.fr Domain Registrationfrom £22.98/yr
Why Choose a .fr Domain?
The .fr extension is the official country-code top-level domain for France, managed by AFNIC (Association Française pour le Nommage Internet en Coopération) since 1986. It signals a clear French presence and is one of the most trusted ccTLDs in Europe, with millions of active registrations. AFNIC enforces a local presence requirement, meaning registrants must have a verifiable address within the European Economic Area, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
Ideal for:
- French businesses and SMEs trading domestically
- European companies expanding into the French market
- Restaurants, vineyards and tourism operators in France
- French-language bloggers, journalists and creators
- Online retailers shipping to French consumers
Things to know:
- Local presence required — registrants must have a contact address in the EEA, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. AFNIC may verify this and suspend domains that fail checks.
- Operated by AFNIC, the official French registry, which also runs .re, .pm, .tf, .wf and .yt.
- Trademark holders and individuals named in the domain are protected under AFNIC's naming charter, which restricts registrations infringing on rights of third parties.
- Registration terms are typically 1 to 10 years.
Creative .fr Domain Ideas
- Boulangerie.fr — a directory of artisan bakeries across France
- Vignoble.fr — a wine estate showcase and online shop
- ParisGuide.fr — a city guide for visitors and locals
- Atelier.fr — portfolio site for a French designer or craftsperson
- BistroLyon.fr — a neighbourhood restaurant's booking page
- StartupFR.fr — a publication covering the French tech scene
Frequently asked questions about .fr
Registration is open to individuals and organisations with a contact address in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. AFNIC may carry out post-registration checks to verify the eligibility details you provide. If your address cannot be verified, the domain can be suspended or deleted, so make sure your WHOIS data is accurate.
You can register a .fr domain for any period from 1 up to 10 years, and renew it for further terms within the same range. Choosing a longer registration period locks in your name and reduces the risk of accidentally letting it lapse. You can renew at any point during the active registration period.
Yes. To transfer a .fr domain in, you'll need the authorisation code (sometimes called an AuthInfo or transfer code) from your current registrar, and the domain must be unlocked. Transfers usually complete within a few days and add an extra year to your registration term, preserving any time remaining on the original registration.
After expiry, AFNIC places the domain into a 30-day redemption period during which the original registrant can still recover it, usually with an additional restoration fee. After that window closes, the domain is released and becomes available for anyone to register. To avoid losing it, enable auto-renewal or renew well before the expiry date.
For individual registrants, AFNIC automatically hides personal contact details in the public WHOIS by default, providing privacy at no extra cost. For organisations, company details remain publicly visible as required by AFNIC's policy, since businesses are expected to be identifiable to customers and regulators.