There are literally dozens of solid registrars on the web that make buying and selling domain names fairly painless. At some point, it may be necessary or preferable to transfer a domain to a new registrar. If you want to move your domain name to GoDaddy, the following steps will do the trick.

Storyboard the Migration Process

If you’re moving a domain for a new site to another registrar, it’s important to understand that the process can take up to five days. It can take up to 24 hours for DNS entries to propagate once you’ve pointed your nameservers at the hosting platform that actually houses your site’s data.

Unlock the Domain & Acquire Transfer Codes

First up, you’ll need to unlock your domain and acquire an Authorization Code or EPP Code from your current registrar. Log into your registrar account admin panel, unlock the domain you wish to transfer and have the soon-to-be former registrar staff email your Authorization Code to be used later.

Purchase a Domain Transfer from GoDaddy

If you don’t already have a GoDaddy account, you can sign up for one at no cost. Within your GoDaddy admin panel, click on the “Domain Transfer” tab within the “Domain Services” section. Enter the domain you’d like to transfer, ensure that the TLD is correct and make the payment.

Authorize the Transfer Using Your Credentials

Soon after purchasing a domain transfer, GoDaddy will send you an email containing a Transaction ID and a Security Code. Log back into your GoDaddy account and complete the transfer by punching in the Transaction ID number, the Security Code and the Authorization Code that you received from the old registrar into the appropriate fields.

Ensure that the Hand-Off Has Been Completed

While you’re waiting for the transfer to go through, you can check the progress of the hand-off via your GoDaddy account. Go to the “Pending Transfers” page within the “Domain Manager“. If something is amiss, you’ll see either an Action Required or Error link that you can click for further information.

Addressing Miscellaneous Details

Generally speaking, the purchase of a Domain Transfer from GoDaddy will come with a year of registration. Note the expiration date for your domain’s registration and set up a reminder to renew at least a week beforehand. Ensure that your email address is current so that GoDaddy can remind you if you forget.