.CH domain policies

Registration details

.CH is an open registry; registrants do not have to be Swiss residents or business operators to register a .CH domain.

When the registrant is outside of Switzerland, they must provide an authorized contact in Switzerland to receive official or court documents on their behalf. The contact must return the documents to the registry within 30 days upon request; The registry deletes domains when they don't receive the documents in time. 

The name length requirements for .CH domains are three to 63 characters before the TLD. We support IDNs for this TLD. The IDN languages available are:

Find all additional details on our TLD Reference Chart.

Renewals

Domains renew by default when registered and renew five days after the expiry day and not before. Delete the domain at least 30 days before the expiry date to disable the automatic renewal.

Transfers

Domains transferred into OpenSRS do not require a change to the expiry date. Registrar transfers require an authorization code from the registry or the current provider. Don't hesitate to contact support to receive an authcode for a transfer away.

Updates

The registrant authorizes changes to DNS or contact details by replying directly to a registry confirmation email or sending a company letterhead fax.

Registrant Data Accuracy and Verification

SWITCH, the registry for .ch and .li domains, may verify registrant identity at any time - during registration or while a domain is active. If registrant data is found to be inaccurate, incomplete, or fraudulent, or if verification is not successfully completed, the domain will be permanently deleted without refund.

⚠ Critical
 Registrant details must be true, complete, and valid at all times. Failure to verify when requested will result in permanent deletion with no refund.

Ongoing Data Accuracy Requirements

Under SWITCH GTC (§2.5), the domain holder is responsible for ensuring all registration data -  including name, postal address, and email - remains accurate and up to date for the entire lifetime of the domain.

This is a continuous obligation, not just at registration. If details become inaccurate, or SWITCH cannot contact or identify the holder, the domain may be revoked without notice.

Key requirements:

• Full legal name: Must identify a real person or registered legal entity. Pseudonyms or placeholders are not accepted.
• Valid postal address: Must be current and deliverable. Inability to reach the holder can lead to revocation.
• Active email address: Used for verification requests. Missed deadlines due to an inactive inbox can result in deletion.
• Prompt updates: Any changes must be reported to the registrar without delay.

Deferred Delegation (at Registration)

Since December 2021, SWITCH may delay activation of new domains flagged as potentially fraudulent.

If triggered:

• The domain is registered but not added to the zone file (it will not resolve).
• SWITCH contacts the registrant directly to request identity verification.
• The domain is locked (no changes, transfer, or deletion possible).

Verification window: 30 days
Outcome if not completed: Domain is permanently deleted with no refund.

Post-Block Identity Verification (Active Domains)

For domains already in use, SWITCH may block a domain if it is suspected of phishing or malware activity.

• The domain is temporarily removed from the zone file.
• The initial block may last up to five working days (extendable by authorities).

Once reactivated:

• The holder must complete identity verification within 10 days.
• A valid Swiss correspondence address may be required.

Failure to comply: The domain is deleted without refund.

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