Domain Transfer Confirmation Emails, Explained
Got an email asking you to approve or deny a domain transfer? Here's what it means, why it happens in both directions, and what to do if you don't recognize it.
Any time a transfer involving one of your domains is requested, ICANN's Transfer Policy requires the registrant to be asked to confirm it before it proceeds. That confirmation email is what this article is about.
Why you might get one
There are two situations that trigger this email, and the wording can look similar either way:
- You're pulling a domain in — you (or whoever manages the domain) started a transfer to bring it under your account here.
- A domain is being pulled away — someone requested a transfer of one of your domains to a different provider.
Both cases use the same confirmation step because ICANN requires the registrant to explicitly approve a transfer in either direction, not just the one moving the domain away from a registrar.
What the email asks you to do
The link takes you to a page with two buttons: Approve Transfer and Deny Transfer. Nothing happens until you click one — opening the email or previewing the link doesn't approve anything by itself.
- Approve if you recognize the request and want it to proceed.
- Deny if you don't recognize it, didn't request it, or changed your mind.
If you didn't start a transfer yourself and don't recognize the request, deny it. Acting promptly matters: under ICANN policy, an unanswered transfer request can end up proceeding on its own after a waiting period, so silence isn't a safe way to block something you don't want.
A domain that just registered or just transferred can't transfer again right away
ICANN's Transfer Policy locks a domain from transferring to a new registrar for 60 days after it's first registered, and again for 60 days after any transfer. This is a fixed ICANN rule, not something either party can opt out of — if a transfer looks like it's being rejected for timing reasons, this is usually why.
Didn't request this and already denied it?
That's the end of it — a denied transfer doesn't proceed. If you keep receiving requests you don't recognize, contact us so we can take a closer look at the domain.
Related
- Domain Registration Agreement — see "Transfers" for the full policy this email implements.
- Domain email verification — a different ICANN-mandated email, sent after registration or a contact-info change rather than a transfer.