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Domains - Transfer-In Process

Transferring your domain into Chat To Clients CRM lets you manage registration, renewal, DNS, and product connections (email, sites, client portals) all in one place. This overview of domain transfer explains the full transfer-in workflow, including eligibility, step-by-step instructions, and troubleshooting.

Note: Domain transfer-in may not be enabled on all accounts. If you do not see the option for domain transfer, please contact support to have it enabled.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is Domain Transfer-In


Domain Transfer-In is a built-in Chat To Clients CRM feature that allows users to move domain ownership and management from third-party registrars (such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.) into the Chat To Clients CRM platform. This simplifies your workflow by letting you purchase, transfer, renew, and manage DNS records from within your location. The Domains page acts as your centralized dashboard for all domain activity, improving visibility and control.


When you initiate a domain transfer-in, Chat To Clients CRM guides you through a 5-step process—starting with domain entry and ending with approval from your current registrar. The system automatically checks transfer eligibility, allows DNS record import or review, and ensures a secure finalization using an EPP (authorization) code. Once complete, the transferred domain integrates instantly with your websites, funnels, client portals, and email systems—all within Chat To Clients CRM.

Key Benefits of Domain Transfer‑In


Setup & Prerequisites


Before you start, confirm that your domain meets industry requirements and is ready for domain transfer:


How to Enable Domain Purchase (Agency Settings)


  1. Switch to Agency View by clicking the location dropdown at the top-left corner of your screen and selecting Agency.



  2. Click on Settings.



  3. Navigate to Company → scroll down to Domain Purchase.
     

  4. Toggle the setting ON to activate domain purchasing functionality across the platform.

How to Enable Domain Purchase for Sub-Accounts


  1. Go to agency Settings



  2. Click on Domain Purchase.

  3. Enable domain purchasing individually for sub-accounts that will use the Domain Transfer-In feature.

How to Use the Domain Transfer-In Feature


Step 1: Start Transfer


  1. In the selected sub-account, click on Settings.



  2. Go to Domains & URL Redirects > Domains.



  3. If the domain already exists as external, click Transfer-In.



  4. To transfer a new domain, click the Transfer-In Domain button.



  5. Or click on the Purchase/Transfer Domain button.



  6. Enter the domain name you want to transfer and click the Continue button.



Step 2: Eligibility Check


  1. The system runs an eligibility check to confirm ICANN requirements. If the domain is eligible for transfer you can continue with the transfer process.

  2. During the Eligibility Check, Chat To Clients CRM verifies whether your domain qualifies to be transferred into the platform. The system evaluates both registrar-level rules and technical readiness. If the domain is eligible for transfer you can continue with the transfer process. When a domain is eligible for transfer you can see the

    • Domain Name
    • Current Domain Registrar
    • Current expiration and new expiration (extended by 1 year)
    • Applicable fee for the extension of expiry date.

  3. Make sure you have access to your current registrar before proceeding.



  4. A domain is not eligible for transfer when:

    • Its current registrar is not supported.
    • It has been previously purchased internally.
    • It’s TLD is not supported.
    • It has been purchased or transferred in last 60 days
    • It has an EPP status that does not allow for transfers (eg, pendingDelete, redemptionPeriod, serverHold etc)
    • The transfer would result in the term of the domain exceeding the maximum allowed term
    • Domain extension is not supported.
    • If DNSSEC is enabled for the domain, Chat To Clients CRM displays a specific notice explaining that DNSSEC must be disabled before the transfer can continue. This replaces the generic transfer-unavailable message for this particular transfer blocker and gives you a clear action to resolve it.

      Use the help link in the notice for instructions on disabling DNSSEC with your current provider.

      After DNSSEC is disabled, allow up to 48 hours for the change to take effect before checking the domain's transfer eligibility again.


  5. In these cases, the Continue button will be disabled, and a relevant error message will explain why the domain cannot be transferred at this time.



