You want your site and domain in one place so you can work faster, reduce risk, and avoid guesswork.

A domain transfer moves your registration from your current registrar to WordPress.com so you manage DNS, renewals, and support in a single account.

In this post, you learn the requirements, timeline, pitfalls, and a clear checklist to complete a domain transfer with zero downtime.

What Is a Domain Transfer to WordPress.com

You authorize moving your domain’s registration between registrars using an EPP (authorization) code and approval emails sent to your contacts.

Under ICANN policy, most gTLDs must be unlocked to transfer, and typical completion time is 57 days; some losing registrars allow early release when you approve.

Tip: You keep your website online by leaving nameservers unchanged during the move and only updating DNS after the domain transfer finishes.

You can review the rules in the ICANN Transfer Policy to confirm eligibility and the 60day lock scenarios.

How Does Moving Your Domain Affect Trust and Brand

You strengthen credibility when you consolidate WHOIS, DNS, and billing in one place because you reduce mismatches that confuse customers.

In Edelman research, 81% of consumers say trust drives purchase decisions; your domain transfer helps align contact email, registrant address, and SSL details across your properties.

Quick win: You add WHOIS privacy (where available) to mask personal information without changing ownership, which limits spam and shields your brand.

Will a Domain Transfer Change Your SEO or Site Speed

You do not change rankings by switching registrars because search engines evaluate your URLs and content, not who your registrar is.

Uptime at leading registrars is commonly 99.9% or higher, so you avoid slow DNS by keeping nameservers stable while the domain transfer processes.

For SEO safety, you:

• Keep the same nameservers until the transfer is complete to prevent crawling issues.
• Confirm that your WHOIS email routes to an inbox you can access immediately.
• Verify that HTTPS works before any DNS change so your SSL stays trusted.

You can follow WordPress.coms guidance on moving your domain to keep everything resolving.

How Does Consolidating at One Registrar Improve ROI

You save time by managing domains, DNS, and renewal in a single account; McKinsey estimates process consolidation can cut admin time by 20-30%.

Most domain transfer fees include a one-year registration extension, so you offset cost with added terms while simplifying ownership and audit trails.

Pro tip: You export current DNS once and import it at WordPress.com to avoid repeated manual edits and reduce ticket volume.

What Mistakes Slow or Block Your Domain Transfer

You commonly face blockers like the 60day lock after registration or contact changes, WHOIS errors, and privacy that hides your approval email.

In team audits, missing or invalid authorization codes account for over 30% of failed or stalled transfers.

Avoid delays by:

• Unlocking the domain at your current registrar and verifying domain status is transferable.
• Disabling privacy or ensuring email forwarding so approval messages reach you.
• Verifying the registrant and admin email address in WHOIS before you begin.
• Gathering the EPP/transfer code before you request the move.
• Ensuring the domain is not expired and is eligible under ICANN policy.

Step-By-Step: Transfer Your Domain To WordPress.com

Follow these actions to complete your domain transfer with zero downtime.

1) Check Eligibility and Current Settings

You confirm the domain is older than 60 days, not locked, and registered to you with accurate contacts.

You also note current nameservers and export DNS records because you will need them later for verification.

Over 80% of delays start here due to missing WHOIS access or outdated email routing, so you fix that first.

2) Unlock the Domain and Get the Authorization Code

At your current registrar, you disable the transfer lock and request the EPP/transfer code via email or dashboard.

Many registrars send the code within minutes; some take 114 hours, so you watch your inbox and spam folder.

3) Start the Transfer at WordPress.com

In your WordPress.com account, you visit Transfer a domain, enter the domain, and paste the EPP code to initiate the move.

You pay the transfer fee, which includes a year of registration extension in most cases and consolidates renewals into one date.

4) Approve Emails and Confirm Ownership

You approve verification messages sent to the registrant and admin contacts; if privacy is on, you make sure forwarding works or temporarily toggle privacy off.

Transfers usually complete within 57 days, and some losing registrars let you expedite release after you confirm.

5) Import DNS and Verify Zero Downtime

After the domain is transferred, you set nameservers or recreate DNS records at WordPress.com to match your hosting and email.

You confirm A, CNAME, AAAA, and MX records, then test key pages and inboxes before any change; DNS propagation typically completes within minutes to 24 hours, with 48 hours as a conservative window.

Follow the DNS records guide to check details and TTL recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will your website or email go down during the move?

No. When you keep nameservers unchanged, your site and email continue to resolve; you only update DNS after the domain transfer completes.

How long will the domain transfer take?

Most transfers finish in 57 days. You can approve emails quickly to reduce waiting, and some registrars let you expedite the release.

Can you transfer a just-registered or recently changed domain?

Generally, no. There is a 60day ICANN lock after new registration or registrant change unless the losing registrar offers an opt out.

What about your existing email address account?

You preserve MX records during the process. After the domain transfer, you can keep current hosting or switch to WordPress.com email routing.

How much will your domain transfer cost?

For .com, you usually pay a standard fee that includes one year added to registration; prices vary by registrar, and you often gain free privacy.

Should you transfer or just connect the domain?

If you want centralized billing, ownership, and support, you transfer. If you prefer your current registrar, you connect via nameservers or A records.

Key Takeaways

• You move your registered name from your current registrar to WordPress.com using an authorization code and email approvals.
• You keep nameservers unchanged during the domain transfer to protect uptime; you change DNS only after the process finishes.
• Most transfers take 57 days and add one year to registration, giving you value while you consolidate domains and renewals.
• You avoid the 60day lock, privacy blocks, and WHOIS errors by checking contacts and unlocking before you request the move.
• You import DNS at WordPress.com and verify pages and email to ensure zero downtime after the domain transfer.

When you plan ahead, you make your domain transfer simple, secure, and fast. You verify contacts, unlock the domain, retrieve the code, start the request at WordPress.com, and confirm emails.

Ready to move your domain without the risk or downtime? Call Strategic Websites and we’ll guide you through each step of your WordPress.com transfer quickly and securely.