change of registrant: definition

A change of registrant is a change to the details of the person or organization that holds a domain name A readable internet name made of labels separated by dots. Full definition of domain name. It happens when a domain is sold or given away, and also when the same holder changes its name, organization or email address. For gTLD generic top-level domain A top-level domain not tied to a country, run under ICANN contracts. Full definition of gTLD such as .com, both sides must confirm it, and it can stop the domain from moving to another registrar A company that registers domain names for customers with the registry. Full definition of registrar for 60 days.

What a change of registrant is

As of October 2026, the rule in force is Section II of ICANN Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers The nonprofit that coordinates the global DNS and gTLD policy. Full definition of ICANN’s Transfer Policy, in the version updated on 21 February 2024 and mandatory since 21 August 2025. It defines a change of registrant as a “Material Change” to the registrant The person or organization that holds a domain name registration. Full definition of registrant’s name, organization or email address:

any change to the email address;
a change to the name or organization that is not merely a typo fix;
a change to the name or organization together with a new address or phone number.

A registrar may treat every name or organization change as material.

Updates made under a court order, after a UDRP Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy ICANN's out-of-court process for trademark disputes over domain names. Full definition of UDRP decision or in response to an abuse complaint fall outside the process. The registrar must refuse a change unless both parties properly authorized it, and also while a UDRP, URS Uniform Rapid Suspension System A fast procedure that suspends clearly infringing domains, mainly in new gTLDs. Full definition of URS or TDRP Transfer Dispute Resolution Policy ICANN's process for registrars to dispute a transfer that may have broken the rules. Full definition of TDRP case is pending, or if it knows of a court order prohibiting the change.

How it differs from a registrar transfer

In a registrar transfer, the domain moves to another registrar and the holder stays the same. In a change of registrant, the registrar stays the same and the holder’s details change. The two are linked by a lock, described below.

ccTLD country code top-level domain A top-level domain for a country or territory, usually two letters long. Full definition of ccTLD set their own rules: for .es, a change of holder (“transmisión”) and a change of registrar are separate procedures at Dominios.es, the registry The central database and system of a top-level domain, or loosely the organization that runs it. Full definition of registry brand of Red.es The Spanish public body that manages the .es domain through its unit Dominios.es. Full definition of Red.es, and Spain’s national plan requires the former holder’s approval for a voluntary transmisión before the data change.

The confirmation steps and who must approve

Under the current gTLD rules, the registrar:

Checks that nothing prevents the change, such as a dispute.
Obtains the new registrant’s explicit consent through a secure mechanism, and tells it that it must accept the registrar’s registration Obtaining the right to use a domain name for a set period. Full definition of registration agreement.
Obtains the prior registrant’s explicit consent through a secure mechanism, and may use any contact details on file, not only those published in RDDS Registration Data Directory Services ICANN's umbrella name for public lookup services for registration data, formerly WHOIS and now RDAP. Full definition of RDDS.
Processes the change within one day of both confirmations.
Notifies both parties before or within one day of the change, explaining the lock or the prior opt-out.

Each confirmation must arrive within a period the registrar sets, at most 60 days, through a secure mechanism such as an email, call or text message with a unique code.

Either party may act through a designated agent Someone a registrant authorizes to approve a change of registrant on its behalf. Full definition of designated agent: a person or company it explicitly authorizes to approve the change on its behalf. ICANN’s review of the policy found that reseller A business that sells domains using another registrar's accreditation. Full definition of reseller and registrars often use this role for registrants who, “at times unknowingly”, delegate it. Holders can check their registrar’s terms to see whether they have named one.

For .es, Dominios.es describes an ordinary procedure: the current holder or administrative contact and the new administrative contact are each notified by email and confirm in the Dominios.es control panel The one or three independent experts who decide a domain dispute. Full definition of panel, and the new contact also accepts the conditions. A special route, with supporting documents, covers inheritance, other universal successions and company successions.

The lock that may follow and how to avoid it

As of October 2026, after a change of registrant the registrar must apply a 60-day lock A 60-day period after certain domain events when a registrar transfer can be refused or blocked. Full definition of 60-day lock on transfers to another registrar. Registrars may offer an opt-out but are not obliged to, and the opt-out must come before the change is requested.

The policy gives two ways to avoid the lock: change registrar first and holder afterwards, or opt out beforehand where the registrar allows it.

Moving a domain between accounts at the same registrar

An internal transfer Moving a domain between customer accounts at the same registrar. Full definition of internal transfer, or account “push”, moves a domain from one customer account to another at the same registrar, so no registrar transfer takes place. Under ICANN’s rules, what counts is the registrant data, not the account: if the registrant’s name, organization or email changes, it is a change of registrant, with the steps and possible lock above; if only the account changes, it is not.

Example: selling a domain to a new owner

The holder of example.com sells it to a buyer who uses another registrar. The order matters:

Transfer first, as the policy advises: the seller moves the domain to the buyer’s registrar and the holder details are then changed there, with no 60-day lock in the way.
Change of registrant first. Both confirm at the seller’s registrar. Unless the seller opted out beforehand, the buyer cannot move the domain to another registrar for 60 days.

For a .es domain, the Transmisión de Dominio procedure above applies.

Adopted changes, not yet in force

On 7 June 2026, the ICANN Board ICANN's board of directors, which adopts policies and approves key decisions. Full definition of ICANN Board adopted the recommendations of the Transfer Policy Review ICANN process whose adopted but not yet implemented recommendations will change gTLD transfer rules. Full definition of Transfer Policy Review (resolution 2026.06.07.04). As of October 2026 they are not in force: ICANN lists the project as queued, with no effective date, and a separate Change of Registrant Data (CORD) Policy has yet to be drafted. Once implemented:

Confirmation by both parties and the 60-day lock will go.
The designated agent will disappear from the new policy.
The registrar will notify the holder within 24 hours, listing the fields changed and how to reverse an invalid change; if the email changed, the notice goes to the old address. Registrars may let holders opt out of these notices.
Adding or removing a privacy service run by the registrar or its affiliates will not count.
A 720-hour (30-day) lock will follow every registrar transfer, which can be lifted early, for example to complete a documented aftermarket The market where domain names that are already registered are bought and sold. Full definition of aftermarket purchase.

change of registrant