Transferring a domain to Rivervo

Transferring a domain moves its registration to Rivervo. It's different from just pointing DNS at us — a transfer changes who bills you for and owns the domain registration.

Before you start — prerequisites

• Your domain must be at least 60 days old. ICANN rules prevent transfers before this.
• It must not have been transferred in the last 60 days. Same rule.
• Privacy protection (Whois privacy) must be OFF. Some registrars auto-disable it during transfer, but many don't. Check at your current registrar.
• The domain must not be locked. "Registrar lock" / "Transfer lock" must be disabled.
• You need the authorization code (EPP code). Request this from your current registrar — they must provide it within 5 business days.

The transfer process

1. Prepare at the losing registrar

Log in to your current registrar:

• Turn off transfer lock (also called "registrar lock").
• Disable Whois privacy.
• Request the authorization / EPP code. They'll email it to the registered contact address.

2. Initiate the transfer at Rivervo

• Log in to the Rivervo dashboard.
• Go to Domains → Transfer in.
• Enter the domain name.
• Paste the EPP code.
• Confirm billing for 1 year (transfers include a 1-year extension at Rivervo's standard rate).
• Approve the charge.

3. Email approvals

Both registrars send confirmation emails to the registered owner's email address:

• The losing registrar asks you to confirm release — click the link in that email.
• Some TLDs also require confirmation at the gaining registrar (us) — click that too.

If you miss the losing registrar's email, the transfer auto-completes after 5 days — but approving speeds it up to about 24 hours.

4. Wait

Typical timeline:

• .com, .net, .org: 5–7 days total, faster if you approve promptly.
• Country code TLDs (.uk, .de, .fr, etc.): varies — sometimes 2 days, sometimes 2 weeks.
• New TLDs (.app, .dev, etc.): usually 5–7 days.

During the transfer, your domain keeps working. Websites, email, everything — zero downtime if you don't change anything else during the transfer window.

What about my DNS records?

Transfers move registration, not DNS. If your domain uses external nameservers (Cloudflare, Route 53, another host), the DNS keeps working through the transfer — nothing changes.

If your domain was using the losing registrar's DNS, you have two options:

• Export your DNS records first, then import them to Rivervo's DNS after transfer. Slightly annoying but safe.
• Point the domain at Cloudflare before starting the transfer. Cloudflare is free for DNS hosting and gives you continuity regardless of registrar.

Pricing

Transfers cost the same as a 1-year registration at Rivervo's published rate for that TLD. They include a 1-year extension — so if your domain had 4 months left, after transfer it has 1 year and 4 months.

Common issues

• "EPP code is invalid" — usually a typo. Copy-paste directly from the email.
• "Domain is locked" — you missed unlocking it at the losing registrar.
• "Confirmation email never arrived" — check spam. If it's really gone, contact the losing registrar's support.
• Whois privacy still enabled — losing registrar didn't auto-disable. Disable manually and retry.
• Transfer stuck at "pending admin approval" — this is the losing registrar's delay. There's a 5-day auto-release built into ICANN rules; it'll clear on its own.

Can I cancel a transfer in progress?

Yes, within the first 5 days. In the Rivervo dashboard, go to Domains → Pending transfers → Cancel. Cancellation refunds in full. After day 5, the transfer completes and you'd have to transfer back out to undo it.

For complex cases — premium domains, TLDs with weird rules, domains linked to trademark disputes — open a ticket before starting and we'll walk you through your specific situation.