.ch Domain Registrationfrom £24.46/yr
Why Choose a .ch Domain?
.ch is the country-code top-level domain for Switzerland, managed by SWITCH, the foundation that has run Swiss internet infrastructure since 1987. The two letters come from Confoederatio Helvetica, the country's Latin name, which is why Switzerland uses .ch rather than something based on its modern name in any one language. It is one of the most-registered ccTLDs in Europe and is widely trusted by Swiss consumers as a signal of local presence.
Ideal for:
- Businesses trading with Swiss customers
- Cross-border brands targeting the DACH region
- Hotels, ski resorts and tourism operators in Switzerland
- Watchmakers, chocolatiers and Swiss-made product brands
- Consultants and freelancers based in Switzerland
Things to know:
- Unrestricted — there is no Swiss residency or company requirement, so anyone worldwide can register a .ch domain.
- Registrations are accepted in one-year terms only, but you can renew each year to keep the domain indefinitely.
- The registry is SWITCH; .ch supports DNSSEC and IDNs, including characters used in German, French, Italian and Romansh.
- WHOIS data is published, though personal details for natural persons are partially redacted under Swiss data protection rules.
Creative .ch Domain Ideas
- AlpineRoast.ch — a Zurich speciality coffee roastery
- ZermattStays.ch — short-term ski chalet rentals
- GenevaLegal.ch — boutique law firm site
- SwissMadeWatches.ch — independent horology marketplace
- BernBakes.ch — artisan bakery and online ordering
- FonduePost.ch — mail-order Swiss cheese subscription
Frequently asked questions about .ch
Anyone, anywhere. SWITCH does not require Swiss residency, a Swiss address or a registered Swiss business. Individuals and companies from any country can register a .ch domain, which is why the extension is popular with international brands that want a presence in Switzerland or the wider DACH market.
The SWITCH registry only allows .ch domains to be registered in one-year terms. You cannot pre-pay for multiple years up front, but you can set the domain to auto-renew each year so you keep it for as long as you want without having to re-register manually.
Yes. You will need an authorisation code (sometimes called an AuthInfo code) from your current registrar, and the domain must be unlocked. Once the transfer is initiated and approved, the domain moves across without any downtime, and the existing expiry date is preserved rather than reset.
Yes. SWITCH supports DNSSEC for cryptographic validation of DNS responses, and .ch accepts internationalised domain names. That means you can register names containing accented and special characters used in German, French, Italian and Romansh, which is useful for brands that want their actual trading name in the URL.
After expiry, the domain enters a grace period during which you can still renew it. If you do not renew in time, the name is released back to the registry and becomes available for anyone to register. Setting auto-renew on is the simplest way to avoid losing a name you care about.