About .ch domain
.ch is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) assigned to Switzerland, delegated on 20 May 1987 — making it one of the earliest ccTLDs ever created, launched only two years after .com. It is administered by SWITCH Information Technology Services, which also serves as the registry operator. The domain code derives from Confoederatio Helvetica, the Latin name for the Swiss Confederation, chosen for its neutrality across Switzerland's four official languages. Registrations are permitted at the second level, and the extension has grown to over 2.5 million registered domains, reflecting its strong adoption both domestically and internationally.
Who can register .ch domain
.ch is broadly open to registrants worldwide — there is no requirement to be a resident or organization based in Switzerland. However, SWITCH reserves the right to refuse or block registrations that violate public order, moral standards, or applicable law, and may also block domains suspected of being used for phishing or malware distribution. Two-letter domain names are restricted exclusively to the Swiss cantons and certain federal entities, so standard registrants must choose names of at least three characters. Registrations that conflict with names reserved by the Swiss Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) may also be refused unless the relevant OFCOM requirements are met.
How to register .ch domain
Search for your desired .ch domain name using a registrar's availability tool. Keep in mind that names must be at least three characters long and cannot begin or end with a hyphen, or have hyphens in the third and fourth positions combined.
Compare registrar offerings for .ch, paying attention to first-year pricing versus renewal rates, as introductory prices can differ significantly from ongoing costs. Check whether the registrar supports the full range of accepted characters, including accented Latin letters used in European languages.
Complete the checkout process by providing accurate registrant contact details. SWITCH enforces WHOIS accuracy policies, so ensure the information you submit is correct and up to date at the time of registration.
After registration, verify your contact details and configure your DNS settings to point the domain to your hosting provider or nameservers. Some registrars offer a transfer lock period after registration, so plan ahead if you anticipate needing to move the domain to another provider soon after purchase.
Typical uses of .ch domain
.ch is most commonly used by businesses, organizations, and individuals with a presence in Switzerland who want a locally recognized and trusted domain. Beyond Swiss-based registrants, the extension is widely used for creative domain hacks — short, memorable URLs where the "ch" ending completes a word or name, such as brand abbreviations or English and German terms ending in those letters. Its long history and large registration base make it a credible choice for anyone seeking a well-established ccTLD with strong regional recognition.
Tips for registering .ch domain
- Domain names under .ch must be between 3 and 63 characters in length; two-letter names are reserved for Swiss cantons and are not available for general registration.
- SWITCH can administratively block a domain at any time if there is justified suspicion of phishing or malware use, even without a formal legal dispute being filed.
- WHOIS accuracy is enforced by the registry — registrants should ensure their contact information remains current throughout the registration period to avoid potential suspension.
- .ch supports a wide range of accented Latin characters (such as ä, ö, ü, é, ñ, and others), which can be useful for registrants targeting European language audiences.
- Check renewal pricing carefully before registering, as some registrars offer promotional first-year rates that differ substantially from standard annual renewal costs.