Origin of the “.ch” Domain:
The top-level domain “.ch” represents the national domain extension assigned to Switzerland.
Its origin dates back to the early days of the Internet when it was assigned according to the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 standard.
This standard involves the assignment of two letters to each country or territory, and “.ch” was designated for Switzerland.

1980s and the Emergence of the Internet In the 1980s, during the emergence of the Internet as a global network, many countries began establishing national top-level domains to identify websites based on their respective territories.
The “.ch” domain was assigned to Switzerland based on its abbreviation in the ISO code.

Growth and Widespread Use Since then, the “.ch” domain has gained significant relevance, becoming one of the most used and recognized domains in Switzerland. It is widely employed by businesses, organizations, academic institutions, and individuals, both nationally and internationally. It has become a distinctive element for websites connected to Switzerland, regardless of the geographical location of the owners.

Management and Regulation of the “.ch” Domain:
The Swiss Internet Foundation, also known as SWITCH, is the organization responsible for the assignment, management, and development of Internet resources in Switzerland.
This organization handles the regulation, policies, and maintenance of “.ch” domains, ensuring their efficiency and functionality.

Registration of a “.ch” Domain Registration Requirements:
The registration of a “.ch” domain is open globally and does not necessarily require residency or a physical presence in Switzerland. However, it is essential to have an administrative contact with a physical address in the country.

Registration Procedure To register a “.ch” domain, accredited registrars offering this service must be used.
During the registration process, detailed information about the applicant and the administrative contact in Switzerland, if necessary, is required.

Documentation and Registration Duration Generally, specific documentation is not required beyond the standard information for the registration process.
The registration duration of a “.ch” domain can vary from one to ten years, depending on the owner’s preference, requiring periodic renewal to maintain ownership.

Transfer and AuthInfo for “.ch” Domains Transfer Procedure to obtain AuthInfo or transfer a “.ch” domain, it is advisable to directly contact the registrar or service provider through which the domain was registered. Requirements, procedures, and costs may vary from registrar to registrar.

AuthInfo Request Typically, the AuthInfo request involves verifying the requester’s identification as the legitimate owner of the domain and can be done through the client area or customer support of the registrar.
It is always advisable to obtain specific instructions from the registrar for one’s “.ch” domain to fully understand the AuthInfo acquisition procedure or any other domain-related operations.

Registry Website

The registry for the .fr extensions is as follows: https://www.nic.ch/