Transfer your domain to LJPc: step-by-step guide

When you transfer your domain to LJPc, the registration of your domain name moves from your current provider to LJPc, so your hosting, email and domain all live in one place. The transfer itself follows a fixed process: you request a transfer code, remove the transfer lock, start the transfer and then check your DNS. This guide walks you through it step by step, explains what happens to your website and email, and shows you which mistakes to avoid.

What does transferring a domain mean?

Transferring a domain, also called a domain transfer, moves only the registration of your domain name to a different party: the registrar. Your registrar is the company that officially manages your domain for you at the registry, such as SIDN for .nl domains.

Important to know: a transfer on its own changes nothing about your DNS, your website or your email. Those are controlled by your name servers and DNS records, which are separate from who your registrar is. Only when your name servers change does anything change about where your website and email come from. We come back to this below.

Two terms come up again and again. The transfer code (also called an auth code, EPP code or, for .nl, a transfer token) is a unique code that your current provider issues to authorise the transfer. The transfer lock is a safeguard at your current provider that blocks unauthorised transfers. That lock needs to be off before you start.

Before you start: what you need

A little preparation makes the transfer much smoother. Make sure you have the following to hand:

• Access to your account or control panel at your current provider, so you can request the transfer code and switch off the transfer lock.
• A valid, active domain. You cannot transfer an expired domain or one that is in quarantine.
• An up-to-date contact email address on the domain (the WHOIS or registrant details), because any confirmation email is sent there.
• An LJPc customer account. If you do not have one yet, create it first.
• For many extensions, such as .com, .net and .org: a domain that was not registered or transferred in the last 60 days. Otherwise a temporary lock applies.

Transfer your domain to LJPc: step by step

The transfer itself takes five steps. Set aside a quiet moment and keep your current provider's login details to hand.

1. Request the transfer code from your current provider. In the control panel, look for an option such as transfer code, auth code, EPP code or transfer token, or ask their support for it. Your provider is obliged to give you the code. For .nl domains, your current registrar must hand over the transfer token within five days if you ask for it.
2. Remove the transfer lock. In the same control panel, switch off the transfer lock. If the lock is still on, the registry will reject the transfer.
3. Start the transfer at LJPc. Log in to the LJPc customer portal and choose to transfer a domain you already own. Enter your domain name and your auth code, then click "Start transfer". Stuck, or is your extension not listed? Contact support and we will start the transfer for you.
4. Confirm the transfer. Depending on the extension, you receive a confirmation email, known as a Form of Authorization (FOA), in which you approve the transfer. For other extensions the transfer code is enough and you only get a notification. Respond quickly, because the transfer stays on hold until you confirm.
5. Check your DNS after the transfer. As soon as the domain arrives at LJPc, check that your DNS records are correct, such as your A record for your website and your MX record for email. The next section explains how to do this without any interruption.

What happens to your website and email?

This is the question most people worry about, and the good news is: a transfer does not have to cause any downtime. The registration moves, but your website and email keep working as long as your DNS stays the same.

Pay attention to what happens to your name servers. When you transfer to LJPc, we point your domain to our name servers: ns1.ljpc.network, ns2.ljpc.network and ns3.ljpc.network. From that moment your DNS is served from LJPc, so make sure your DNS records are ready here before the transfer completes.

So point your A record to your website's correct IP address and your MX record to the right mail server, so your site and email keep running without interruption. Want to know which name servers are authoritative for your domain? That is set with the NS record. If you prefer to run your DNS elsewhere, you can adjust the name servers in the portal after the transfer.

Try not to make DNS changes at the same time as the transfer: do them well in advance or only after the transfer has fully completed. A change is also not visible everywhere straight away, because of DNS propagation, the process in which DNS servers around the world pick up the new details.

How long does a domain transfer take?

How long a transfer takes depends mainly on the extension and on how quickly you and your current provider act.

• .nl domains are fast. Once you have submitted the transfer token, the transfer is usually complete within 24 hours. The updated DNS is then typically active within a few hours. Your current registrar must hand over the transfer token within five days if you ask.
• Other extensions take longer. For .com, .net, .org and similar extensions, a transfer usually takes five to seven days. This is due to the confirmation step: the transfer waits for your approval or for a fixed confirmation window to pass. Approve straight away and it can be quicker.

The biggest delay is usually not the technology, but waiting for the transfer code or for your own confirmation. Deal with those two quickly and your transfer runs smoothly.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most failed transfers come down to a handful of recurring causes. This table helps you spot and fix them.

Not sure how to proceed? Contact support and we will be glad to help, and start the transfer for you if you like.