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IDN ccTLDs: Country Codes in Local Scripts

Updated October 2026

Not every country code is written in Latin letters. Here is how domains like .рф and .中国 work, and when they make sense.

What is an IDN ccTLD?

An internationalised domain name (IDN) uses characters outside the basic Latin alphabet. An IDN ccTLD is a country-code extension written in a local script, so a whole address can be typed in Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi or another language.

Behind the scenes, browsers convert these names into an ASCII form called Punycode, which begins with xn--. Users never need to see it.

How they started

ICANN introduced IDN ccTLDs through a "fast track" process. The first ones, including Egypt's, Saudi Arabia's and the UAE's Arabic-script extensions and Russia's .рф, entered the root zone in 2010. Many more have followed since.

Examples of country codes in local scripts

A selection, not a complete list. Most are run by the same registry as the country's Latin-script extension.

Should you use one?

• Yes, if your audience reads and types that script every day, and you want a name that feels native.
• Be careful with email: some older email systems handle non-Latin addresses poorly.
• Keep a Latin-script name too, so international visitors and systems can always reach you.

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