Domain Transfer Away Process

A transfer-away moves a domain from your OpenSRS reseller account to another reseller or registrar. The end-user requests the change with the gaining reseller, and the gaining registrar initiates the transfer on their behalf. This article covers the preconditions, the OpenSRS-side flow once the registry notifies us, and how to track outgoing transfers.

How transfers away fit into the broader transfer process

You are the losing reseller in a transfer-away. OpenSRS receives the registry notification, validates eligibility, emails the owner for confirmation, and updates the domain when the registry completes the move. For the full lifecycle from both sides, see A Complete Guide to Domain Transfers.

Before you begin

OpenSRS processes a transfer-away only when the domain meets these conditions:

• The domain is unlocked.
• The end-user has the authorization (EPP) code.
• The domain has no hold status at the registrar or registry.
• The domain has been at OpenSRS for more than 60 days since it was first registered or transferred.

Warning: Once the transfer completes, the domain stops resolving if its DNS was pointed at SystemDNS. Advise your end-user to migrate DNS before initiating the transfer.

Step 1: OpenSRS receives the transfer notification

When the gaining registrar submits the request, the registry notifies OpenSRS. OpenSRS notifies you that a transfer request is in progress and sends the owner contact an email with a link to approve or decline the request.

Step 2: Owner responds (or does not)

Three outcomes are possible based on the owner's action:

• Owner approves — The registry is informed, all parties are notified, the registry moves the domain, and the domain is marked deleted with status Transferred in your database.
• Owner declines — The website displays an acknowledgement, the domain notes update, and all parties are notified that the transfer was declined.
• Owner does not respond within five days — The registry automatically acknowledges the transfer, the move completes, and the domain is marked deleted with status Transferred.

Note: Silence equals approval after five days. Coach end-users who want to keep the domain to decline explicitly before the deadline.

Step 3: Check the status of outgoing transfers

Domains with status Transfer Away are mid-flight; the owner has already received the confirmation email.

Using the Reseller Control Panel

1. Log in to the Reseller Control Panel.
2. On the Domains tab, click Advanced filter.
3. Narrow by selecting Transfer Away Pending, Transfer Away Expired, or Transferred Away.

Using the Reseller Web Interface

1. Log in to the Reseller Web Interface.
2. Scroll to View Transfers and click Transfers Away.
3. For pending transfers, tick the Resend Email checkbox next to the domain to resend the confirmation email.

Using the API

• get_domain — Look up a single domain's status.
• get_transfers_away — List pending or completed transfer-away orders.

Transfer-away confirmation emails

OpenSRS sends the transfer-away confirmation to every registrant as soon as we receive a transfer-away request. This message is mandatory and applies only to registrar-to-registrar transfers. Two versions exist: one for ICANN-mandated gTLD text, and one for ccTLDs.

Three optional acknowledgement messages cover the outcomes:

Next steps

• Initiate a transfer-in — Walk through the gaining-side flow in Transfer In Process.
• Review the full transfer lifecycle — See A Complete Guide to Domain Transfers for system-level details and registry behaviour.
• Move multiple domains between resellers — Use the bulk push tool in Push Multiple Domains to Another Reseller.
• Update DNS before transfer — Migrate end-users off SystemDNS to avoid downtime once the transfer completes.

Questions? Contact OpenSRS Support.