UK Transfer Guide : Anyname Domain Services

UK Transfer Guide

Transfers of .uk tld domains between 2 parties are allowed by the UK registry Nominet.

Nominet have been active in the last 18 months in developing and streamlining their registrar systems, and in bringing online the new secure registrant services. The previous method of transfering domains involved paper-based transfer forms part-filled by both the current and future registrant. These paper-based transfers have now been superceded by the new online registrant transfers.

Changes to other parts of the domain whois can be done via EPP and the Automaton, normally through the control panel of the registrar at which the domain is controlled (via the IPSTAG), which is normally also the host. Recommended UK registrars & hosts can be found on the domain resources page.

Transfer of domains between registrants now requires activation of a domain transfer by the current registrant via the online secure systems - This has to be through the registrant’s account, which may contain one or more domains, not the registrar’s account.

Nominet require an authoratative administrative email address for the new registrant. An email is then sent to the new registrant with a link to the online secure systems with a new login id. Failure to provide a valid email will disallow the transfer. The transfer request link remains active for 5 days, after which the transfer request has to be repeated.

This is the required security to prevent fraudulent transfers, and provides a relevant electronic-trail. Transfers also require a non-refundable remittance of £10+vat to cover the cost-basis admin fees. These are typically paid by the new registrant.

Current Registrant

Log into the Nominet secure systems at https://secure.nominet.org.uk via the relevant administrative email address and password.
Click the domains tab and then the domain transfer link. Add the required domain - the system will check that this is on the logged-in account.
Follow the links to add the new registrants email address, and who is to pay the transfer cost.

New Registrant

Click the link to Nominet’s secure systems. Complete the required information for registrant name and registrar IPSTAG. Ensure that the new registrant name is correct - this is a one-off process and should be prepared beforehand as well as the registrant type.
Complete the remittance for the Nominet admin fee if the new registrant is to pay the transfer costs.
Confirm the transfer process. Nominet will then send the previous and new registrant confirmation of the transfer process.
Further whois details - excluding account-name, can be changed by logging into the secure systems with the administrative email and supplied password.

IPSTAG - During the transfer the IPSTAG for the domain will be changed to that requested by the new registrant. Ensure that this is correct and that if it is a 3rd party registrar that an account has been set up through their web site. Recommended UK registrars can be found here.

In cases where the registrant does not change but there is an issue with the current registrar that cannot be resolved, e.g. dissolved registrar or high ‘transfer fee’, then Nominet will allow a change of IPSTAG through a technical transfer for a low £10+vat admin fee. Most ‘responsible’ UK registrars will not charge for this service.

If 2 or more domains are to be transferred then a mass transfer is required. With the new online systems it is possible to transfer one or more domains as a batch via the same transfer request if the domains are all on the same account. It is recommended that the current registrant ensures this is done - if required by transferring domains via the automaton before activating transfer.

Further details can be found here.