If a transfer is refused with a message about the domain being too new or recently transferred, you have hit the 60-day lock. It is one of the most common reasons a transfer fails. The lock comes from ICANN policy, so it applies at every registrar for generic domains, and no registrar or support team can lift it early for a new registration or a recent transfer.
When the 60-day lock applies
| Trigger | Lock | Can it be avoided? |
|---|---|---|
| New registration | No transfer to another registrar for 60 days from the created date | No |
| Transfer to a new registrar | No further transfer for 60 days after the transfer completes | No |
| Change of Registrant (owner name, organisation or email changed) | No transfer for 60 days after the change | Only if the registrar offers an opt-out and you chose it before the change |
Updating other details, such as the phone number or postal address, does not start the lock.
Why the lock exists
The lock is an anti-fraud measure. It stops someone who has stolen a domain, or paid for it with a stolen card, from moving it quickly through several registrars, which would make recovering it much harder.
How to check when the lock ends
- Look up the domain at lookup.icann.org.
- Find the created date (for a new registration) or the date of the last transfer or registrant change. For transfers, the updated date and a
transferPeriodstatus give a clue, and your previous registrar's emails will show the exact date. - Add 60 days. From that date the transfer can go through, as long as nothing else blocks it.
For a domain in your FimuroHost account, you can also check the registration date on the domain's Overview in Domains → My Domains.
What you can do in the meantime
You do not need to transfer a domain to use it with FimuroHost hosting. While you wait:
- Point the domain to FimuroHost by changing its nameservers at your current registrar. See Point a Domain Registered Elsewhere to FimuroHost.
- Set up your website and email. Everything works exactly as it would after a transfer.
- Transfer the domain later, when the lock ends, to keep billing in one place.
Avoiding the owner-change lock
- If you plan to transfer a domain and change its owner details, transfer first, then update the details at the new registrar.
- When updating contact information, look for an option to opt out of the 60-day transfer lock. Tick it only if you are going to transfer soon and trust the change you are making.
Coming changes
ICANN has been reviewing its transfer rules. The proposed changes include shortening the lock after registration and after a transfer to 30 days, and removing the lock after an owner change. These changes only apply once ICANN finalises them and registrars implement them. Until then, plan around the 60-day rules above, and remember that the error message from the registrar always reflects the rules currently in force.
Country-code domains
Extensions such as .io, .me or .bd are run under their own national rules. Some have no 60-day lock, some have different periods, and .bd domains cannot be transferred to FimuroHost at all.
Need help?
If you are not sure whether your domain is still locked, open a support ticket from your client area (choose the Support department and include your domain name), or message us on WhatsApp at 01818160926. We are happy to check your domain for you.
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Written by
FimuroHost Team
Technical Writer