.ch – Openprovider

This article describes the procedures and requirements of .ch domain names.
Click on the subject below to open the dropdown for more information.

Registration

Successful domain registration via RCP or API requires:

two or more nameservers or a nameserver group. Nameservers must be configured and return an authoritative answer before the domain is requested.
Valid / real registrant details*. Fake details may lead to revoking of the domain by the registry.

* If the Registry has reasons to believe the details are not valid, they will contact the registrant, with further instructions. (This is not communicated to the registrar / reseller)
If the registrant fails to verify his details or does not respond, the registry will revoke the domain. In those cases, a domain can not be restored, reactivated and can not be refunded.

*Though a local presence is not required, the Swiss authority may demand a valid address for correspondence in Switzerland in special cases. The rule is applicable to all .ch domains with foreign holders, but is only applied on domain names respectively registrants which are suspected to partake in cybercrime, fraudulent activities or other misuse.

If the registrant cannot provide such address, the domain may be revoked. No refunds or restores are possible in these cases. Check 2.6 requirement & registry cases.

Registration is realtime.

Note: In case a domain is presented as a "reserved domain", please contact the .ch Registry to get registration approval.

Transfer

Successful domain transfer via RCP or API requires:

authorisation code
two or more nameservers or a nameserver group

Additional notes on a .ch transfer

The registry locks a domain for transfers for the first 60 days after the previous transfer.
Upon request, the registry can remove this lock.
The registry will not send an e-mail to the domain contacts after the transfer finishes.

Authorization code required	yes
Method of confirmation	authcode
Registration period after transfer	unchanged
Average transfer time	realtime
Advanced and simple transfers available	Contact our Sales department to check if easy transfer of 100 or more .ch domains is available.

Update

Owner change (trade)

requested as a normal domain update via RCP or API
processed realtime

Other update

requested via RCP or API
processed realtime

Deletion / Restore

Delete

requested via RCP or API
processed realtime
will result in a quarantine period

Restore / reactivate

restore / reactivation supported via RCP or API
quarantine period can be found under
Detailed extension information > Technical information > Quarantine period

Detailed extension information

Registry	Registry: Switch Registry whois: https://www.nic.ch/whois/ Registry web based whois: https://www.switchplus.ch/whois Registry zonefile updates: 2 times a day
Technical information	DNSSEC support: no Minimum length: 3 characters Maximum length: 63 characters Allowed characters: a-z 0-9 - IDN characters: yes Registration period: 1 year Renewal date offset: 1 days The number of days before the registry's expiration date, that Openprovider requires the domain to be renewed or expired. More info. Note that the dates as shown in your Openprovider account are always leading, even if they do not match the renewal date offset mentioned here. Soft quarantine period: n/a days During this period, following after an expiration, the domain can be restored for free. This period does not apply if the domain is deleted explicitly. More info. Quarantine period: 40 days During this period, an expired or deleted domain name can be reactivated at an additional fee.
Restrictions	Local presence required? no Does Openprovider provide local presence services? n/a Local activity required? no Correct nameserver configuration required? yes The Domain(s) can be registered without further limitations. Nameservers must be configured and return an authoritative answer before the domain is requested. Though a local presence is not required, the Swiss authority may demand a valid address for correspondence in Switzerland in special cases. If the registrant cannot provide such address, the domain may be revoked. No refunds are possible in these cases. Check 2.6 requirement & and registry cases. The rule is applicable to all .ch domains with foreign holders, but is only applied on domain names respectively registrants which partake in cybercrime, fraudulent activities or other misuse.
Policies	All policies on the registry's website Premium policy: no premiums supported Acceptable Use Policy General Terms and Conditions of SWITCH
Registration agreement	The registry requires that a registration agreement is in place between the provider and the domain holder. The text of this registration agreement and any required supplements is the following: General registration agreement

Due to the regular changes in registry rules and configuration or missing information from registry side, and despite our effort to keep our knowledge base up-to-date, information in the knowledge base may be outdated or incorrect. If you encounter some issue, please report it through the "HotJar" feedback collector on the bottom right, or (if it is blocked by your browser) by clicking the "Submit a request" link below. No rights can be derived from the information in this knowledge base. If there is discrepancy between the knowledge base and the process in Openprovider, the process in Openprovider is leading.