Quick answer
How do I transfer a .dev domain?
Transfer a .dev the same way as any gTLD: unlock it, take the auth code, and file the request at TransferOffshore. The current registrar has 5 days to answer, and a year is added. The .dev zone is HTTPS-only, so leave DNS untouched during the move. As of 19 October 2026, the .dev transfer costs $13.49, billed once, paid in crypto.
Start your .dev transfer
Popular extensions
- .dev $13.49
.dev transfer facts
| Registry | Google Registry (Charleston Road Registry Inc.) |
|---|---|
| How the domain moves | Auth code (AuthInfo) |
| Year added by the transfer | Yes, +1 year under ICANN's gTLD rules |
| Code validity | No fixed lifetime yet; the future TAC will last 14 days |
| Lock after registration | 60 days, as a refusal ICANN permits |
| Typical time | Up to 5 calendar days |
| WHOIS privacy | Free |
.dev price per year
| Extension | 1st year | Renewal | Transfer | WHOIS privacy | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .dev | $13.49 | $13.49 | $13.49 | Free | HTTPS required |
What happens when a .dev domain changes registrar?
Developers like .dev for documentation, demos and package homepages. Those sites often sit on static hosts and rely on DNS records more than on the registrar.
The registry step is the gTLD standard. Our research did not check .dev on its own, so this page relies on ICANN's Transfer Policy, which binds every gTLD registrar. That means an auth code, a five-day answer window, and one year added within the 10-year cap.
The .dev peculiarity is HTTPS. Like .app, the extension is on the browsers' HSTS preload list. A .dev site without a valid certificate does not open at all. A registrar change leaves your certificate alone; a DNS change may not.
So the safe order is simple. Transfer first with the nameservers kept, wait for Completed in My domains, and only then move DNS if you want to.
What should you check before moving a .dev domain?
- List every DNS record a platform depends on: CNAMEs to static hosts, TXT records for domain verification, MX for mail.
- Check how the certificate renews. HTTP challenges need the site reachable; DNS challenges need API access to the DNS host.
- If the domain is under 60 days old, expect a possible refusal.
- Turn off DNSSEC only if you also change nameservers.
What does a .dev transfer cost?
$13.49 for the .dev transfer, then $13.49/year to renew (all prices). The added year is included, under the gTLD rule that applies to .dev.
Who uses .dev domains?
Developers, open-source libraries, documentation sites and dev tools use .dev. Tip: transfer during a quiet week, not on a release day. If something goes wrong with DNS, you want time to fix it.
.dev transfer questions
Do I need a new certificate after a .dev transfer?
No. The certificate is issued for the domain name and served by your host. A registrar change does not invalidate it. You only need to act if you also move DNS and your renewal method depends on the old DNS provider.
Is the .dev transfer process different from .app?
No. Both are Google Registry gTLDs, both are HTTPS-only, and both follow ICANN's Transfer Policy. The auth code, the 5-day window and the added year are the same. Only the price differs.
My static host verified the .dev with a TXT record. Will it break?
Not while the record stays in the zone. Keep the current nameservers in the transfer form and the TXT record stays published. If you later move DNS, copy the record before you switch.
Sources for .dev (4)
- Transfer Policy (updated 21 February 2024) — ICANN (2026-10-19)
- Transfer Policy, 2016 text (sections I.A.3 and I.A.5) — ICANN (2026-10-19)
- HSTS preload and Google Registry extensions kb.porkbun.com/article/96-hsts-preload-and-google-registry — Porkbun knowledge base (2026-10-19)
- Root zone record for .dev — IANA (2026-10-19)