How do I get my Authorization Code? (also called an “EPP Key” or “Auth Code”)

An Authorization Code (also called an Auth Code or EPP Key) is required when transferring domains from one registrar to another.  The transfer Authorization Code is created when the domain is first registered and can be obtained from the current Registrar for your domain.  If you have a .DE domain name, an Authorization Code is only valid for 30 days once it’s created or changed.

If your domain is currently registered with Tucows through one of our Domain Providers, your transfer Authorization Code can be found in the Domain Extras section of the Domain Management Interface.

Additionally, your Domain Provider can email the transfer Authorization Code (as well as the domain’s username and password) to the Administrative Contact email address on file.  You can see the current Administrative Contact email address for the domain by performing a WHOIS lookup.

Related Questions

• How can I update my Administrative Contact email address?

  Related Topics: Transfer of Expired Domains, Transfer to Another Domain Provider, Transfer to Another Domain Registrar

  Detailed answer
   
  The Administrative Contact email address is the most powerful email address

  on a domain name.  It is important to keep this up to date at all times.

  The Administrative Contact email can be updated through the Domain Management  Interface.

  If the Admin Contact email address is no longer valid, you should first

  contact your Provider to see if they have a recovery method for your

  username and password.

  If your Provider is unable to assist you, or if you are not able to get in

  touch with them, the Registrant that is listed in the whois data may fax us

  directly, requesting that the address be updated.  Please be sure to check

  who is listed as the registrant by looking up your domain’s contact information using our WHOIS lookup utility.

  The fax requirements are dependent on the type of domain you have, often referred to as the Top Level Domain (TLD) type. The website http://www.adminchange.com provides full details on fax requirements and specific forms that you will need send.

  The Administrative Contact email address is the most powerful email address on a domain name;  it’s important to keep this up to date at all times. The Administrative Contact email can be updated through the Domain Management  Interface.

  If the Administrative Contact email address is no longer valid, you should contact your Domain Provider to see if they have an alternative recovery method to recover your username and password.

   

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• How can I Lock or Unlock my domain name?

  Related Topics: Transfer of Expired Domains, Transfer to Another Domain Provider, Transfer to Another Domain Registrar

  Detailed answer
   
  Domain Locking is designed to prevent domains from being transferred without the Domain Owner’s express consent.  It also prevents nameserver (DNS) changes.

  If Domain Locking is enabled for your domain, you will need to **contact your Domain Provider to have them remove the lock.

  Your Provider is able to lock and unlock your domain.  Please contact them directly to make any changes.

  Domain locking is designed to prevent domains from being transferred without the Domain Owner’s express consent.  It also prevents name server (DNS) changes.

  Your Domain Provider can lock and unlock your domain.  Please contact them directly to make any changes.

  In some cases the option to lock and unlock a domain is within the Domain Extras section of the Domain Management Interface.

   

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• How can I speed up my domain name transfer?

  Related Topics: Transfer to Another Domain Provider, Transfer to Another Domain Registrar, Transfer to Tucows/OpenSRS

  Detailed answer
   

  All transfers that are approved by the “gaining Registrar” (the new Registrar who submitted the transfer for the domain) will auto-approve (“AUTO-ACK”) itself after 5 days for most types of domain names.

  In some cases the “losing Registrar” (the Registrar the domain is transferring-away from)  will send an email to the Administrative Contact for the domain name allowing them to approve the transfer-away.  Once the confirmation with the “losing Registrar” is approved, the domain name will have officially transferred to the new “gaining Registrar” who started the transfer.

  Due to delays involved in processing completed domain name transfers, the final approval may not be recognized by the “gaining Registrar” until 24 hours have passed.

   

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• Why can’t I transfer my domain name?

  Related Topics: Transfer Status, Transfer to Another Domain Provider, Transfer to Another Domain Registrar, Transfer to Tucows/OpenSRS

  Detailed answer
   

  If you wish to transfer your domain name to another domain name company, there are some factors which can either delay or prohibit the transfer from happening.  All issues have a solution, but some issues may take some time to resolve.

  Brief list of issues affecting domain name transfers

  1. Domain is 60 days or older: Domains must have existed for 60 days or longer.  New domain registrations cannot be transferred until this time has passed.
  2. Domain Unlocked: The domain name must not have a Lock on it.  You must contact the current domain name registration company for the domain name to have locks removed.
  3. Domain Authorization Code: For most types of domains, you require a specific Authorization Code for the domain name to authorize the transfer.  The current domain name registration company can provide this to you, however it may also be obtained within their web-based interfaces online.  If this domain is with Tucows, you can learn how to obtain the Authorization Code through this page.
  4. Valid Administrative Contact: For most types of domains, you must have a valid and functional Administrative Contact email address to receive the transfer confirmation notification emails.  It’s a good idea to turn off your anti-SPAM email filters while the domain transfers in order to receive these emails.  If this email address is invalid and no longer works, you will need to update it through your current domain name registration company.  If the domain name is with Tucows, the update can be accomplished through this page.

  This list applies to .COM, .NET, and .ORG domain names but also apply to many other types of domain names.   Specific issues for other types of domain names are contained within the Transfer of Domain Registrations section of this website.

  Please note that it takes some time for a domain name to transfer.  This is outlined further in the article titled How can I speed up my domain name transfer?

   

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• How can I transfer my .DE domains from one Domain Provider to another?

  Related Topics: .DE, Transfer to Another Domain Provider, Transfer to Tucows/OpenSRS

  Detailed answer
   

  Simply contact a Domain Provider and request that they submit a transfer for you domain.

  Please note that the .DE registry (DENIC) requires that the Registrar you are transferring your domain to must receive, via fax, a written authorization of the transfer request from the domain’s Registrant (Administrative Contact).  This authorization must be kept on record should the Registry request it in the case of a dispute.

  This mean you will need to supply your Domain Provider with the faxed request prior to the transfer being initiated.

  Unlike .COM, .NET and .ORG, which have a sixty (60) day post registration transfer hold restriction, transfers in and out are not restricted to any type of hold period.   This means that a transfer can essentially be performed at any time after a domain is registered.

  DENIC also imposes a non-refundable transfer fee on each transfer request, regardless of whether the transfer was successful or not.

   

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