Updated 28 August 2026
To transfer a domain to a Nigerian registrar like HostNowNow: unlock the domain at your current registrar, request the authorization (EPP) code, then start the transfer at hostnownow.com/domain-transfer and pay the transfer fee, which includes a one-year renewal. Transfers typically complete in 5-7 days. Note the ICANN rule: a domain cannot transfer within 60 days of registration or a previous transfer.
Before you start
At your current registrar, prepare three things:
- Disable the registrar/transfer lock on the domain.
- Temporarily disable WHOIS privacy if the registrar requires it during transfers.
- Request the authorization code (also called EPP or transfer code) - it usually arrives by email.
What happens during the transfer
After you submit the transfer and pay, the losing registrar has up to five days to release the domain (many release sooner or instantly if you approve their confirmation email). Your website and email keep working throughout - the nameservers do not change unless you change them. The transfer adds one year to your existing expiry date, so no time is lost.
Why move to Naira billing
Renewals stop tracking the USD exchange rate, you pay with local methods, and Nigerian businesses get VAT invoices. You also get local support hours and .ng family expertise that foreign registrars lack.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a domain transfer take?
- Typically 5-7 days. It completes faster if you approve the confirmation email from your current registrar.
- Will my website go down during the transfer?
- No. Nameservers and DNS records are untouched by the transfer itself, so your site and email keep working.
- I don't have the EPP code yet - can I still start?
- Yes. On HostNowNow you can pay for the transfer first and send the EPP code to support later; the transfer starts once the code arrives.
- Why is my transfer rejected?
- The most common causes: the domain is still locked, the EPP code is wrong, or the domain was registered/transferred less than 60 days ago (ICANN blocks transfers in that window).