Domain name .fr :
Secure your French identity online
France's official domain extension to build trust, strengthen your local presence and launch your project quickly.
PROMO1 €* *With a 3-year registration · Offer valid for the first year only
Fast activationDNS includedDNSSEC available
Why choose a .fr domain?
The leading national extension for any organization, brand or individual
looking to establish a French identity online.
A .fr domain immediately shows that you are targeting a French audience. Ideal for connecting with your target market and highlighting your local presence.
✓ Audience alignmentRegulated by AFNIC, the .fr extension inspires trust. French internet users recognize it and associate it with reputable, established organizations.
✓ Premium perceptionA .fr domain can reinforce geographic signals for search rankings in France, alongside high-quality content and sound technical SEO.
✓ Geotargeting signalsWho is a .fr domain for?
The .fr extension is available to a wide range of users. Here are the most common groups that benefit from it.
A .fr domain is often the simplest and most effective way to establish credibility with a French audience — even before considering other extensions.
Register my .fr domainSMEs, tradespeople, consultants and freelancers: establish your professional presence in France.
Protect your brand, product names and digital projects with a trusted extension.
Nonprofit associations, local authorities and eligible public organizations.
Online stores, SaaS providers and marketplaces: reassure French customers from the moment they see your URL.
Eligibility requirements
The .fr extension is subject to eligibility requirements set by AFNIC. Here are the main
conditions — we automatically check your eligibility during registration.
- European Union nationals
- Nationals of associated territories (subject to AFNIC rules)
- Residents of EEA countries
- Entities legally established in the EU
- First and last name
- Postal address
- Contact email
- Registered company name
- SIREN/SIRET (for French companies)
- Registered office address
- Official name
- SIREN or RNA number
- Representative's contact details
Learn more on the AFNIC website Naming policy
Rules & specifications
The .fr domain names comply with international standards (RFCs), with a few AFNIC-specific requirements.
A domain name can contain between 1 and 63 characters (excluding the .fr extension).
Only letters (a-z), numbers (0-9) and hyphens (-). Hyphens cannot appear at the beginning or end.
Internationalized domain names (IDNs) are supported for .fr domains.
✓ café.fr also: cafe.frExcept for IDNs (xn--...). A name cannot start or end with a hyphen.
Secure your domain with DNSSEC
DNSSEC (DNS Security Extensions) adds a layer of cryptographic validation that reduces certain risks of DNS spoofing and cache poisoning.
1 DNS query The browser requests café.fr
2 Resolution The resolver queries the .fr servers
3 DNSSEC signature The response is cryptographically signed
4 Validation The signature is verified → authenticated response
Activation is optional but recommended. It reduces certain DNS spoofing risks and helps strengthen trust in your online services.
WHOIS and data privacy
The .fr extension benefits from strict rules that protect your personal information.For individuals, personal information is not visible in public WHOIS records. It is held by the registry but automatically hidden, in accordance with the GDPR and AFNIC rules.
For companies and associations, certain information may appear in WHOIS in accordance with applicable rules. The data disclosed is limited to what is strictly necessary.
Data protection for individuals is included by default with .fr domain names. No additional service to activate and no hidden costs.
- GDPR requirements applied from registration
- Built-in protection, with no paid add-on
- French registry — AFNIC rules
Learn more on the AFNIC website
Included with your .fr domain
Every .fr domain at Ikoula comes with a range
of essential features, with no hidden costs.
An intuitive interface to manage all your DNS records.
Redirect your domain to any URL.
Protect your domain against unauthorized transfers.
Cryptographic validation of DNS responses.
Create subdomains (blog., shop., app., etc.).
Your personal data is hidden from public WHOIS records, in compliance with the GDPR.
Supported record types
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | Your server's IPv4 address | 203.0.113.42 |
| AAAA | Your server's IPv6 address | 2001:db8::1 |
| CNAME | Alias to another domain | www → monsite.fr |
| MX | Mail servers | mail.mondomaine.fr |
| TXT | Verification, SPF, DKIM… | v=spf1 include:… |
| NS | Name servers | ns1.monregistrar.fr |
| CAA | SSL certificate issuance authorization | 0 issue letsencrypt.org |
.fr domain name pricing
Clear, competitive pricing with no hidden fees. Renewal pricing may differ from the first-year price.
| Operation | Price excl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Registration Introductory price | 6,99 € 1 € 3-year offer — then €6.99/year |
| Annual renewal Per year | 6,99€/year |
| Incoming transfer From another registrar | 6,99€/year |
| Restoration (expired domain) Depending on time since expiration | 42,12€ |
| Change of registrant Ownership transfer | Free |
- DNS management included
- Unlimited subdomains
- DNSSEC available
- Web redirects
- WHOIS privacy (individuals)
- Transfer lock
No hidden feesAuto-renewalExpert support
Register a .fr domain in 3 steps
A simple, fast process.Your .fr domain name is usually active within minutes.
Enter your .fr domain name in our search tool. You'll instantly see whether the domain is available or already taken.
Enter the registrant's details, verify your .fr eligibility and complete your secure payment.
