Is my Domain Eligible to Transfer to Squarespace?

If you have purchased a domain from another host or a domain registration company but would like to transfer that domain to Squarespace, that is usually not a problem. When you make a domain transfer, you’re able to manage domain settings and billing from just one Squarespace account.

This guide will quickly provide you with an overview of the domain eligibility for transferring a domain. Some domains cannot be transferred or require special conditions to make it happen.

What Accounts Can You Transfer a Domain to?

To start with, you’re able to transfer a domain that you’ve registered else to a trial site, a paid site, or the Squarespace account, even if you don’t have a site yet. Starting your domain transfer is an easy process that can be done with just a few clicks.

There are some things that you must make sure of before you start the process. The first thing is that you haven’t made a change to your domain contract recently. When you make a change to your domain contract, it can sometimes lock the domain for two months or 60 days. Therefore, check with the domain registry company if they’ve put a lock on the domain.

If you’re transferring your domain and the Top Level Domain (how the domain ends) has .ca, .co.uk, .com.au, .de, or .uk, then there are special requirements and exceptions that you need to review.

How Long does it take?

Domain transfer speeds can take anything from one day to closer to 2 weeks. It all depends on the company that currently manages your domain for you. You can often ask the current company with the domain how long it will take for your domain to be transferred.

Pricing and Billing

Transferring the domain to your Squarespace account does cost money. It can cost anything from $20 to $70 and this is based on the top-level domain. When you are completing the transfer you will also have to pay for one year’s domain registration.

From here there is no extra fee for the transfer. When you do make the transfer, you will keep the time remaining on the current deal you had on the domain and have an additional year that you pay for with Squarespace. So, if you’ve got 9 months left on the domain, you will have 21 months left on the account. There are some times when you might be eligible for a free year’s worth of registration. The domain will include the free WHOIS Privacy and SSL.

Ineligible Domains

There are some domains that cannot be transferred to Squarespace. For instance, you can’t transfer Registry Premium Domains. Nor can you transfer domains that have nine or more years remaining on their current registration. Subdomains can also not be transferred, you would need to transfer all the domains. You’re also not able to transfer domains that include the words Squarespace or sqsp.

Criteria for Domain Transfer Eligibility to Squarespace

Locked Domains and Transfer Restrictions

Before initiating a domain transfer to Squarespace, it is crucial to verify that the domain is not currently locked by your existing registrar. Domain locks are security measures that prevent unauthorized transfers, but they must be removed before a transfer can proceed.

Additionally, some domains may have been recently registered or transferred, which typically imposes a 60-day waiting period before another transfer can be initiated, as a part of ICANN regulations.

Top-Level Domain (TLD) Limitations

The eligibility for transferring a domain to Squarespace may also be influenced by its top-level domain (TLD). While Squarespace supports a wide range of TLDs, certain country-specific domains (.ca, .co.uk, .com.au, etc.) have unique requirements or may not be transferable at all.

It's advisable to consult Squarespace Troubleshooting and Issues or the Squarespace support documentation to understand if your domain’s TLD fits within the supported categories.

Expiration and Renewal Concerns

Domains approaching their expiration date may encounter difficulties with the transfer process. To ensure a smooth transfer, it’s recommended to initiate the transfer well before the domain’s expiry date, typically at least 15 days prior.

This buffer period allows for any unforeseen delays and prevents the domain from expiring mid-transfer, which could result in additional complications or the loss of the domain.

Advanced Preparations for Domain Transfer to Squarespace

Confirming Domain Ownership

Before attempting to transfer a domain to Squarespace, confirming that you are the listed owner of the domain is crucial. Ownership verification typically involves ensuring that your contact information is up to date in the domain's WHOIS records.

This step is vital for the transfer process, as Squarespace may require confirmation of ownership through email verification. Updating your contact details with your current registrar can help avoid any transfer delays.

Understanding DNS Settings Implications

Transferring your domain to Squarespace might affect your Domain Name System (DNS) settings, which could lead to downtime for your website or email service hosted elsewhere. Prior to initiating the transfer, understanding the implications of your DNS settings is essential.

It's recommended to document your current DNS settings and consult with Squarespace support on how to manage these settings post-transfer to minimize any service interruptions.

Anticipating Email Service Continuity

If your domain's email service is managed outside of Squarespace, it's important to anticipate how the transfer might impact your email continuity. Ensuring there is no disruption in email services involves checking with your email service provider about any specific steps that need to be taken before and after the domain transfer.

It might be necessary to update your email records in Squarespace to ensure a seamless transition and uninterrupted email service.

By addressing these considerations, you can ensure a smoother domain transfer process to Squarespace, reducing the likelihood of encountering common pitfalls associated with domain migration.

Eligibility Criteria for Transferring a Domain to Squarespace

To transfer a domain to Squarespace, your domain must meet several eligibility requirements. These criteria are designed to ensure that the transfer process can be completed smoothly and that Squarespace supports the domain's top-level domain (TLD).

Here are the key eligibility requirements for transferring a domain to Squarespace:

Supported TLD

Your domain must have a top-level domain (TLD) that Squarespace supports. Squarespace supports a wide range of TLDs, including common ones like .com, .net, .org, and many others.

Domain Age

The domain must be at least 60 days old. This is a standard requirement across most domain registrars and is mandated by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to prevent domain hijacking.

Registrar Lock

The domain must not be locked at the current registrar. Before you can transfer it, you must remove any registrar locks that prevent the domain from being transferred.

Authorization Code

You must obtain an authorization code (also known as an EPP code or transfer key) from your current registrar. This code is required to initiate the transfer process.

No Pending Transfers

The domain must not be in the middle of another transfer. If you've recently initiated a transfer to another registrar, you'll need to wait for that process to complete or cancel it before starting a transfer to Squarespace.

Valid Registration

The domain must have a valid registration that is not expiring soon. It’s recommended to transfer domains well before their expiration date to avoid any issues. Squarespace may require the domain to have more than 15 days before its expiration date at the time of transfer.

Whois Privacy

If your domain has WHOIS Privacy enabled, you may need to disable it before transferring, depending on the policies of your current registrar and Squarespace.

Contact Information

Ensure that the administrative contact information for your domain is up-to-date. You'll receive emails to this contact during the transfer process that require your response.

No Outstanding Issues

There should be no outstanding financial or legal issues with the domain that would prevent a transfer.

It's also good practice to check any additional, specific requirements directly with Squarespace or consult their support documentation since policies and supported TLDs can change. Squarespace provides detailed guidance and tools to help with the transfer process, ensuring you meet all necessary criteria before initiating a transfer.

Conclusion: Is My Domain Eligible to Transfer to Squarespace?

There are many domains that are eligible to be transferred to Squarespace. You just need to check that you don’t meet certain aspects that are rarely found by small businesses.