.ch
The country code domain for Switzerland. Over 2.5 million registered domains, no residency requirement, instant activation.
Enter a name — the extension .ch is added automatically. Or enter a complete domain with a different extension.
Bring your domain to us — including an additional year of registration, DNS management and Auto-TLS. For incl. VAT.
You get the AuthCode from your current registrar — depending on the extension it is also called AuthInfo, EPP code or authorization code.
The Swiss Country Code Domain
With over 2.5 million registered domains, .ch is one of the most successful country code extensions in Europe. It's managed by SWITCH, a foundation based in Zurich that also operates the Swiss university network.
Since January 2015, anyone worldwide can register a .ch domain. The previous requirement to demonstrate a connection to Switzerland was lifted. This makes .ch attractive for international projects as well—especially when the association with Swiss values like quality, precision, and reliability is desired.
For businesses based in Switzerland or targeting Swiss customers, .ch is the obvious choice. Swiss customers expect local providers to have a .ch address.
At a Glance
- Registry
- SWITCH (Zurich)
- Introduced
- 1987
- Registered domains
- ~2.5 million
- Minimum length
- 1 character
- IDN (umlauts)
- Yes
- Residency required
- No (since 2015)
.ch in the DACH Region
Germany, Austria, Switzerland—the DACH region is a unified market for many businesses. If you're already present under .de or .at, adding .ch covers the third major market. A local domain signals presence and builds trust.
Switzerland is not an EU member. For some projects, this is an advantage: strict privacy laws, neutral location.
Three domains, one market. Complete DACH coverage.
- Open to everyone worldwide
- Instant registration
- From €19.05/year
- Established since 1987
- Swiss connection required
- Verified by BAKOM
- Significantly more expensive
- Since 2015
Build Trust
Swiss customers expect local providers to have a .ch address. The domain signals: We're here, we know this market.
Typical Use Case
A German online shop also serves Swiss customers. With a .ch domain and CHF pricing, the offering feels more local. Customers trust a shop at myshop.ch more than myshop.de—even if it's the same company behind it. The €19.05 investment pays off quickly.
Foundation based in Zurich. Also operates the Swiss university network.
Anycast DNS
Your domain is resolved via our global anycast network. Fast response times worldwide.
- Global anycast DNS
- No setup fee
- Free transfer
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about .ch registration
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A .ch domain costs €19.05 per year. This price applies to both new registrations and transfers. DNS management via our dashboard and anycast DNS for fast resolution worldwide are available.
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No. Since January 2015, there's no residency requirement. Any natural or legal person worldwide can register .ch domains—regardless of location.
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Registration happens in real-time. As soon as your order is complete, your domain is active. You can immediately set up DNS records and connect the domain to your website or other services.
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Request the auth code from your current provider. Enter it during the order process with us. The transfer is initiated automatically and completes within a few hours. There's no additional cost for the transfer.
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Yes, .ch supports internationalized domain names (IDN). You can register domains with ä, ö, ü. However, keep in mind that many users will type the non-umlaut variant. When in doubt, secure both spellings.
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With us, domains renew automatically as long as you don't cancel. After cancellation, the domain goes through a 40-day hold period at SWITCH before becoming available to the public again.
More Domain Extensions
Complementary or alternative to .ch