Domain transfer policy reform advances toward final ICANN’s board approval
The current review process, which began in 2021, represents the most extensive review of the Transfer Policy to date. The working group’s Final Report includes forty-seven recommendations that address a wide range of issues.
ICANN has completed the public comment period on the Final Report of the Transfer Policy Review Policy Development Process Working Group. The report, now closed for public input, has been forwarded to the ICANN Board for formal consideration.
This review process focused on revising the Transfer Policy, which regulates the process by which domain name holders transfer their domains between registrars. The Transfer Policy, originally known as the Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy, was first introduced in 2004 to improve domain portability, giving registrants more freedom to choose providers offering better services or pricing. Over the years, the policy has been the subject of multiple reviews and updates to address emerging issues and improve clarity.
In this latest review cycle, the working group delivered a Final Report containing forty-seven policy recommendations. These cover a range of topics, including procedures for authorising transfers, the management of transfer-related authentication codes, emergency actions, dispute resolutions, and procedures for reversing problematic transfers. The working group’s efforts included previous rounds of public comment, with feedback carefully considered and incorporated into the final version.
Following approval by the Generic Names Supporting Organisation Council, the ICANN Board invited the broader community to provide additional feedback during a dedicated public comment period, which ran from 28 April to 16 June 2025. During this time, ICANN received eleven submissions from various stakeholders, including registrars, business groups, civil society representatives, and individual contributors.
Comments submitted reflected a range of views. Some stakeholders praised the report for improving security and streamlining procedures, while others expressed concerns about specific recommendations. For instance, some questioned the removal of certain protections related to disputed changes of registrant, while others called for a more transformative approach to domain transfers, including suggestions for alternative systems that could offer better efficiency and transparency.
Now, the ICANN Board faces the task of reviewing both the report and the public comments. Under ICANN’s bylaws, the Board is obligated to adopt the recommendations unless a two-thirds majority determines that doing so would not be in the best interest of the ICANN community or the organisation itself. If the Board approves the recommendations, the next step will be implementation. This phase would involve technical adjustments, updates to contractual agreements, and coordination with registries and registrars to ensure the new rules are applied effectively.
