Moving domain to another (non-PN) provider

[#1]

The time has sadly come to move on from PN, after over ten years a "mates rates" deal on VM was too good to ignore.
I've currently got a domain hosted and registered with PN and the registration doesn't lapse until 2016. Obviously the hosting will go but what happens to the domain registration when I leave PN? I guess the best thing to do would be to transfer the whole thing out to another provider before I leave PN? Any advice?
Thanks,
John

[#2]

I did some more research and decided to transfer my domain out. As it's a .co.uk domain I've submitted the request to change the domain tag to the new provider. Anyone know how long that will take to process?

[#3]

I assume this is an automated process most apparent as a DNS change, so should complete in 12-24 hours.
David

[#4]

Thanks David.
The domain was available to migrate after an hour or two, it took that long for the change to make it to Nominet.
I fully expect it to take a while longer for the DNS changes to propagate but that's out of PN's hands.
Hopefully this info will help someone else  in future.
Cheers,
John