The specific method by which the admin contact has to confirm the transfer depends on what TLD the domain resides within.

The .com, .net, .org, .biz and .info registries have instituted an authorisation code, or "auth code", that must be included when the confirmation is performed. This can only be provided by the current registrar of the domain, and can only be sent to the administrative contact of the domain, so if you want to transfer a .biz or .info domain you will need to contact the registrar to obtain the auth code.

When the transfer request has been submitted, an email will be sent by the registry to the admin contact's email address, and will contain a link to a secure website for the admin contact to visit and the transfer key to enter there with the auth code to confirm the intention to transfer the domain.

Once this confirmation is done the registrar transfer will be completed, usually within 5 to 7 days of the submission of the request.

For .ca domains, the .ca registry assigns an ID number and password for confirming changes to the domain, including registrar transfers. This information is sent to the admin contact when the domain is generated and needs to have been saved by the admin contact for the domain. If they have not kept it, the registrar of the domain can have it resent to the admin contact. Upon submission of the registrar transfer the admin contact will receive an email with a link to the confirmation page, where they need to login and confirm the transfer.

Once the transfer of a .ca domain is confirmed, the transfer will complete within a few minutes.