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The right .ch domain: choose, register, transfer

Your domain is your address on the web – and belongs to whoever is registered as the holder. Learn how to choose it, keep it secure, and transfer it if needed.

By Gabriel Bosnjak · As of November 2, 2026 · 3 min read

Who issues .ch domains

The registry for .ch is Switch, commissioned by the Federal Office of Communications (BAKOM). You have not been able to register directly with Switch since 2015: domains are available from one of around 200 registrars who have a contract with Switch – many of them in Switzerland. Each registrar sets its own services and prices.

Who can hold a .ch domain

Any natural or legal person can hold a .ch domain – you do not need to be a Swiss citizen or have a residence or business address in Switzerland, and Switch does not check eligibility. Without a valid Swiss correspondence address, the holder must provide one to a Swiss authority on demand within 30 days, otherwise the domain can be revoked.

Important for companies: the holder is whoever is registered – not whoever pays the bill. Have your domain registered to your company or yourself, not to an agency.

Choosing the name

• A .ch name has 3 to 63 characters. Umlauts and accents are permitted.
• Certain names are reserved for public bodies, such as canton abbreviations.
• Best practice: short, easy to spell, understandable over the phone without explanation. If your name exists with an umlaut, you can secure both spellings if you wish.

Duration, cancellation, deletion

A .ch registration is generally perpetual under Switch's terms and conditions. Your registrar bills it in periods and can delete it at the end of a period – whoever fails to pay or cancels risks deletion. After that, the name remains locked for 40 days: during this transition period, no one else can register it, and the previous holder can have it restored via the registrar.

Switching registrars

A registrar must enable a transfer at any time. On your request, it creates the transfer code (often called "Auth-Code") and gives it to you or the new registrar. If it refuses, you can request the code directly from Switch. After a transfer, another transfer is blocked for 60 days. Treat the transfer code like a password – whoever has it can move the domain.

You switch the holder via the registrar managing the domain; the previous holder requests the transfer.

Who sees your data

Since January 1, 2021, the name and address of .ch holders are no longer displayed publicly. Anyone with a legitimate interest can obtain them by submitting a request.

.swiss – only with connection to Switzerland

.swiss has stricter rules than .ch. Eligible are Swiss public law entities, companies registered in the commercial register with registered office and administration in Switzerland, associations and foundations based in Switzerland, and since 2024 also private individuals with residence in Switzerland or Swiss citizenship. The name must have an objective connection to the applicant – such as a company name or trademark. Every application is published for 20 days; allocation is not guaranteed.

Checklist

• Domain registered to your company or your name – not to an agency.
• Contact address with the registrar current; invoices are sent there.
• Transfer code passed only to the new registrar, never via unencrypted message to unknown parties.
• Before cancellation, clarify where the domain goes – otherwise deletion threatens after expiration.
• Email addresses at the domain considered: a domain transfer also affects the mailbox.

Sources

1. BAKOM – Domain names under the «.ch» domain (FAQ)
2. Switch – Domain names in general (Support)
3. Switch – General terms and conditions for the registration and management of domain names under «.ch» and «.li»
4. Switch – Registrar agreement for domain names under «.ch» and «.li» (PDF)
5. Switch – Registrars
6. BAKOM – Adjustment of the rules for the publication of registration data for the .ch domain
7. nic.swiss – Guidelines for the registration of .swiss domain names, edition 4 (PDF)

All sources retrieved on 19 October 2026. General information, not legal advice. The law and information from authorities are authoritative – in individual cases, seek advice from a specialist.