Frequently asked questions about transferring domain names to and from Alibaba Cloud.
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Transfer-in
What is a domain name transfer-in?
A domain name transfer-in moves the registration from another registrar to Alibaba Cloud. After a successful transfer, Alibaba Cloud manages all domain services, including renewal, information management, and security settings.
How do I transfer a domain name to Alibaba Cloud?
Follow the instructions in Transfer a domain name to Alibaba Cloud.
How do I smoothly transfer a domain name that is in use?
Prerequisites
Disable DNSSEC: If the domain name is configured with DNSSEC, DNSSEC can cause service interruptions during migration. Delete the DS record and disable DNSSEC at your current registrar first. After migration, re-enable it by following Enable DNSSEC. Skip this step if DNSSEC is not configured.
Delete DS records and disable DNSSEC before migrating DNS resolution. Otherwise, DNS resolution will be affected.
Step 1: Add a domain name
In the Alibaba Cloud DNS console, go to Internet Authoritative DNS Resolution and click Add Domain Name. Skip this step if the domain name is registered with Alibaba Cloud or already added.
Step 2: Add DNS records
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Export original DNS records: Export all DNS records from your original DNS provider. If batch export is not supported, manually add the records to the template in the next step.
ImportantDo not delete records from your original DNS provider during migration. DNS queries may still route there for up to 48 hours. Delete the records one week after migration.
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Fill in the import template: Enter your DNS records in the DNS resolution template. Record type formats are documented in Add a DNS record.
NoteYou do not need to import SOA or NS records. Your original DNS provider creates these automatically, and Alibaba Cloud DNS generates its own.
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Import DNS records: Click the domain name to open DNS Settings, then click Batch Import. On the Import Records page, choose Incremental Update or Full Update as the Import Method, then click Upload File. For first-time imports, select Full Update. The differences between update modes are described in Rule Description.
After importing, verify that the records on the DNS Settings page match your original DNS configuration.
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Verify that the DNS records have taken effect
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View Alibaba Cloud DNS server addresses: In the Alibaba Cloud DNS console, go to Public Authoritative Resolution, click your domain name to open DNS Settings, then click View DNS Servers to find the Alibaba Cloud-assigned DNS addresses.
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Verification: Open the Network Probe tool, enter the domain name, select the record type in Advanced Configuration, enter the Alibaba Cloud DNS server address, and click Detect Now. If the result matches the imported record, the DNS record is working correctly.
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Step 3: Change the DNS server addresses
Before changing DNS servers, verify that no transfer prohibition lock is enabled. If locked, disable it through your registrar or use the WHOIS lookup tool to check for a `serverUpdateProhibited` status.
Do not modify DNS records within 48 hours of changing DNS servers. If you must modify records during this period, update them at both the old and new DNS providers to keep records consistent.
Modify DNS servers: Verify that the records on the DNS Settings page match your original DNS configuration, then change the DNS server addresses to the Alibaba Cloud DNS addresses at your registrar. Modify DNS servers.
DNS server changes typically take up to 48 hours to propagate, as local DNS caches update at different intervals.
How can I check if my domain name is eligible for transfer?
Check the Domain Prices page. If your TLD appears in the Transfer column with a listed price, the domain name is eligible. A missing TLD or a hyphen (-) means the transfer is not supported.
What are the rules for a domain name transfer-in?
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Supported TLDs: Your TLD must appear with a price in the Transfer column on the Domain Prices page.
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Registration time: The domain name must have been registered for more than 60 days.
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Time to expiration: The domain name must be more than 15 days from its expiration date.
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Domain name status: The domain name cannot be in an abnormal state, such as
clientTransferProhibited,serverTransferProhibited, orclientHold. -
Dispute status: The domain name cannot be involved in any dispute, arbitration, or court-ordered transfer restriction.
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Registration period: The total registration period after the transfer cannot exceed 10 years. If a transfer would extend the registration beyond this limit, it will fail.
ICANN policy may void a renewal applied within 45 days of a transfer. Wait at least 45 days after renewal before transferring.
Is there a fee for a domain name transfer-in?
Yes. While the transfer itself is free, CNNIC regulations require a one-year renewal when transferring to a new registrar. The transfer fee equals a one-year renewal. View transfer-in prices in the Transfer column on the Domain Prices page.
