.CH

.CH is the official country code Top-Level-Domain (ccTLD) of Switzerland. A .CH domain is normally used by companies or private entities who are located in Switzerland or who have business relationships with Switzerland.

Introduced	1987
Country	Switzerland
Registry	SWITCH
IDN Capable	Yes
Webpage	Register .CH

Registry

TLD	.ch
Registry	SWITCH
Dispute Policy	Rules
Registrar	1api GmbH
WHOIS-Server	whois.nic.ch
WHOIS-Update	24 hours
Min. Characters	3
Max. Characters	63
Character Set	Letters and numbers Hyphens ("-"), however not at the beginning or directly in front of the TLD IDN: allowed
Limitations	Registrant Contacts: Required: 1 / Maximum: 1 Admin Contacts: Required: 0 / Maximum: 1 Tech Contacts: Required: 0 / Maximum: 1 Billing Contacts: Required: 0 / Maximum: 1
{{{Possible Extensions}}}
IDN capable	Yes
Restore capable	Real-Time
Handle Updates	Supported
Registration System	Real-Time
Allowed number of NS	0 to 13
Registry Nameservercheck	No
Host IP-Addresses Type	IPv4 / IPv6
Hosts managed as	Object
Root Nameserver Update	2 times a day
SEC DNS Interface	DS data interface
Transferclass	Pull
Transfer Periods	0Y
Transfer Authcode required	Yes
Transfer Real-Time	Yes
Transfer Lock	No
Transfer Confirmation (Request / Approve)	- / -
Owner Change by	Trade
Trade Real-Time	Yes
Trade Periods	-
Transfer included	No
Trade Confirmation (Request / Approve)	- / -
Trade ACK by	-
Trade NACK by	-

Periods

{{{Possible Extensions}}}
Registration Periods	1 year
Add Grace Period	0 days
Accounting Period	0 days
Finalization Period	9 days
Failure Period	9 days
Payment Period	-61 days
Deletion Restorable Period	40 days
Deletion Hold Period	0 days
Explicit Renewals	No
Renewal Periods	1 year

API

Domain Registration

Domains can be registered in Real-Time with the API AddDomain command.

command = AddDomain
domain  = (DOMAIN)

REQUIRED

ownercontact0 = (CONTACT)
admincontact0 = (CONTACT)
techcontact0 = (CONTACT)
billingcontact0 = (CONTACT)
nameserver0 = (NAMESERVER)
nameserver1 = (NAMESERVER)

OPTIONAL

auth = (TEXT) | (NULL)
period = (PERIOD)
transferlock = 0 | 1 | (NULL)

Domain Transfer

The transfer has to be initiated by the gaining registrar and can be requested with the API TransferDomain command.
A valid Authorization Code must be provided to initiate a transfer successfully. You may obtain the authorization code from the losing registrar.
Domain transfers are processed in Real-Time.

command = TransferDomain
domain = (DOMAIN)

REQUIRED

auth = (TEXT)

OPTIONAL

period = (PERIOD)
transferlock = 0 | 1 | (NULL)
action = REQUEST | APPROVE | DENY | CANCEL | USERTRANSFER

Delete Domain

Domains can be deleted with the API DeleteDomain command.
There is a Deletion Restorable Period of 40 days.

command = DeleteDomain
domain = (DOMAIN)

Further information can be found at TLD specific

Restore Domain

Restores can be processed in realtime. A restore is possible within 40 days upon deletion. Please use the command RestoreDomain. In exceptional cases restores can also be performed during the Deletion Hold Period. Please contact our support team.

command = RestoreDomain
domain = (DOMAIN)

OPTIONAL

subuser = (TEXT)
renewalmode = (NULL) | (TEXT)

Ownerchange

All contact information with the exception of registrant Name, Firstname and Organisation can be updated through the ModifyDomain command.

Please note that the registry does not support handle updates. You have to create a new handle containing the same information for Name, Firstname and Organisation as well as the updated contact information and attach it to the domain with the ModifyDomain command.

command = ModifyDomain
domain = (domain)

REQUIRED

ownercontact0 = (CONTACT)

In order to change the owner you have to request a trade with the TradeDomain command. This can be done through our web interface or through our API:

command = TradeDomain
domain = (DOMAIN)

REQUIRED

ownercontact0 = (CONTACT)

The trade request will be processed in Real-Time by the registry.

A Change of Registrar with the simultaneous change in the Registrant is not possible. Please be aware that domain name must be already managed by us.

TLD specific

Transferlock

After a successful transfer, the registry applied the status <serverTransferProhibited>. While the domain name has this status, it cannot be transferred to another Partner. This status lasts 60 days and is then automatically removed.

Delete restrictions

As soon as a .CH domain gets deleted in our system, the registrant will receive an information eMail with the following options:

1. If he wants to renew the domain he should contact his domain provider.
2. If he wants to transfer the domain to another registrar, the respective authorization code will be provided in this eMail
3. If no action is taken the domain name will be deleted after 14 days.

A demo of this email can be viewed here: Example deletion e-Mail.pdf

Immediate Deletion Process

CH Domains can also be deleted by immediate effect by using the following form: Immediate deletion.pdf
Please fax this form to +49 6841 6984-299. As soon as we have received your fax, we will immediately delete your domain at the registry SWITCH.

RegistrarOC

Restore Process

To restore a domain as a RegistrarOC customer, you simply have to execute the RestoreDomain command. HEXONET directly forwards the restore request to the registry, which performs the restore in real-time. As soon as the restore is complete, the domain will get assigned to your account with the original domain data.

Please do not initiate a restore directly at the registry (e.g. using the registrar webinterface). All restore operations must be performed through our system.