# Choose your Route 53 transfer type
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When you want to use Amazon Route 53 with your domain, you have two options. Understanding the difference will help you choose the right approach for your needs:

## Transfer domain registration to Route 53
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With this option, Route 53 becomes your domain registrar. This means you'll manage your domain renewals, contact information, and DNS settings all through Route 53. 

**Choose this option if you want to:**
+ Consolidate domain management and DNS hosting in one place
+ Take advantage of Route 53 domain management features
+ Simplify billing by having domain renewals on your AWS bill

**What to expect:**
+ **Time to complete:** 5-7 days
+ **Prerequisites:** Authorization code from current registrar, unlock domain, verify registrant email
+ **Who you pay for renewals:** Route 53

**Next step:** Complete the [Pre-transfer checklist for domain transfers](domain-transfer-checklist.md) to prepare for the transfer.

## Use Route 53 for DNS hosting only
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With this option, you keep your current domain registrar but use Route 53 as your DNS service. 

**Choose this option if you want to:**
+ Keep your existing registrar relationship
+ Use Route 53 advanced DNS features without changing registrars
+ Get started quickly with minimal prerequisites

**What to expect:**
+ **Time to complete:** Up to 2 days (depends on DNS propagation)
+ **Prerequisites:** None
+ **Who you pay for renewals:** Your current registrar

**Next step:** Go to [Configuring Amazon Route 53 as your DNS service](dns-configuring.md) to set up DNS hosting.

**Important**  
You don't have to transfer your domain registration to use Route 53 as your DNS service. You can keep your existing registrar and use Route 53 only for DNS hosting.