Change the owner of a .al domain
When a business is sold or a personal project becomes a company, the domain has to move to the right holder. Here is what to know before you start.
Who owns a domain
Every .al domain has a registrant, an individual or a legal entity in whose name it is registered. This is the legal holder of the domain: the one who holds the rights to it and who is responsible for the data declared. At registration, the registrant's data are verified by AKEP together with the ID document or the QKB business register extract.
Changing the owner means the domain formally passes to a different holder. That is not the same as several actions it is often confused with.
Owner change, transfer or contact update
| Action | What changes |
|---|---|
| Owner change | The legal holder of the domain (the registrant) |
| Domain transfer | The registrar that administers the domain; the owner stays the same |
| Contact update | Email, phone or address of the same holder |
| DNS change | Where the domain points (hosting, email); the owner stays the same |
If you have only changed your email or phone, you do not need an owner change. Updating the details is enough. If you want to move the domain to another registrar, you need the EPP code, not an owner change.
When an owner change is needed
- Selling a business or brand. The buyer should become the holder of the domain that belongs to the brand.
- From an individual to a company. Many projects start with the domain in the founder's personal name. Once the company is registered, it makes sense for the domain to move into its name.
- The domain was registered in the wrong name. For example in the name of an agency, a former employee or another person instead of the entity that uses it.
- Company restructuring. When the activity moves to a different legal entity.
In all of these cases, the registered holder is the one with the rights to the domain. So it pays to sort it out early, not when a dispute arises.
Documents of the new holder
The new holder must meet the same requirements as any registrant of a .al domain:
- Individual: a valid ID document. The data must match the registrant contact.
- Company: a QKB business register extract. The entity name must match the registrant.
- NGO, association or foundation: registration decision or extract.
- Foreign entity: an equivalent registration document, translated if requested.
Accurate contact data are also required: full name or entity name, address, email and phone. The full list is on the required documents page. Keep in mind that declaring false data or submitting forged documents is an offence under articles 186, 189 or 191 of the Albanian Criminal Code.
How to start the request
- Log in to the client area with the account that manages the domain.
- Open a support ticket with the domain name and the details of the new holder.
- Attach the new holder's documents. The team will tell you whether any confirmation from the current holder is also needed.
- Follow the instructions in the ticket until it is complete. Requests with complete documents are processed faster.
How long it takes and whether there is a cost depends on the case, so support will confirm this before you proceed. For comparison, new applications with complete documents are usually approved by AKEP within 1–3 business days.
What stays the same
An owner change does not touch the nameservers, so your website and email keep working as before. The expiry date also stays the same. Once the process is complete, check that the new contact email is correct, because notices about domain expiry will be sent there.
Frequently asked questions
Is changing the owner the same as transferring the domain?
Which documents does the new owner of a .al domain need?
Does my website go down during an owner change?
How do I move a domain from my personal name to my company?
Need to change the owner?
Write to us with the domain name and the new holder's details. We will guide you step by step.