A domain transfer that's stuck in "pending" or taking longer than you expected is almost always caused by something on the sending side of the transfer: a lock that hasn't been removed, an approval email that was never actioned, or contact details that are out of date. It's rarely a sign that anything has gone wrong on your part.
How long a transfer should normally take
Transfer times vary by the type of domain. A transfer can complete in as little as a few hours if the previous registrar releases it early, but it can also sit in a waiting period of several days while the registry processes the approval. Country-specific domains, including .co.ke, follow their own registry's process and timeline, which can differ from international domains like .com or .net.
If your transfer has been sitting with no change in status for longer than that, it's worth working through the checks below before assuming something has failed.
Common reasons a transfer gets stuck
- The domain is still locked for transfers at your previous registrar (sometimes called a "registrar lock" or "transfer lock").
- The WHOIS or account contact email on file at your previous registrar is outdated, so the transfer approval request never reached you.
- The domain was registered, or last transferred, within the past 60 days. Many registries won't allow another transfer until that window has passed.
- The authorization code (EPP code) entered was incorrect, expired, or has already been regenerated since you copied it.
- There's an unpaid balance or the domain itself has expired at your previous registrar, which blocks the release.
- The approval email arrived but went to a spam or junk folder and was never actioned within the response window.
What to check and do
- Log in to your ZIPROF client area and check the order or ticket for the domain to see its current transfer status.
- Confirm with your previous registrar that the domain is unlocked for transfer and that there's no outstanding balance on it.
- Check the email address listed in the domain's WHOIS or account contact details, and search that inbox (including spam/junk) for a transfer approval request.
- Double check the authorization/EPP code you submitted. Codes can expire or change if the domain was touched again after you first copied it, so request a fresh one if you're unsure.
- If the domain is confirmed unlocked, paid up, and past the 60 day restriction but the transfer still hasn't moved, contact your previous registrar's support directly. They're the only ones who can approve or release it from their side.
- If none of the above resolves it, open a support ticket with ZIPROF and include the domain name and your order number so the transfer can be followed up on ZIPROF's side of the request.
A transfer can't be forced through from the receiving side. Both the previous registrar and the registry have to process their part of it, so the fastest way to unstick one is almost always a direct call or ticket to whoever currently holds the domain.
If you're not sure where to find your authorization code in the first place, see What Is an EPP/Authorization Code and How Do You Get One?. For anything that needs ZIPROF to step in, you can open and track a support ticket from your client area.