remaining time on my domain?
No. For most extensions, the remaining registration time is kept and one year is added on top when you pay the transfer fee.
Do I have to move my hosting as well?
No. The domain and hosting are separate. You can transfer only the domain and keep your website where it is, or move both.
How much does a domain transfer cost?
The transfer price depends on the extension and usually includes a year of renewal. See current transfer prices on our domains page.
Can I transfer a domain that expired yesterday?
Usually not directly. Renew it at the current registrar first, then start the transfer.
Is the transfer safe?
Yes. Transfers need the unlocked domain and the private EPP code, and the current registrar can ask the owner to approve. Your website and email keep working if DNS is not changed.
Ready to bring your domain home? Start a transfer or contact us and our team will guide you through every step in Bangla.