Australian domain names are now shorter and easy to remember

The introduction of the .au top-level domain offers an exciting chance for any individual or business with Australian ties to secure a .au domain name. In Australia, abbreviating words is a cultural quirk. This presents a fantastic chance to use shorter , memorable and easier alternative to existing domain name or acquire a new one for the very first time. Join the .au revolution.

Protect your brand and register a .au domain name

For organizations that have established their brand using Australian TLDs (Top-Level Domains) and maintained an online presence,
it’s highly advisable to secure a .au version of their domain name.

The initial priority registration period for the new .au domain names concluded on September 20, 2022.
It is now open for anyone to be able to register .au domain name provided it is still available.

Further details can be found on the auDA website under the .au Domain Administration Rules: Licensing.

What to do with your .au?

If you have purchased your .au domain, here’s what you can do to make the most of it

Frequently Asked Questions

  • To be eligible you must have an “Australian presence”.
  • If you already have a .au extension associated with a domain, you will have preference when registering the new .au extension associated with that domain. For example, if you already have “yourdomain.com.au” or “yourdomain.net.au”, you will have preference for “yourname.au”.
  • If someone else also has an existing .au extension associated with the same domain as you, then there is a chance of a conflict. An example of this would be if you have “yourdomainname.com.au” and someone else has “yourdomainname.net.au”.

Registrations for the new .au domain names opened on the 24th of March 2022.

Prices will be determined by each domain name Registrar. A Registrar is a business that handles the reservations of domain names and the assignment of IP addresses for those domain names. Think Webcentral or Melbourne IT.

Any existing domain names registered prior to the launch date will be reserved from being registered as .au names for 6 months – know as the Priority Allocation period. During this period, only the existing registrants of reserved names will be able to apply for the equivalent .au. For more information on the Priority Allocation process, please visit auDA

If two or more eligible people apply to register for the same new .au, there will be a conflict. auDA, the governing body for .au domain names is finalising the conflict resolution process, but it looks likely that the two contesting parties will negotiate directly with each other to find the best resolution.

Anyone who satisfies the “Australian Presence” criteria will be able to register it in the same way .au domain names are registered today. To register a domain name, click here.

auDA provide a priority status tool which you can use to validate the status of your domain name. The details can be found here.

By being any one of the following:

  • A Sole Trader, Partnership, Company, Charity, Association or Trust with a current ABN or ACN.
  • A permanent Australian resident or citizen.
  • You are a foreign business with an Australian trademark application or registration.

By providing any one of the following:

  • Australian Driver’s License.
  • Australian Passport.
  • Australian Citizenship Certificate.
  • Australian Business Number (ABN).
  • Australian Company Number (ACN).
  • Australian Trademark Application or Registration.

auDA, the governing body for .au domain names, defines the eligibility rules. More information on auDA can be found at auda.org.au. We will update this page with more detail on the eligibility rules soon.

“yourname.com.au” is the domain name, “yourname” is the domain and “.com.au” is the domain extension.

.com.au, .net.au, .org.au, asn.au, .id.au are the main domain extensions, but there are also domains available to government, educational and religious organisations like gov.au and edu. au, .nsw.gov.au, .vic.edu.au, catholic.edu.au etc.