Transfer a Domain from GoDaddy
To transfer a domain from GoDaddy, unlock it in Domain Portfolio, turn off Domain Privacy, and copy the authorisation code from Transfer to Another Registrar. Submit the code at the new registrar and pay its fee, which usually adds a year. Approve the request in GoDaddy to finish faster. The website stays online if nameservers are unchanged.
For domain owners moving a .com or other name away from GoDaddy who want the transfer done without breaking the website or email.
knowledge
- Read time
- 6 min
- Sections
- 8
- Updated
- 14 Nov 2026
- Written by
- WebJi® team
Last editorial update: 14 November 2026. Prices follow the dated sources on this page; checkout confirms current charges.
What changes when you transfer a domain away from GoDaddy?
A transfer changes the registrar that manages the domain and normally extends the expiry by one year; it does not move the website, the database or the mailboxes, which follow the nameservers and hosting. Unlock the name, turn off privacy, copy the authorisation code and submit it with the new registrar's fee.
| Item | After the transfer |
|---|---|
| Registrar of record | The company you gave the code to |
| Expiry date | Usually one year later (up to the 10-year maximum) |
| Registrant contact | Carried across |
| Nameservers and DNS records | Unchanged unless you edit them |
| Website files, databases, mail | Stay with the hosting account |
Moving the site is a separate host migration. WebJi® is not GoDaddy and is not its help desk; the steps below need only your GoDaddy account login.
How do you prepare the domain in your GoDaddy account?
In Domain Portfolio, select the domain, turn off the registrar lock, switch Domain Privacy off, and remove any Domain Protection upgrade that blocks transfers. Missing any of these makes the transfer fail after you have already paid the new registrar.
- Lock off: confirm in a public WHOIS lookup that the status no longer shows
clientTransferProhibited; that is the flag the registry actually checks. - Privacy off: so the approval mail reaches your real address.
- Registrant email works: open the contact record and make sure that inbox receives mail; the code and approval request go there.
- Note the expiry: transfer well before expiry, not during the grace or redemption period.
The lock is a theft-protection feature, so switch it off only when you are ready to move; what a registrar lock is explains why.
Where do you find the authorisation (EPP) code in GoDaddy?
Open the domain in Domain Portfolio, choose Transfer → Transfer to Another Registrar, complete the identity check, and click to reveal and copy the authorisation code. GoDaddy also emails the code to the registrant address.
- Select the domain and open Transfer to Another Registrar.
- Read the eligibility panel. If it lists a lock or waiting period, clear that first.
- Continue and pass the identity check (SMS code, authenticator app or email one-time password).
- Reveal the authorisation code and copy it to a note.
- Leave the domain unlocked until the transfer finishes.
Paste the code exactly; a stray leading or trailing space is enough for the new registrar to reject it. Other registrars call the same thing an EPP code, auth code or transfer key; see domain authorisation codes.
When can a domain not be transferred from GoDaddy?
Under ICANN's transfer policy, a .com or other gTLD can be refused within 60 days of its registration, a previous transfer, or a registrant change made with the 60-day lock accepted. The clock runs from the event, so check the dates before paying anyone.
| Situation | Effect | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Registered in the last 60 days | Transfer refused until day 61 | Creation date in WHOIS |
| Transferred in the last 60 days | Refused until 60 days after completion | Account transfer history |
| Registrant change with the 60-day lock accepted | Refused for 60 days | The change-confirmation email |
| Promotional or bundled registration | May carry a longer hold | The eligibility panel on the domain |
| Expired, in redemption | Must be restored first | Status next to the expiry date |
| .in or other country-code domain | Follows that registry's rules (NIXI for .in) | The registry's policy |
A refusal inside one of these windows is not an error to retry; wait it out. A .in domain follows NIXI's rules, so a .com date is no guide for a .in name.
How do you start the transfer and speed up approval?
Enter the domain and authorisation code on the new registrar's transfer form and pay its fee; then approve the outgoing request in GoDaddy (Transfers → Transfers Out → In Progress) to finish in hours instead of the automatic five to seven days. The registry processing time sets the floor, so hours is a best case.
- Submit the transfer at the gaining registrar with the code.
- Watch the registrant inbox for confirmation messages from either registrar.
- In GoDaddy, accept the pending outgoing transfer to skip the waiting period.
- Check WHOIS: the registrar line should name the new company and the expiry should be a year later.
Keep the GoDaddy account open for a week afterwards in case a pending renewal or other service needs cancelling.
What does a GoDaddy domain transfer cost?
You pay only the receiving registrar's transfer fee, which normally includes one year added to the expiry; GoDaddy's transfer-out help article lists no separate exit charge. Ask the gaining registrar for the exact figure and its refund rule before submitting the code.
- One year added: the transfer fee covers a year, so you are not charged twice for that period.
- Ten-year ceiling: if the name is already registered for close to ten years, the extra year may not be added.
- Failed transfers: refunded under the gaining registrar's policy.
- Premium names: can carry a registry price above the usual fee.
At WebJi®, the transfer price for your extension is shown in the cart before payment. For reference, published registration prices before 18% GST are ₹1,380 (renewal ₹1,480) for .com and ₹1,000 for .in.
How do you keep the website and email online during the transfer?
Leave the nameservers unchanged until the transfer has completed; the site and mail keep working because DNS still points to the same hosting. A registrar transfer never touches public_html or the mail server.
If the domain uses GoDaddy's own DNS, copy every record (A, CNAME, MX, TXT for SPF and DKIM) before the move, because the losing registrar's DNS service may stop after the transfer. Recreate them at the new DNS provider and only then change nameservers; changing nameservers covers that step. Do a host move on a different day so any mail problem has one obvious cause.
How do you transfer a GoDaddy domain to WebJi®?
Open the domain transfer page, enter the unlocked domain and the authorisation code, and pay the price shown in the cart. WebJi® invoices in INR with 18% GST, and WHOIS privacy is included on gTLDs such as .com where the registry allows it.
Support is by email at support@webji.services, 24/7 in Hindi and English, with an average first reply under 60 minutes. If you are comparing registrars first, see GoDaddy alternatives in India. Moving the website files as well is a separate migration request, available free subject to terms and approval.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a transfer from GoDaddy take?
Up to five to seven days if you wait for automatic approval. Accepting the outgoing request in GoDaddy's Transfers Out section can complete it within hours, depending on the registry.
Will I lose the remaining time on my domain?
No. For gTLDs such as .com, the remaining registration period carries over and the transfer usually adds one year, subject to the 10-year maximum.
Why does GoDaddy say my domain is not eligible?
Usually because it was registered, transferred or had a registrant change in the last 60 days, the lock is still on, or the domain has expired. The eligibility panel on the domain states the exact reason.
Can I transfer a domain that has already expired?
Often yes during the grace period after expiry, but not once it enters redemption; it must then be restored at GoDaddy first, usually for a fee. Renewing or transferring before expiry avoids the problem; see the domain renewal guide.
Reviewed by the WebJi® team, Jaipur, 15 November 2026. WebJi® is not affiliated with GoDaddy.
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