Point your .fr domain to your website, set up your professional email accounts and enable DNSSEC if desired.
With / without a hyphen
mon-projet.fr monprojet.fr
Singular / plural
service.fr services.fr
Accented / unaccented
café.fr cafe.fr
Get started — Check availability
Transfer your .fr domain easily
Want to switch registrars and let us manage your .fr domain? The process is straightforward — here's what you need.
Request this code from your current registrar. It is required to initiate an incoming transfer.
Make sure the contact email address at your previous registrar is active — you will receive a confirmation email.
A domain expiring in fewer than 7 days generally cannot be transferred. Renew it first if necessary.
For a .fr transfer
• Transfer initiation Immediately
• Registrant email confirmation A few hours
• AFNIC validation 1–5 business days
• Transfer completion A few days
During the transfer, your domain remains active and continues to operate normally. There is no service interruption.
Domain lifecycle: avoid losing your domain
Understanding your .fr domain's lifecycle is essential to prevent serviceinterruptions or permanent loss of your domain.
Your domain is registered and fully functional. Your website, email and DNS services are operational.
Enable auto-renewal to prevent interruptions.Reminder emails are sent 50, 40, 30, 10 and 5 days before expiration. This is the time to renew.
- Risk if ignored: losing the domain
The domain expires. Services may be gradually interrupted according to registry rules.
- Website may go offline
- Email delivery may fail
- Loss of traffic
After expiration, the domain enters a redemption period. Restoration is possible but incurs additional fees.
- Restoration fees
- Time to restore service
The domain is released back into the AFNIC pool. Anyone can register it again.
- Permanent loss of the domain
- Risk of cybersquatting
- Loss of search rankings
How to choose the right .fr domain name
A good .fr domain name is a strategic asset.Here are our tips for making the right choice.
Choose a short name (ideally 3–15 characters) that is easy to pronounce, spell and remember. Avoid multiple hyphens or overly long compound names.
Short = memorableEasy to spellEasy to say clearlyYour domain should match your business name, logo or flagship product. Consistency builds trust and instant recognition.
Easy to recognizeRelevant to your businessConsistent with your social mediaTo protect your brand, consider registering key variations: with/without a hyphen, singular/plural, and accented versions. Redirect them to your main domain.
With and without a hyphenSingular and pluralAccented version (IDN)A .fr domain also gives you a professional email identity. contact@votreentreprise.fr is much more credible than a generic address.
contact@mondomaine.frbonjour@mondomaine.frhello@mondomaine.frFAQ: .fr domain names
Answers to your questions about registering,
transferring and managing your .fr domain.
- What is a domain name?
A domain name is your website's address on the internet (e.g., monentreprise.fr). It gives you a recognizable, memorable online presence and lets you create professional email addresses. Technically, it points to an IP address through the DNS system.
- Can I register a .fr domain if I am not in France?
Yes, under certain conditions. .fr domains are open to European Union nationals and entities, as well as residents of the European Economic Area. Specific conditions depend on your situation — consult AFNIC's rules for special cases.
- Does a .fr domain automatically improve my SEO?
No, not automatically. A .fr domain sends a relevant geographic signal to search engines for searches targeting France, but it cannot replace quality content, solid technical architecture and an effective link-building strategy. The TLD is just one factor among many.
- Can I use accented characters in a .fr domain?
Yes! .fr supports IDNs (Internationalized Domain Names), so you can register names containing accented characters: café.fr, réseau.fr, île.fr, etc. Technically, these names are converted to Punycode (xn--...) but display correctly in modern browsers.
- Is DNSSEC mandatory for a .fr domain?
No, DNSSEC is not mandatory. It is an optional but recommended security extension. It adds cryptographic validation to DNS responses, reducing certain risks such as DNS spoofing and cache poisoning. You can enable it from your customer account.
- What if my .fr domain name is already taken?
You have several options: (1) try name variations (with a hyphen, plural, accented version), (2) try other extensions (.com, .net, .eu, etc.), (3) contact the current registrant if you want to buy the domain, or (4) monitor the domain if it is due to expire soon using a backorder service.
- How long does it take to activate a .fr domain?
Activating a new .fr domain is usually very quick — often just a few minutes. Full DNS propagation can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours depending on the servers and resolvers. In practice, most visitors can access the website within hours of registration.
- What happens if I let my .fr domain expire?
After expiration, the domain enters a grace period followed by a redemption period, during which you can restore it (for an additional fee). If you do not act, it is permanently released and anyone can register it. Your services (website, email) may be interrupted. Enabling auto-renewal is strongly recommended.
- Can I transfer my .fr domain at any time?
Yes, subject to a few conditions: the domain must not be in a lock period (60 days after registration or a recent transfer), it must not expire within 7 days, and you must have the authorization code (AuthCode) from your current registrar.
- How do I connect my .fr domain to my website or email?
You can access the DNS management interface from your Ikoula customer account. To point to a website, edit the A (IPv4) or AAAA (IPv6) record. For email, configure the MX records using the details supplied by your email hosting provider. Detailed guides are available in our documentation.
Can't find the answer? Contact our support team