Published: 17.10.2026
The .ch extension is the country-code domain of Switzerland, a landlocked country in Central Europe with four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Because Swiss sites often serve several language regions at once, the ending is a practical choice for firms that want a clear Swiss address. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .ch is still free.
Check if a .ch domain is available .ch Check
A short history
Switzerland was among the countries that received an early national code on the internet, and its zone grew as universities, engineering firms, hotels, tourism offices and cultural institutions moved online. Over time the extension became a familiar part of Swiss life, used by small local shops and by national companies alike. Its use today reflects the country's mix of regions, languages and industries rather than any single sector.
Who runs it
The .ch zone is operated by SWITCH, a foundation that runs the national registry and the infrastructure behind it. Registrars sell names to the public and pass the orders to the registry, which maintains the central database. The registry publishes the rules for registration and holder data, so check them before you order, because conditions can differ between zones and can change over time.
Rules in practice
- Holder data: the registration must contain accurate details about the holder, and these may be checked by the registry or the registrar.
- Name format: a single label can be up to 63 characters long, a limit that applies to all domain names, and it uses letters, digits and hyphens.
- Language versions: the domain itself does not decide the language, so German, French and Italian pages can all live under the same name.
- Renewal: renew the name before it expires, since a lapsed name can be released to another customer.
Who uses .ch
- Companies and shops in the German-speaking, French-speaking and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland.
- Hotels, ski resorts, tourism offices and other services that welcome visitors to Switzerland.
- Engineering firms, consultants, clinics and other professional services with Swiss clients.
- Associations, schools and cultural organisations with a Swiss audience.
Strengths
- The ending points clearly to Switzerland, which helps Swiss visitors recognise a local business at once.
- It suits a multilingual site, because one domain can carry pages in several national languages.
- The zone is well established and easy to explain on printed materials, signs and business cards.
Things to keep in mind
- The zone is tied to Switzerland, so a company with a wide foreign audience may also need a generic address.
- Swiss sites often use several languages, so plan the structure of each language version before the launch.
- Visitors from neighbouring countries may not expect the ending at first, so the site should state its location clearly.
- Holder conditions can differ from those of generic zones, so read the current rules before you order.
Tips before you register
- Check whether the name is free in .com and decide whether a second address is useful for your audience.
- Enter the company name exactly as it appears in the commercial register or your official papers.
- Publish the legal notice and contact pages in each language that the site uses.
- Set SPF, DKIM and DMARC records before you send e-mail from the domain.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Swiss company to register a .ch name? Holder conditions may apply, so check the current rules with your registrar before you order.
Can a .ch site use only English? Yes. The ending points to Switzerland, while the language of the site is up to you. Swiss visitors may still expect some content in a national language.
Does .ch help a site appear in Swiss search results? It can be one of the signals search engines use to judge location. Clear local content, fast pages and useful information still matter most.
