Understanding the 60-Day Transfer Lock

The 60-day transfer lock is an ICANN policy that temporarily prevents a domain from being transferred between registrars under certain conditions. Understanding this rule helps you plan transfers and avoid unexpected delays.

When Does the 60-Day Lock Apply?

The lock is triggered by the following events:

1. New Domain Registration

When you register a new domain, it cannot be transferred to another registrar for 60 days from the registration date.

2. Previous Transfer

After a domain is transferred from one registrar to another, a new 60-day lock period begins. You cannot transfer the domain again until this period expires.

3. Change of Registrant

If the registrant (owner) information on a domain is changed — such as the name, organization, or email — some registrars may impose a 60-day transfer lock. This is allowed under ICANN policy to protect against unauthorized ownership changes followed by immediate transfers.

Why Does This Lock Exist?

The 60-day lock serves as a security measure:

Prevents domain theft — A stolen domain cannot be quickly transferred away from the rightful owner.
Provides a recovery window — If a domain is registered or transferred by mistake, there is time to resolve the issue.
Protects registrant changes — Ensures domain ownership changes are legitimate before allowing a transfer.

How to Check If Your Domain Is Under a 60-Day Lock

Look up the domain’s creation or last transfer date via WHOIS.
Calculate whether 60 days have passed since that event.
Check your registrar’s dashboard — many registrars display the earliest eligible transfer date.

Can the 60-Day Lock Be Waived?

In most cases, the 60-day lock cannot be waived. It is an ICANN-mandated policy that registrars must enforce for gTLDs. However:

Registrant change locks may be optional at some registrars. During a change of registrant, both the old and new registrant may agree to opt out of the lock if the registrar supports this option.
ccTLDs follow their own rules and may not enforce a 60-day lock at all.

Planning Around the Lock

If you are planning a domain transfer:

Register early — If you know you will need to transfer the domain, account for the 60-day waiting period.
Avoid unnecessary registrant changes right before a planned transfer.
Check transfer eligibility in your registrar’s dashboard before initiating the process.

The 60-day lock is a brief waiting period that adds significant protection to your domain’s security.

Understanding the 60-Day Transfer Lock