How to change a New Zealand domain registrant

If you are transferring a New Zealand domain to or from a different owner, you will need to complete a paper-form process to legally transfer the name.

Even though the paper process seems quite outdated, the New Zealand registry considers this to be the safest way to ensure against domain theft, so this little inconvenience adds a whole lot of security.

A registrant is the legally registered owner of a domain name.

Key things to know

  • The form is a PDF that you can download and save to your computer.
  • Both the original registrant, and the new registrant will need to complete their portions of the form.
  • Both will need government-issued ID's that show their signature.
  • There is no cost for the registrant change,

How to Transfer

Here’s what we recommend;

Step 1 - Original Registrant

It's usually easiest for the original registrant to begin the process, since officially they are the one authorizing the ownership transfer.

  1. Download the form at this link - Download Link (PDF)‍
  2. Immediately save the PDF to your desktop or to a location on your hard drive where you can find it.
  3. Now open the PDF so that you can update the form content.
  4. Complete your portion.
  5. If you're not certain how to embed your ID in the form, you may scan or photo your ID and email it as a separate file to domains@sygnal.com, and we'll attach it to your final form.
  6. There’s no cost for the ownership registration change, so don’t enter any credit card details on the form.
  7. Save your changes, and close Adobe Acrobat.
  8. Now email the saved PDF file to the new registrant, along with this page link for instructions.

Step 2 - New Registrant

As the new registrant, you'll typically receive the PDF form from the original registrant, with their portion already filled in.

  1. When you receive the email with the PDF, immediately save the PDF to your desktop or to a location on your hard drive where you can find it.
  2. Now open the PDF so that you can update the form content.
  3. Complete your portion.
  4. If you're not certain how to embed your ID in the form, you may scan or photo your ID and email it as a separate file to domains@sygnal.com, and we'll attach it to your final form.
  5. There’s no cost for the ownership registration change, so don’t enter any credit card details on the form.
  6. Save your changes, and close Adobe Acrobat.
  7. Now email the saved PDF file to us at domains@sygnal.com.

Step 3 - Sygnal Domains

We will take care of assembling the form and ID's and submitting it for you.

That's it!