Transfer a Domain Name

Last updated 21st July 2022

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Order a Domain Name
• Tasks Management
• Manage Contacts of a Domain Name
• Managing Eligibility Rules
• Configure the Display of Contact Data in the Whois
• Configure the DNS of your Domain Name
• Transfer a Domain Name

We remind you that the given API routes links lead to European API. Do not forget to replace https://eu.api.ovh.com with https://ca.api.ovh.com in API URLs to use it with your identifier.

Incoming transfer

An incoming transfer corresponds to transferring the domain name management from another registrar to OVHcloud. This is pretty much the same as a new domain name order, except that the domain is not listed as available since it is already owned.

If you are the domain owner, you may transfer its management to OVHcloud as follows.

1. Fetch the confidential authorization code (sometimes referred to as "auth code" or "auth info") associated to your domain name on your current registrar dashboard.

2. Order a transfer: this will consist in the same steps as ordering a new domain name.

   • Only the offer will differ, since the available action will be transfer (instead of create) and the pricing mode will be transfer-default.

   • Do not forget to add the authorization code to your order, as the AUTH_INFO configuration value.

   When the order is complete, it will generate a new DomainIncomingTransfer task.

3. Monitor the evolution of the DomainIncomingTransfer task using the task API.

4. If you did not add the authorization code to your order, or if it was invalid, the DomainIncomingTransfer task may result in error.

   In that case, use the task API to send the valid code with the authInfo argument key, then relaunch the task.

The transfer should be completed by the registry after a few days.

Outgoing transfer

We talk about outgoing transfer when a customer wishes to delegate the management of his domain name from OVHcloud to another regitrar. The following instructions describe the most common way to execute this transfer. However, this procedure may vary for some ccTLDs like .lu, .uk, .hk, ans so on... In this case, please consult registrar documentation.

Domain lock

A domain lock is a security that prevents your domain from being the target of attempts to transfer to another regitrar. It means that if this option is activated on your domain name, it cannot be transferred without first being unlocked. You can check what state your domain name is in by using the following route:

Example

GET /domain/xxx.ovh

{
   "transferLockStatus": "locked",
   "parentService": null,
   "nameServerType": "hosted",
   "offer": "gold",
   "whoisOwner": "12345678",
   "owoSupported": true,
   "lastUpdate": "2022-03-10T14:00:40+01:00",
   "glueRecordIpv6Supported": true,
   "domain": "xxx.ovh",
   "glueRecordMultiIpSupported": true,
   "dnssecSupported": true
}

To put your domain name in an unlocked state, use the same route with a PUT method, adding the transferLockStatus to unlocked:

Actions on theses routes are not instantaneous, which is why when re-executing a GET /domain/{serviceName}, you may see a transferLockStatus in unlocking or locking state.

Authcode

After unlocking your domain, you need an authcode to ensure that you own it, in order to transfer out. You will have to provide this code to your new registrar.

The following route allows you to retrieve it:

Your new registrar will then proceed with the transfer.

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