.AU Domain Registration Requirements and Eligibility

The .au namespace is strictly regulated by auDA (the .au Domain Administration). To maintain trust and integrity in the Australian digital economy, registering an Australian domain requires verifiable proof of an Australian presence. This applies to .com.au, .net.au, .org.au, and the newer direct .au extensions.

Eligibility for .com.au and .net.au

These are the most common commercial extensions in Australia. To register one, you must be a commercial entity and provide a valid identifier during registration. Eligible entities include:

• An Australian registered company. You must provide your Australian Company Number (ACN) or Australian Business Number (ABN).
• Trading under a registered business name in an Australian State or Territory.
• An Australian partnership or sole trader.
• A foreign company licensed to trade in Australia.
• An owner of an Australian Registered Trademark, provided the domain name is an exact match to the words subject to the trademark.

Eligibility for Direct .au Domains

The direct .au extension (e.g., yourname.au) has slightly broader eligibility rules than .com.au, but you still must have a verifiable Australian presence. Eligible applicants include:

• Any commercial entity listed above (using an ABN/ACN).
• Australian citizens or permanent residents. Individuals must provide proof of citizenship (passport) or residency (driver's license) upon request.
• Associations incorporated in any Australian State or Territory.

The "Exact Match" or "Close and Substantial Connection" Rule

For .com.au and .net.au, you cannot simply register any word you want. The domain name you request must be either:

1. An exact match of your registered business or company name.
2. An acronym or abbreviation of your registered company name.
3. A product or service that your business manufactures or sells.
4. An event that your business organizes or sponsors.

auDA actively suspends domains that are registered purely for speculative purposes (domain squatting) without a genuine connection to the registrant's business operations.