There are several reasons why you may need to change the registered owner of a .ie domain. A business may have been sold, a sole trader may have formed a limited company, or a domain
may need to be transferred from one person or organisation to another.
Changing the registered owner—officially known as the registrant—is more than simply updating the contact details associated with the domain. It legally transfers the right to use the .ie domain to another person or organisation. Eirhost can manage the complete standard registrant-change process for an all-in charge of €75 plus VAT.
Registrant change versus registrar transfer
These are two different processes:
- A registrant change transfers the domain to a new legal owner.
- A registrar transfer moves the management of the domain from one domain provider to another without changing its owner.
If a business is being sold or a domain is being assigned to a different person or company, a registrant change is normally required.
What information is required?
The existing registrant must provide written authorisation confirming that they agree to transfer the domain to the proposed new registrant.
The new registrant must provide their full contact details, including:
- Full personal or registered company name
- Postal address
- Email address
- Telephone number
- New administrative contact details
The new registrant must also demonstrate that they meet the .ie registration requirements. For an Irish company or business, suitable evidence may include:
- Companies Registration Office number
- Registered Business Name number
- Irish VAT number
- Other evidence showing a genuine connection with Ireland
An individual may be asked to provide identification or evidence of residence. The exact requirements depend on the type of applicant and the circumstances surrounding the ownership change.
The registrant-change process
The standard process normally involves the following steps.
1. Authorisation from the existing registrant
The person or organisation currently registered as the domain owner must confirm in writing that they authorise the change.
2. Validation of the new registrant
We check the new registrant’s information and submit the required details for validation. The .ie Domain Registry may request additional documentation if the information supplied is insufficient.
3. Submission of the registrant change
Once the proposed registrant has been validated, we submit the formal request to update the domain’s registration record.
4. Completion and confirmation
Following approval, the domain is registered in the name of the new owner and the relevant administrative contact details are updated.
The process will usually take a few working days, provided that all requested information is supplied promptly.
How much does it cost?
Eirhost charges a standard all-in fee of €75 plus VAT for a straightforward .ie registrant change.
This includes:
- Initial eligibility review
- Checking the supplied documentation
- Registrant pre-validation
- Submission of the ownership-change request
- Updating the registrant and administrative contact details
- Routine communication with the .ie Domain Registry
- Confirmation when the change has been completed
The validation portion of the charge is non-refundable once the application has been submitted.
Our standard fee covers the normal registrant-change procedure. Unusual cases—such as dissolved companies, disputed ownership, an unavailable existing registrant or missing legal
documentation—may require additional work. Any additional charge will be explained and agreed before that work begins.
Can a registrant change be reversed?
A completed registrant change cannot simply be cancelled or reversed. Returning the domain to the previous owner would require a new registrant-change application, supporting documentation and another processing fee.
Both parties should therefore confirm that the information is correct and that they wish to proceed before the application is submitted.
Need to change the owner of a .IE domain?
Eirhost can guide you through the requirements and manage the application from start to finish.
Our standard all-in charge is €75 plus VAT.
Contact Eirhost with the domain name and details of the current and proposed new owner, and we will confirm the documents required to begin the process.