Transferring a Domain Name — What Aussie Businesses Should Know

Whether you're switching providers, consolidating domains, or just trying to reduce costs, transferring your domain name is a common task for business owners. But if you've never done it before, the process can feel confusing — especially when timing, eligibility, and fees are involved.

Here's what you need to know about transferring .com.au and .au domains in Australia.

Why Transfer Your Domain?

Common reasons for domain transfers:

• You're moving to a new web hosting provider and want everything under one roof.

• Your current registrar is too expensive, unreliable, or hard to manage.

• You want better support or tools, like those offered by iWebHost.com.au.

Transferring your domain helps simplify your online presence, especially when your hosting, DNS, email, and domain services are all managed from the same place.

What You’ll Need

To transfer a .com.au or .au domain, you’ll need:

• The domain name (e.g. yourbusiness.com.au)

• The domain’s auth code (also called EPP code or transfer key) from your current registrar

• An ABN/ACN or Business Entity that meets auDA eligibility rules

If the domain is locked or expired, you may need to unlock or renew it before starting the transfer.

How Long Does It Take?

Most .au domain transfers complete within 24–48 hours, though some can take longer depending on the current registrar. During the transfer, your domain and website stay online, so there’s usually no downtime.

Is There a Cost?

Yes, in most cases you'll pay a renewal fee to the new provider. This fee typically extends your domain registration by 1 year. So you're not paying for the transfer alone — you’re actually renewing the domain at the same time.

At iWebHost, our domain transfer fee includes 12 months of registration and support during the process.

Will My Website or Email Go Down?

No — as long as you don’t change your DNS settings, your website and email will keep running normally during the transfer.

If you do plan to change nameservers (e.g. to iWebHost), we recommend timing it after the domain transfer is complete to avoid any disruption.

When You Shouldn’t Transfer

• If your domain is close to expiring, it’s better to renew it first, then transfer later.

• If your domain has just been registered or transferred, you may need to wait up to 60 days before transferring again (depending on registrar rules).

Need Help? We’ve Got You Covered

At iWebHost, we’ve helped hundreds of Aussie businesses transfer their domain names with minimal fuss. Our team can guide you through:

• Getting your auth code

• Ensuring ABN/ACN eligibility

• Keeping your site and email online

• Migrating hosting, email and DNS

We make the process simple — so you can focus on running your business.

Ready to transfer? Start your Domain Name Transfer here.