How to register a .ch domain: rules, steps, transfer and DNS
Register a .ch domain step by step: who can register, what you need, transfers with the auth code, DNS on our nameservers, common mistakes and timing.
A .ch domain is the most common address for a Swiss website, and registering one takes only a few minutes once you know the rules. This guide walks you through it: who may register a .ch, what to prepare, how .ch registration works with us, how to move an existing .ch with its auth code, and the mistakes we see most often. Almost everything here also applies to .li, the extension of Liechtenstein.
Who can register a .ch domain?
Anyone. Private persons and companies can register a .ch name, in Switzerland or abroad, and no Swiss address is required. The extension is run by SWITCH, the Swiss foundation that manages .ch; the same registry also manages .li, which is open to everyone worldwide as well.
If you want an address reserved for Swiss organisations, look at .swiss: it requires a seat and a real presence in Switzerland, and the registry checks every request. Most Swiss companies keep .ch as their main address and add .swiss for a distinctly Swiss brand.
Rules for the name
- Characters: letters a–z, digits and hyphens (not at the start or end), plus characters such as ä, ö, ü, é and à. A name can be up to 63 characters long.
- Umlauts and accents: possible, but also register the spelling without them (for example mueller.ch next to müller.ch), so visitors find you whichever way they type.
- Registration period: at the registry a .ch or .li domain runs one year at a time and is renewed every year. In your account you can still pay several years in advance.
- First come, first served: the registry assigns a free name to whoever applies first and does not check whether you have a right to it. Trademark, company-name and name rights of others still apply, and as the registrant you are responsible for respecting them: a rights holder can challenge your domain. Before you build a brand on a name, check that nobody else holds it as a trademark.
What you need before you order
- The owner's details. The registry records a registrant as the legal owner of the domain: a person or a company. We pre-fill it from your organisation profile, so check name, company, email, phone in international format (such as +41.791234567), address, ZIP, city and country.
- A plan for DNS. The .ch registry only accepts a new domain once its nameservers already answer for it. With ThunderHosting DNS, free with every domain registered with us, this is taken care of. If you want other nameservers, create the zone with all its records there first, then order.
- A payment method. You pay in CHF or EUR. With a saved payment method the yearly renewal is charged automatically.
Register your .ch domain step by step
- Check the name. Type it in the search on our .ch domain page or the domain search. Is it taken? Our WHOIS lookup shows whether it is registered, its status and which nameservers it uses.
- Add it to the cart. In the control panel, go to Domains, search under Find your domain and click Add to cart. Other extensions for the same name are listed below the result.
- Confirm the owner. Check the registrant details. You can keep several contacts under Domains, Domain contacts and mark one as the default for new orders.
- Pay. Once the payment is received, the status changes from Pending payment to Registering, and to Active as soon as the registry has confirmed the domain.
- Connect it. Add DNS records for your website and email, or link the domain to your web hosting.
Ordering web hosting at the same time? In the hosting checkout, choose Register with ThunderHosting in the Domain step: the domain is linked to your hosting automatically. A domain registration is charged immediately, even if you start a free hosting trial. Our guide Registering a domain shows every step.
What the registration includes
- Price: a .ch domain costs CHF 9 per year to register and to renew (EUR 10); .li costs the same. The current price is always shown on the .ch page. ThunderHosting is not subject to VAT, so the price shown is the price you pay.
- Free DNS management on our nameservers, with a DNS zone of up to 250 records of the types A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS and SRV (DNS zones and records).
- Automatic renewal: the renewal invoice is created 30 days before the due date and charged automatically if you have saved a payment method; the domain is then renewed at the registry before it expires.
- Free transfer of an existing .ch or .li domain to us.
- A page for each domain in the control panel with contacts, nameservers, DNS records and renewal (managing a domain).
- Email on your domain such as info@your-name.ch, with our web hosting in Lugano on the same account.
A separate WHOIS privacy option is not offered for .ch and .li: what the public WHOIS shows is set by the registry's rules.