Step 3: Review and Save DNS Records


Note: Before transferring your domain (e.g., from GoDaddy or Namecheap), review and replicate all DNS records from your current provider. This prevents downtime for your website, email, and other services.


Users can choose between two methods to retrieve your DNS records by:

Note: Your domain registrar and DNS provider can be different if you’ve changed the nameservers where you bought your domain. For example, if you bought your domain on GoDaddy but pointed it to Cloudflare by updating the nameservers, then Cloudflare is now managing your DNS. In that case, you’ll need to log in to Cloudflare to access your DNS records (zone file).


1. Upload DNS Zone File


This method is recommended if you want to import all DNS records from your current DNS provider without missing any of the existing records. This file contains all your domain’s DNS entries including A, CNAME, TXT, MX, and other record types.

To get the DNS Zone file from your current DNS provider:

  1. Login into your current DNS provider or where you purchased your domain originally.

  2. Go to DNS settings of the domain you want to transfer

  3. Locate the option to export DNS zone/records file

  4. In case you can’t find such option, reach out to your current DNS provider or registrar’s support to get it.

Note: Go to your registrar below to follow step by step process:

GoDaddy - Learn about how to upload zone files from GoDaddy HERE.

Cloudflare - Learn about how to upload zone files from Cloudflare HERE.

NameCheap - Currently, Namecheap does not offer a downloadable zone file, so you may need to recreate the records manually or reach out to support to access the records. Link to manually extract the records HERE.

IONOS-  Domain Exports , Cloud DNS , API How-Tos



2. Auto Scan DNS Records


Note: Your domain registrar and DNS provider can be different if you’ve updated the nameserver records at your registrar. For example, if you purchased your domain from GoDaddy but pointed it to Cloudflare by changing the nameservers, then Cloudflare becomes your DNS provider. In that case, you’ll need to log in to Cloudflare to view and compare your DNS records.




Reviewing DNS Records


Note: Manually cross-check scanned DNS records against those at your DNS host/registrar. Missing entries can cause website or email outages after transfer—review and add any that weren’t captured.


  1. Once records are retrieved, you can now review your DNS records. In the DNS table shown you can:

    • View all DNS entries in a table format, categorized by record type (e.g., A, CNAME, TXT, MX).

    • Add new records by clicking “Add Record”.

    • Edit or delete individual records as needed.

    • Search records using any field (name, type, value).

  2. After reviewing, check the Confirmation box and click on Continue.




Step 4: Finalize Transfer


The Finalize Transfer step is where you complete the authorization process to move your domain from your current registrar (like GoDaddy, Namecheap, IONOS, etc.) to Chat To Clients CRM. This step ensures that your domain and related services continue working smoothly after the transfer.


On the Finalize Transfer screen, you will:

  1. Log into your current registrar (where you originally registered the domain)

  2. Disable DNSSEC & Whois Privacy

    1. Before initiating a domain transfer, it is important to disable DNSSEC and remove Whois privacy protection from your current registrar. General Instructions (the details can vary):

      1. Log in to your current registrar account.
      2. Go to DNS or Domain Settings.
      3. Find the option for DNSSEC and disable it.
      4. If Whois Privacy Protection is enabled, turn it off.
      5. Save changes

        Important: After you disable DNSSEC with your current provider, it may take up to 48 hours for the change to take effect. If the domain still appears ineligible for transfer, wait for the change to propagate before checking the transfer again.


    2. GoDaddy: Disabling DNSSEC and Removing Whois Privacy Note: It may take a few minutes for the DNSSEC record to be fully removed. You’ll see a confirmation on GoDaddy once the setting is updated.

