How to Register, Renew, and Transfer Your .co.za Domain

Your .co.za domain name is the address customers use to find your business online. Keeping it registered, renewed on time, and correctly managed protects your online presence. This guide covers how to register a new domain, manage renewals, and understand the transfer process through the INNOVATECH GROUP client portal.

Registering a New .co.za Domain

If you need a new domain name for your business:

1. Log in to the INNOVATECH GROUP client portal.
2. Navigate to My Domains from the main menu.
3. Click the Register Domain button at the top right of the page.
4. Enter the domain name you would like to register in the search field and submit your search.
5. The system will check availability. If the domain is available, you can add it to your cart and proceed through the checkout process.

Tips for Choosing a Domain

• Keep it short, memorable, and easy to spell
• Use your business name or a close variation
• Avoid hyphens and numbers where possible — they are harder to communicate verbally
• The .co.za extension is the standard choice for South African businesses

Viewing Your Domain Details

To review the details of a domain you already own:

1. Go to My Domains in the client portal.
2. Find your domain in the list. You can use the search bar or status filter tabs (Active, Expired, Cancelled, Pending) to narrow results.
3. Click View Details to open the domain detail page.

The detail page displays:

• Domain name and current status (Active, Expired, Pending)
• Registrar name
• Registration date and expiry date
• Next due date and renewal price
• Auto-renew status (Enabled or Disabled)

Renewing Your Domain

Renewing your domain before it expires ensures you do not lose ownership. Expired domains may become available for anyone to register.

Manual Renewal

1. Open the domain detail page for the domain you want to renew.
2. In the Renew Domain section, select the renewal period (1 to 5 years) from the dropdown.
3. Click Renew to submit the renewal.
4. A confirmation message will appear at the top of the section once the renewal is processed.

Auto-Renew

The auto-renew feature can handle renewals automatically so you do not have to remember to renew manually:

1. On the domain detail page, find the Auto-Renew section.
2. The current state is displayed (Enabled or Disabled).
3. Click the toggle button to switch between Enable Auto-Renew and Disable Auto-Renew.

When auto-renew is enabled, the system will generate a renewal invoice before your domain expires. Ensure your billing details and payment method are up to date so the renewal can be processed without delays.

Renewal Reminders

INNOVATECH GROUP sends renewal reminder emails before your domain expiry date. To confirm these are legitimate and not phishing attempts, always verify that:

• The sender address matches official INNOVATECH GROUP communication
• A matching invoice exists in your client portal billing section
• The domain and renewal details match your records

If you are unsure whether a renewal notice is genuine, refer to the phishing awareness article in this knowledge base or contact support directly.

Transferring a Domain

Domain transfers move the management of your domain from one registrar to another. Transfers are a more involved process and are currently handled with support assistance rather than as a self-service flow in the portal.

Before Requesting a Transfer

Make sure the following conditions are met:

• The domain has been registered for at least 60 days (most registries enforce this waiting period)
• The domain is not within 60 days of expiry (renew first if it is close to expiring)
• The domain is unlocked at the current registrar (contact your current registrar to remove any transfer lock)
• You have the EPP authorisation code (also called a transfer key or auth code) from your current registrar

Requesting a Transfer

1. Open a support ticket with INNOVATECH GROUP.
2. Provide the domain name you wish to transfer and the EPP authorisation code.
3. The support team will initiate the transfer and guide you through any additional steps.

Transfer processing times vary by registrar and registry but typically complete within 5 to 7 days for .co.za domains. You will be notified once the transfer is complete.

When to Contact Support

Open a support ticket if:

• Your domain has expired and you need help recovering it
• You need assistance obtaining an EPP authorisation code from your current registrar
• A domain renewal did not process as expected
• You have questions about domain pricing or registration periods
• You want to transfer a domain to or from INNOVATECH GROUP