Transfer procedure

Transfer lifecycle

The above diagram illustrates the lifecycle of a domain transfer. Transfer requests require valid authInfo. Note that only one transfer request can be pending at a time. Transfer requests on a domain name that is already in “transferPending” status are rejected.

The losing registrar has 5 days to approve or reject the request. In case there is no answer from the losing registrar after 5 days and the transfer is not cancelled by the gaining registrar, the registry auto-approves the transfer.

Domain transfer transactions are implemented according to ICANN requirements for gTLDs and the appropriate RFCs. The following choices have been made by DNS Belgium:

• During pendingTransfer status, only transactions related to the current transfer are allowed.

• After the transfer is (auto)-approved:

  • The authInfo is automatically updated.

  • All linked contacts are cloned.

  • If the maximum registration period of 10 years is not exceeded, the domain name is renewed with 1 year.

• If the transfer is rejected or cancelled, and the registration period is exceeded:

  • If the clientRenewProhibited or serverRenewProhibited flag is set, the domain goes into redemption.

  • Otherwise, the domain name is auto-renewed for the losing registrar.

• If the transfer is rejected or cancelled, and the registration period isn’t exceeded:

  • The domain name reverts to its original state (before the transfer request).

The gaining registrar can find out the new authInfo and the new contact handles by doing an info-domain transaction on the domain name.

Undo transfer

DNS Belgium can undo a transfer in accordance with ICANN’s gTLD transfer policy. The registration will be restored to its state as it was at the moment the transfer was done. In case of an undo transfer, gaining and losing registrars will be notified by poll messages.

Transfer of portfolio

DNS Belgium can transfer the complete portfolio of one registrar to another in accordance with ICANN’s gTLD transfer policy. The following actions are taken:

• Pending outgoing transfers are automatically approved. The gaining registrar (of that transfer) receives a poll message.

• Pending incoming transfers are automatically rejected. The losing registrar (of that transfer) receives a poll message.

• All domain names are transferred to the gaining registrar (of the portfolio transfer) with all their attributes.

• All linked contacts are cloned. Unlinked contacts aren’t transferred.

• The flags serverTransferProhibited and clientTransferProhibited are ignored and domains are transferred to the gaining registrar (of the portfolio transfer) including the flags. All other flags are transferred as is.

• The authInfo of each domain name is changed and a poll message is sent to the gaining registrar (of the portfolio transfer).

• A history entry is created for each domain name.