    3. NameCheap: Disabling DNSSEC and Removing Whois Privacy

    4. IONOS: Disabling DNSSEC and Removing Whois Privacy

  3. Unlock your domain and request authorization code (EPP code)

    1. Before transferring your domain, it must be unlocked, and you’ll need an authorization code (also called an EPP or transfer code) from your current registrar. General Instructions (the details can vary):

      1. Log in to your current registrar account (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, IONOS).

      2. Go to your domain management or domain settings section.

      3. Look for the Domain Lock or Registrar Lock option.

      4. Disable or turn off the lock to unlock the domain.

      5. Once unlocked, locate the option to get the authorization code (may be labeled EPP code, Transfer Code, or AuthInfo).

      6. The code may either be displayed on screen or sent to your registered email.

    2. GoDaddy: You can read in detail about transferring your domain out of GoDaddy HERE.

    3. Namecheap: You can read in detail about transferring your domain out of Namecheap HERE. Note: Make sure WhoisGuard is disabled before requesting the auth code.

    4. IONOS: You can read in detail about transferring your domain out of Ionos HERE.

  4. Submit the transfer and complete payment.When the Confirm and Finalize Transfer button is clicked, we will:

    • Validate domain unlock status, auth code and for any other registry level statuses.

    • If the domain is valid for transfer, charge the wallet for the fee.

    • Submit the transfer request




Step 5: Approve In-Progress Transfer


Once you’ve submitted your domain transfer request, the final step is to approve the transfer at your current registrar. Until you do that, the transfer stays in a pending state and won’t complete.


Why Approval Is Required


Domain transfers require explicit confirmation from your current registrar (such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or IONOS) to protect against unauthorized changes. You must manually approve the transfer either through your email inbox or your registrar’s dashboard.

If no action is taken, the transfer may auto-approve after 5–7 days, depending on the registrar’s policy.



How to Approve the Transfer at Your Registrar


Here’s how to approve the transfer depending on who your registrar is:

GoDaddy

Namecheap: Transfer a domain out of Namecheap.


IONOS: Domain Transfer Out of Ionos


After Transfer Approval


Once you approve the transfer:


If the Transfer Is Rejected



Your transfer can be rejected if:


When this happens:


Step 6: After the Transfer


Common Issues & Troubleshooting


Frequently Asked Questions


Q: How much does transferring in a domain cost?

You’ll be charged for a 1-year renewal, added to your existing expiration date.


Q: Can I transfer in all domain extensions?

Most common TLDs (.com, .net, .org, etc.) are supported. Certain country-code TLDs may not be.


Q: What if I want to transfer out later?

You can unlock your domain and obtain an Auth code to transfer out to another registrar (see [Domain Transfer Out guide]).


Q: What if some DNS records are missing after auto-scan?

Always manually cross-check the scanned records with your current DNS provider. Auto-scanning might miss some records. You can edit, delete, or add records before finalizing the transfer.


Q: What if my nameservers are managed by someone else (e.g., Cloudflare), but the domain is with GoDaddy?

Then your DNS provider is Cloudflare even if your registrar is GoDaddy. When transferring the domain, your DNS setup will still be managed at Cloudflare unless you switch nameservers post-transfer.


Q: What if my registrar and DNS provider are different?

Then you'll need to log in to your DNS provider (e.g., Cloudflare) to export or review DNS records. The registrar only holds the domain, not the DNS settings.


Q: How long does it take after I finalize the transfer?

Once submitted, transfers typically complete within 1-5 days depending on your registrar. Some domains may complete faster if approved manually.


Q: I don’t see the option to unlock my domain. What should I do?

Some registrars hide this setting under “Security” or “Transfer Settings.” If it’s not visible, search their help center or contact their support.


Q: What if my auth code is wrong?

You’ll see an error. Double-check with your registrar and make sure the domain is also unlocked.


Q: Will transferring my domain cause downtime?

Not if DNS records are accurately reviewed and migrated before the transfer. Always cross-check.


Q: Can I transfer my domain back to another registrar later?

Yes but typically, you’ll need to wait 60 days after the last transfer, per ICANN rules.


Q: Will transferring my domain cause downtime?

Not if DNS records are accurately reviewed and migrated before the transfer. Always cross-check.

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Last updated Tue, 15 Sep, 2026 at 7:42 AM