Transferring .UK Domains

.UK domain transfers work differently from most gTLDs. Nominet, the .UK registry, uses an IPS tag system instead of EPP authorization codes, and most transfers carry no fee or year-extension. This article covers the manual transfer flow in the Reseller Control Panel, the API endpoints for bulk transfers, and the IPS tag handoff that finalizes every .UK move.

Note: Transfer-in orders that complete within seven days of the expiration date are renewed and charged a renewal fee. Outside that window, .UK transfers carry no transfer fee and add no year to the domain.

How .UK transfers differ from gTLD transfers

.UK transfers use the IPS tag system rather than an EPP authorization code. The current registrant must update the domain's IPS tag at the losing registrar to TUCOWS-CA; the transfer completes automatically once Nominet processes the tag change. Most .UK domains transfer for free and gain no additional registration year.

Warning: You cannot force the completion of .UK transfers that are pending registry approval. Wait for Nominet to process the IPS tag change.

Before you begin

Confirm the following before submitting a .UK transfer:

• You have access to the current registrant so they can change the IPS tag at the losing registrar.
• You know the .UK registrant type (for example, individual, UK limited company, partnership, sole trader). Some types require a registration number.
• The transfer is more than seven days from the expiration date, or you are prepared to be charged a renewal fee.
• You understand that .UK-based nameservers must be added to the parent domain before they can be used by other .UK domains.

Step 1: Submit the transfer order in the Reseller Control Panel

1. Log in to the Reseller Control Panel.
2. Select the Domains tab and click the + (plus) icon.
3. Search for the .UK domain in the pop-up window.
4. Click Transfer?. This appears only when the domain is transferrable.
5. Enter the registrant username and password so the end-user can manage the domain through the Manage Web Interface (MWI), or click Associate with existing user.
6. Fill in the owner's contact details and select the registrant type.
7. Choose nameservers for the domain.
8. Optionally select a DNS template you have already configured.
9. Click Submit registration.

Step 2: Update the IPS tag at the losing registrar

The current registrant must update the domain's IPS tag at the losing registrar to TUCOWS-CA. The transfer completes automatically once Nominet processes the tag change. Without the IPS tag update, the transfer cannot complete regardless of any approval emails or status updates in OpenSRS.

Bulk transfer .UK domains via API

Use the OpenSRS API to submit multiple .UK transfers at once. The key endpoints and parameters are:

Note: You must still ensure the IPS tag is updated to TUCOWS-CA at the losing registrar for each domain in the bulk job — the API submission alone does not move the domain.

Nominet's IPS tag procedures, registrant-type list, and registration-number rules are policy-sensitive and may change. Verify current requirements at nominet.uk before processing high-value transfers.

Next steps

• Review the general transfer-in flow — See Transfer In Process for status tracking and resending owner approval emails.
• Read .UK domain policies — Check .UK domain policies for registration rules and registrant-type details.
• Manage a transfer-away — Use Transfer Away Process when a .UK domain is leaving your account.
• Compare with the full transfer lifecycle — Read A Complete Guide to Domain Transfers for cross-TLD context.

Questions? Contact OpenSRS Support.