Partner-to-partner transfers: what moves, what doesn't and how long it takes

The most common worry on a switch is that the subscriptions have to be cancelled and bought again. For eligible CSP subscriptions they do not. Microsoft's Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) programme has a partner-to-partner transfer that moves billing ownership of existing subscriptions from the current partner to a new one. Here is what it does, and what it does not, with the Microsoft Learn page behind each point.

Who can run one

The new (target) partner initiates the transfer and the current (source) partner approves it. Direct-bill partners and indirect providers transact transfers; an indirect reseller, which is what many MSPs are, works through its provider.

Source: Transfer billing ownership from one partner to another (opens in a new tab) on Microsoft Learn.

Both partners must agree

Microsoft does not compel the current partner to approve. Requests that nobody acts on expire after 30 days. In practice, the conversation with your current partner happens before the request is sent, not after.

Source: Transfer billing ownership from one partner to another (opens in a new tab) on Microsoft Learn.

What moves with the subscription

Eligible license-based transfers preserve the remaining term, the renewal date, promotions and scheduled changes, and they do not restart cancellation rights.

Microsoft creates a new subscription ID under the new partner at the original subscription's price. This is not a repurchase by the customer. What the customer pays the new partner is agreed separately between them.

Source: Transfer new commerce license-based subscriptions (opens in a new tab) on Microsoft Learn.

What to plan for

• Batches. License-based transfers are limited to 25 line items per billing plan per request. A customer with 32 monthly subscriptions needs two requests; one with 20 monthly and 12 annual needs one.
• Azure. Azure subscriptions, reservations and savings plans under an Azure plan can transfer too. Azure CSP pricing under the current partner does not carry over. The incoming partner receives no automatic role-based access; the previous partner's existing access remains until it is removed.
• Timing. Transfers can take up to 72 hours, including retries of failed line items.

Sources: Transfer new commerce license-based subscriptions (opens in a new tab) and Transfer Azure subscriptions under an Azure plan (opens in a new tab) on Microsoft Learn.

What the customer actually does

Establish the reseller relationship with the new partner, accept the applicable Microsoft Customer Agreement, and tell the current partner the transfer is coming. Eligible billing transfers do not migrate the tenant or interrupt service.

Source: Transfer billing ownership from one partner to another (opens in a new tab) on Microsoft Learn.

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