Native language characters in domain names
A .fi domain name may contain Finnish letters that differ from the basic Latin alphabet, known as native language characters, such as å, ä and ö.
Most software converts these characters into a form that name server systems can process. However, not all software and keyboards support native language characters. For this reason, we do not recommend using a domain name containing native language characters as your primary domain name.
Internet name server systems can only process the traditional letters of the Latin alphabet (a–z). Native language characters in domain names must therefore be converted into another form before name servers can process them.
Software, web browsers and email programs that support national domain names automatically convert domain names from their human-readable plain text form into a form that name server systems can process.
However, because of technical limitations, we do not recommend using a domain name containing native language characters as your primary domain name.
Permitted characters in domain names
The permitted characters in .fi domain names are the letters a–z, the numbers 0–9, the hyphen-minus and the following native language characters:
A .fi domain name cannot begin or end with a hyphen-minus. A domain name cannot begin with xn--. The ACE form (ASCII Compatible Encoding) of a domain name containing native language characters always begins with xn--.
Rights to domain names containing native language characters
A .fi domain name holder does not have priority, on the basis of their existing domain name, to a corresponding domain name that also contains native language characters (å, ä, ö). Such domain names are also allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
However, both a domain name containing native language characters and one without them may be considered identical to a protected name or trademark that contains native language characters.
For example, both åäö.fi and aao.fi would be considered identical to the protected name or trademark ÅÄÖ. By contrast, only aao.fi would be considered identical to the protected name or trademark AAO.
Convert a domain name with the IDN converter
You can use the IDN converter to convert a domain name containing special characters into punycode.
A domain name is always entered in punycode form in the domain name system. For example, ääkkönen.fi is xn--kknen-fraa0m.fi in punycode.
The converter shows you the punycode form of the domain name before you apply for it.
Technical limitations of web browsers
The latest versions of most web browsers support domain names containing native language characters. The most popular of these include Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Safari.
Technical limitations of email addresses
If you want to use a domain name containing native language characters in an email address, the sender’s email program must support these characters. Support is still limited in many email programs, so you should check this directly with the software provider.
Because of technical limitations, we do not recommend using a domain name containing native language characters in an email address. Few email programs support IDNs. Without IDN support, you have to use the impractical encoded form of the domain name. For example, info@ääkkönen.fi is info@xn--kknen-fraa0m.fi in encoded form.
Keyboard support for native language characters
Typing .fi domain names containing native language characters can be difficult or even impossible on a foreign-language keyboard. If your keyboard does not support these characters, you can enter them in Windows, for example, using the Character Map application.