For example, if the original expiration date of a domain name is August 1, 2016, you must pay a one-year fee for the transfer-in. After the transfer is successful, the expiration date of the domain name is extended by one year to August 1, 2017.
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Prices listed are for standard domain names. Premium domain names are priced in real time and may be higher. The final price is shown at checkout.
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The transfer-in of a .hk domain name is free of charge, and its expiration date is not extended.
How long does a domain name transfer-in take?
A domain name transfer typically takes five to seven business days. The exact duration depends on how quickly your current registrar processes the transfer-out request.
Can I transfer in a domain name that I just renewed?
Yes, but wait at least 45 days after renewal. ICANN policy may void the renewal year if you transfer within 45 days. Although the transfer adds one year, you risk losing the renewal year. Contact your original registrar to understand their refund policy.
How do I transfer a domain name to Alibaba Cloud if it was registered less than 60 days ago?
Per ICANN policy, a domain name cannot be transferred within 60 days of its initial registration. Wait for this period to pass before initiating a transfer.
Can I transfer in a domain name that is about to expire?
Yes, as long as the domain name is more than 15 days from its expiration date.
How do I transfer an expired domain name to Alibaba Cloud?
Renew or redeem the domain name with your current registrar first. Once active, you can initiate the transfer. To avoid losing the renewal year, wait at least 45 days after renewal or redemption before starting the transfer.
Are DNS records transferred along with the domain name?
No. A domain name transfer only moves the registration between registrars. DNS records (A, CNAME, MX, etc.) remain with your current DNS provider. Migrate your DNS records to Alibaba Cloud DNS before initiating the transfer to avoid downtime. For more information about how to migrate DNS resolution, see Migrate DNS resolution to Alibaba Cloud DNS.
Does a domain name transfer-in affect DNS resolution?
Yes, a transfer can affect DNS resolution if not managed correctly. For more information, see How to avoid DNS resolution issues when you transfer a domain name to Alibaba Cloud.
Does a domain name transfer-in affect ICP filing information?
No, a domain name transfer does not affect your ICP filing. The filing remains valid unless you cancel it or your service provider cancels it.
What information should I use for the gaining registrar during a transfer?
If your current registrar requires you to specify the gaining registrar's information to approve a transfer, use the following details for Alibaba Cloud.
Full name: Alibaba Cloud Computing Ltd. (d/b/a HiChina)
Registrar contact: 4008013260
What should I do if the original registrar does not approve the transfer-out?
If your current registrar rejects or improperly restricts the transfer, you can file a complaint directly with them. If they do not cooperate, you can escalate the issue to the registry.
For CNNIC domain names: Send an email to supervise@cnnic.cn or call 010-58813000 to file a complaint.
Why was the expiration date of my domain name not extended by one year after the transfer-in?
A domain name transfer includes a one-year registration extension. If the expiration date was not extended after a successful transfer, one of the following causes applies:
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Cause 1: The domain name was transferred within 45 days of renewal. Per ICANN policy, if you transfer a domain name within 45 days of its renewal, the registry voids that renewal year and refunds the fee to the original registrar. Although the transfer adds one year, the net result is no change to the expiration date.
Solution: Contact the original registrar to request a refund of the renewal fee.
NoteTo avoid this issue, always wait at least 45 days after renewing a domain name before initiating a transfer.
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Cause 2: The previous registrar had not processed your renewal. You may have paid for a renewal with your previous registrar, but they did not submit it to the registry before you initiated the transfer. In this scenario, only the one-year extension from the transfer is applied.
Solution: Use a WHOIS lookup tool to verify the domain name's official expiration date. You must contact your previous registrar to request a refund for the renewal fee they failed to process.
A successful transfer to Alibaba Cloud confirms that your transfer fee was processed. If you also paid a renewal fee to your previous registrar that was not applied to the domain name's registration period, you must contact them directly for a refund.
How do I unlock a domain name that was locked by the original registrar after it is transferred to Alibaba Cloud?
If your domain name is locked by the original registrar (that is, the domain has a status such as clienthold or clientupdateprohibited), but it has already been transferred to Alibaba Cloud, you need to provide documents to request an unlock.