DNS: point your .ch at your website
With ThunderHosting DNS your domain uses our nameservers and you edit its records on the domain page. These are the records you need most:
| Record | What it does | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| A / AAAA | Points a name to an IPv4 / IPv6 address | @ (the domain itself) and www to your web server |
| CNAME | Makes a name an alias of another host name | www as an alias of your domain |
| MX | Names the mail servers that receive your email | Mailboxes such as info@your-name.ch |
| TXT | Text values | SPF, DKIM, DMARC or domain verification |
If the domain is connected to our web hosting, Smart DNS sync adds the records the hosting needs and never overwrites records you created. Want to keep DNS at another provider? Click Use external DNS: the dashboard first lists the records you need there. Change the nameservers only after all records exist at the new provider, otherwise your website and email are offline until they are added. Check every change with our free DNS check.
Record changes usually take effect within minutes, although old values can stay cached for a while, depending on the TTL. A change of nameservers can take up to 24 to 48 hours to spread worldwide. The guide Connecting your domain covers both ways with our web hosting.
Transferring an existing .ch domain
Your .ch is registered with another provider? Moving it to us is free. You need the auth code (also called EPP code or transfer code), a password for the domain that your current provider gives you.
- Get the auth code from your current provider.
- Sort out DNS first. A transfer does not change the nameservers. If your DNS is hosted by the old provider, recreate the records with us or at your DNS provider, so your website and email keep working once you end the old contract.
- Start the transfer. Choose Transfer in the domain search, enter the code, confirm the registrant and complete the order.
- Wait for the status. Transfer pending can take from a few minutes to several days; then the domain shows Active.
It also works the other way round: your domain stays yours. Contact our support from your organisation's email address, and we unlock the domain and send you the auth code for the transfer.
Common mistakes
- Wrong or outdated owner details. The registrant is the legal owner. An old address or the email of a former employee makes later changes and transfers harder.
- A phone number in the wrong format. Use the international format, for example +41.791234567.
- External nameservers that are not ready. The .ch registry does not accept the domain until they answer for it.
- Switching nameservers before the records exist. Website and email are offline until the records are added.
- Forgetting DNS during a transfer. The domain arrives, but the zone at the old provider disappears with the contract, and email stops.
- Registering only the umlaut spelling. Secure both versions, or some visitors end up somewhere else.
- Letting the domain expire. Without a paid account the domain is not renewed, and an expired domain can become available to others. If you no longer need a domain, cancel it under Organization, Services before the next renewal.
How long does it take?
| Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Searching and ordering | A few minutes |
| Registration after payment | Registering, then Active once the registry has confirmed the domain |
| New or changed DNS records | Usually within minutes; cached values can remain for a while (TTL) |
| Change of nameservers | Up to 24 to 48 hours worldwide |
| Transfer from another provider | From a few minutes to several days |
| Renewal | Every year; the invoice is created 30 days before the due date |
Domain and hosting are two different services that work together: read Domain hosting explained for the bigger picture, and see hosting in Ticino if your business is in Lugano, Bellinzona, Locarno or Mendrisio.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Swiss address to register a .ch domain?
No. Anyone can register a .ch domain, private persons and companies, in Switzerland or abroad. A Swiss address is not required.
How much does a .ch domain cost?
With ThunderHosting a .ch domain costs CHF 9 per year to register and to renew (EUR 10), and the transfer from another provider is free. No VAT is added.
Can I register a .ch domain for several years?
At the registry a .ch domain runs one year at a time. In your account you can pay several years in advance; the domain is then renewed at the registry every year automatically.
Is a .li domain registered the same way?
Yes. .li is managed by the same registry as .ch, is open to everyone worldwide, has the same nameserver rule and costs the same with us.
Can I use my .ch domain with a website hosted elsewhere?
Yes. With the free DNS management you point the domain at any server, or you use our web hosting in Lugano. The domain stays with us; you only change its records.
What is the difference between .ch and .swiss?
.ch is open to everyone. .swiss is reserved for organisations with a seat and a real presence in Switzerland, and the registry checks every request.
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