Overview

This article outlines the general steps for transferring a domain registration. It is relevant for transfers both to (mt) Media Temple and away from (mt) Media Temple.

(mt) Media Temple is able to register or accept transfers for .com, .org, .net, .info, .biz, .name, .co, and .me domain names only.

Registration transfer process

1. Check on the status of the domain to be transferred. It must be unlocked with the current registrar. It must be at least 60 days past the registration date or last transfer with the losing registrar. You may get lucky and be able to do a transfer closer to your renewal date, but (mt) Media Temple has no control over how quickly OpenSRS will process your transfer request, and it is known to sometimes take more than a week.

   If (mt) Media Temple is the losing registrar, you can administrate your domain locking from the AccountCenter. Click on that domain, then on Domain Locking.

   

2. Double-check that the listed administrative contact email for the domain is valid and functional. Turn off WHOIS information privacy if it is currently turned on. You can find the listed administrative contact email by checking your WHOIS information at KLOTH.NET.
   

   If (mt) Media Temple is the losing registrar, click on your domain in the AccountCenter, then on Edit WHOIS Contact Info.

   

3. Start your transfer request with the winning registrar. The winning registrar will then initiate a transfer request to the losing registrar.
   

   If (mt) Media Temple is the winning registrar, you can start a transfer request through the AccountCenter.

   1. Hover over the Domains tab.
   2. Click on Add New Domain or Service.
   3. Select the option to Transfer Registration and click the Transfer Domain button.
      

      

   4. Type in your domain name. Select whether you want to add another server or not. Then, click Next Step.
      

      

   5. Select which hosting service you want to point the domain toward. Click Next Step. You may get a warning about the MX record. Read the warning, select the checkbox, and click Next Step. If you are already hosting the domain on a (mt) server, be sure to click the Don't modify DNS button.
      

      

   6. Approve the charges - $12.00 per year, and click next.
4. The winning registrar sends an email to the administrative contact email address listed in the WHOIS information for the domain. The email will contain details on how to complete the transfer.
   

   If (mt) Media Temple is the winning registrar, the email will come from Tucows or OpenSRS. It will contain a link to a page which requires your authorization code.

5. You must obtain your authorization code from the losing registrar (sometimes called the EPP code). You must enter this code via the method specified in the transfer email you received in Step 4.
   

   If (mt) Media Temple is the losing registrar, you can obtain your authorization code in the AccountCenter. Click on your primary domain, then on Auth Code.

   

   Then, click on Email Auth Code to email it to the administrative contact.

   

6. Your domain transfer may take up to two weeks to be processed by OpenSRS. It generally does not take quite that long, but it is a good idea to allow for that much time. At the end of that time period, your winning registrar will be your official new registrar.

Notes

• You will not be able to make any changes to your WHOIS or DNS information during a transfer, so it's a good idea to make those changes first. Transferring your domain registration will NOT update your nameservers, so if you are planning to change hosts, you should update your nameservers before starting the registration transfer.
• If your registration expires with the losing registrar before the transfer is completed, you will need to renew with the losing registrar. You must then wait 60 days before attempting another transfer.
• A (mt) Media Temple registration transfer request will remain active for five days. If you need the transfer request re-sent for any reason, wait five days and then contact (mt) Media Temple support to get your transfer re-initiated, for no additional cost.

See also

• Which domains can I register with (mt) Media Temple?
• How do I register a new domain?