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Prepare the required materials for unlocking.
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Disclaimer for unlocking a domain name. You can click Disclaimer for Unlocking a Transferred-in Domain Name to download it.
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Identity verification materials of the registrant.
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If the registrant is a company or an enterprise: Provide a scanned copy or a photocopy of the valid business certificate with a complete annual inspection record (the photocopy must be stamped with the official seal of the company) and scanned copies or photocopies of both sides of the ID card of the domain name contact or handler.
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If the registrant is an individual: Provide scanned copies or photocopies of both sides of the registrant's ID card.
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After you prepare the preceding materials, send them by email to cndomain-notice@service.alibaba.com. After Alibaba Cloud receives your materials, we will process your request within three business days.
Important-
The preceding mailbox is used only to receive materials. Do not send other content or ask other questions.
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The provided materials must be authentic and valid. Otherwise, the processing may be delayed or the unlocking may fail.
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Is my domain name's remaining validity period preserved after a transfer?
Yes. The transfer process adds one year to your domain name's existing expiration date. However, per CNNIC policy, a domain name's total registration period cannot exceed 10 years.
For example, if your domain name has two years remaining, it will have three years after a successful transfer. If your domain name has 9.5 years remaining, the transfer will extend its validity to the 10-year maximum, resulting in only a 6-month extension. You are still charged the full transfer fee in this case.
Transfer-out
How long does a domain name transfer-out take?
A transfer-out moves a domain name from Alibaba Cloud to another registrar. This typically takes five to seven business days.
What are the rules for a domain name transfer-out?
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If your domain name uses Alibaba Cloud DNS, migrate your DNS records and change the authoritative name servers to your new provider before initiating the transfer.
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If your domain name was registered or last transferred before 2016, its contact information may be incomplete. Update this information before requesting an authorization code. An ownership change may be required.
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Transfer-out rule |
Description |
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The registrar must be Alibaba Cloud. |
None |
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The domain name must be registered for more than 60 days. |
None |
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The domain name must be more than 15 days away from expiration. |
Initiate the transfer at least 30 days before expiration to prevent potential issues. |
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The domain name must be more than 60 days since the last registrar transfer. |
None |
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The domain name status must be Normal. |
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The domain name must be more than 45 days since the last renewal. |
Initiate the transfer more than 45 days after the last renewal to ensure the one-year extension is applied correctly. |
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Concurrent transfers are not allowed. |
You cannot transfer the same domain name to multiple registrars simultaneously. Wait for the current transfer to complete first. |
How do I transfer a domain name out of Alibaba Cloud?
For more information about the transfer-out procedure, see Transfer a domain name out of Alibaba Cloud.
Can a domain name transfer-out be canceled?
Yes, you can cancel a pending transfer-out before it is approved:
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Log on to the Alibaba Cloud Domain Names console and click the domain name to open the Basic Information page.
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In the left-side pane, click .
ImportantIf Cancel Transfer-out is unavailable, the transfer is already complete and cannot be canceled. You can initiate a transfer back to Alibaba Cloud after 60 days. Transfer to Alibaba Cloud.
How do I check the status of a domain name transfer-out?
Perform a WHOIS lookup on the domain name. The transfer is complete when the registrar information shows your new registrar.
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Go to the WHOIS lookup page.
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Enter the domain name to be checked and click Search.
If the registrar listed is no longer Alibaba Cloud, the transfer-out was successful.
Is my domain name still secure after an online transfer-out?
Online domain name transfers comply fully with ICANN policies. Keep your Alibaba Cloud account credentials confidential and change your password regularly.
To transfer out a domain name, you must obtain an authorization code by verifying the secure phone number associated with your Alibaba Cloud account. Alibaba Cloud also sends an email to the administrative contact when the code is obtained.
When the transfer begins, Alibaba Cloud sends a confirmation email to the registrant. If you did not initiate the transfer, follow the instructions in the email to cancel it.
Is the validity period of a domain name affected by a transfer-out?
Yes. A transfer-out adds one year to the domain name's current expiration date. For example, if a domain name expires on March 1, 2024, and is transferred in December 2023, its new expiration date becomes March 1, 2025.
