.uk transfers move to authorisation codes on 9 February 2027
Moving a .uk domain to a new registrar will soon work much like moving a .com: you will ask your current registrar for a code and give it to the new one. Nominet has set the switch for Tuesday 9 February 2027.
How it works today
At the moment a .uk domain moves to another registrar when its "IPS tag" is changed. You find out the new registrar's tag and ask your current registrar (or Nominet) to change it. This is a "push" transfer: the losing side sends the domain. Nominet's FAQ describes the transition.
What changes on 9 February 2027
Nominet's registrar guidance and its new UK Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy set out the main changes:
- Pull transfers with a code. The new registrar requests the domain using a Transfer Authorisation Code (TAC), sometimes called an auth code or EPP code.
- Five days to provide it. Under the policy your current registrar must give you the code, and remove any registrar locks, within five days of your request, at no charge.
- Codes expire. An unused code expires after 14 days.
- Renewal optional. A transfer can include a renewal of one to ten years, or go through without one if the new registrar supports that.
- New terms. Nominet's "tags" become "accreditations", and port 43 WHOIS is being replaced by RDAP for lookups.
What to do
If you are in the middle of selling or buying a .uk name, nothing changes before 9 February 2027: transfers still use IPS tags until then. After that date, ask your registrar for the transfer code instead. As with any domain sale, the buyer should only release payment once the name is in their own account. Our .uk transfer guide covers both processes.
Registrars may set their own processes and dates for the transition. If you have a transfer planned around February, check with your registrar first.
Sources
- Nominet – Preparing for standardisation (registrar information)
- Nominet – UK Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (PDF)
- Nominet – Standardisation FAQ
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