Published: 22.09.2026
The .fr extension is the country-code domain of France, and many French visitors expect exactly this ending from a local company. Shops, schools, craftsmen and public bodies use it to show that they are rooted in France. Use the availability form that sits under this paragraph to check whether the .fr name you want is still open.
Check if a .fr domain is available .fr Check
A short history
The French national code was created in the early years of the internet, and for a long time the zone was used mainly by research and technical communities. As French businesses started to publish their own websites, registrations grew steadily, and .fr became an everyday part of commercial life in France. Its rules have been updated over time, so the current policy is the one that matters when you order.
Who runs it
The .fr zone is run by AFNIC, a non-profit association that operates the registry and publishes the rules for registration. Registrars sell names to customers and send the orders to the registry, which keeps the central database. AFNIC makes its eligibility and contact rules available to the public, and those rules are the reference point for any question about a name.
Rules in practice
- Eligibility: conditions on the holder apply, and they can depend on where the holder is established. Check them before you pay.
- Contact data: the registry expects accurate, up-to-date information and may check it.
- Letters and length: names use letters, digits and hyphens, and a label can be up to 63 characters long.
- Accented letters: letters such as é or ç may be possible through internationalised names, depending on the registry rules.
Who uses .fr
- Restaurants, hotels, bakeries and other local services in French towns and cities.
- Associations, sports clubs and schools that serve a French audience.
- Consultants, freelancers and small firms that work with French clients.
- Regional media, event guides and public information projects.
Strengths
- The extension gives a clear signal of French origin, and French users read it at a glance.
- Search engines use country-code endings as a hint about the audience, so a French-language site for French customers can match local searches well.
- Because the zone is widely known, a .fr name needs little explanation on a business card or a shop window.
Points to consider
- The zone suits a French audience best, so an international shop may prefer a generic address.
- Many short French names are already registered, so flexibility in the wording helps.
- Some holders may need to provide supporting information when they register, so prepare the documents in advance.
- Customers abroad may type .com out of habit, so consider owning both.
Before you register
- Check the same name in .com and decide whether a second address is worth it.
- Use the exact company name and address that appear in your official register.
- Choose hosting with servers in Europe, so that French visitors get fast pages.
- Set SPF, DKIM and DMARC records before you use the domain for e-mail.
- Enable auto-renewal and keep the contact e-mail address active.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone outside France register .fr? The registry sets eligibility rules for holders, so check whether your situation meets them before you order.
Does .fr help a site rank in French search? It is a useful local signal, but clear French content, speed and genuine links carry more weight.
Can I use accented letters in a .fr name? It may be possible through internationalised names. Test how the address displays in several browsers before you print it on materials.