If you renewed the domain name recently, wait at least 45 days after renewal before transferring to ensure both the renewal year and transfer year are applied correctly.
Authorization code
What is an authorization code?
An authorization code (also known as an Auth Code or EPP key) is a unique password for a domain name, required to authorize an inter-registrar transfer.
Obtain the code from your current registrar and provide it to the new registrar. For Alibaba Cloud domains, see Obtain the authorization code for a domain name.
What should I do if the reseller does not provide the authorization code?
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File a complaint directly with the registrar.
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If the registrar does not cooperate, file a complaint with CNNIC.
Under , your current registrar cannot unreasonably deny a transfer or charge for providing an authorization code.
After I obtain the authorization code, how long do I have to submit a transfer-in request to the new registrar?
Authorization codes typically expire after 15 days. Initiate the transfer promptly after receiving the code. If it expires, request a new one from your registrar.
Transfer-in failures
If a domain name transfer-in fails or is canceled, will the fee be refunded?
Yes. If a transfer fails or is canceled, the fee is refunded to your original payment method. Vouchers are non-refundable.
What should I do if a transfer-in fails because the domain name is in the transfer-prohibited status?
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Cause 1: The domain name has a transfer lock.
Solution: Contact your current registrar and ask them to remove the transfer lock (also known as a registrar lock). You can check your domain name's status by using a WHOIS lookup tool.
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Cause 2: The domain name is at its maximum 10-year registration limit. A transfer adds one year to the domain name's registration. If this extension would cause the total registration period to exceed 10 years, the transfer will fail.
Solution: Wait until the domain name's registration period is less than nine years, then re-initiate the transfer.
What do I do if the transfer-in fails with the message "Sorry. The authorization code for your domain name is incorrect"?
You can obtain a new authorization code from the original domain name registrar and try again.
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Log on to the Domain Names console and click Details in the Actions column of the target domain name.
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On the Authorization Code Authentication page, enter the new authorization code, and then click Submit For Authentication.
After the authorization code is verified, the domain name starts to be transferred to Alibaba Cloud. According to the registry's regulations, the domain name transfer-in process usually takes five to seven days.
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You must obtain the authorization code from the original domain name registrar. Alibaba Cloud cannot obtain it for you.
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We recommend that you enter the authorization code manually. If you copy and paste the authorization code, do not copy any spaces.
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The authorization code contains special characters, which must be entered exactly as provided by the original registrar.
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Alibaba Cloud cannot manually confirm whether the authorization code is valid or correct. The system automatically determines its validity after you enter it. If you enter incorrect authorization codes multiple times, contact the original domain name registrar to confirm the code.
What should I do if a transfer-in fails due to incorrect domain name format?
Cause: Alibaba Cloud does not support the transfer-in of domain names with the specified TLD.
Solution: To view the TLDs that can be transferred to Alibaba Cloud, see the Domain Prices page.
What do I do if the transfer-in fails with the message "The verification code has expired or is invalid. Please obtain the confirmation email again"?
Solution:
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If you have confirmed the verification email link, the domain name is already in the transfer-in process. You can log on to the Alibaba Cloud Domain Names console and view the transfer progress on the Domain Name Transfer-in page.
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The verification link is valid for 15 days. If the link has expired, you must obtain a new email verification link.
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If the authorization code has expired, you must contact the original domain name registrar to obtain a new one.
What do I do if the transfer-in fails with the message "A transfer-in request has been submitted for the domain name. If you have not paid, log on to the Membership Hub and pay for the unpaid order"?
Cause: A transfer-in request was submitted for the domain name, but the order was not paid.
Solution: If you have not paid for your transfer-in order, go to Order Management to complete the payment. If you have already paid, wait for the domain name transfer to complete.
What should I do if a transfer-in fails due to rejection from the original registrar?
Cause: The original registrar rejected the transfer, or you canceled the transfer through the original registrar.
Solution: You must contact the original registrar to resolve the issue.
What should I do if a transfer-in fails due to invalid naming?
Cause: Your domain name does not comply with naming conventions.
Solution: Domain names that fail the naming audit cannot be transferred to Alibaba Cloud. Review Domain name naming conventions and Rules for transferring a domain name to Alibaba Cloud.