All .au domain names are managed by auDA (.au Domain Administration), the body endorsed by the Australian Government, under the .au Domain Administration Rules. The rules make sure .au names go to people and organisations with a genuine connection to Australia and to the name they're registering.
Everyone needs an "Australian presence"
To register any .au domain, you must have an Australian presence. For example, you could be:
- an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- an Australian registered company
- a business with an ABN (including sole traders and partnerships)
- an incorporated association, registered charity or cooperative
- a foreign company with an ARBN
- the owner of (or applicant for) an Australian registered trade mark
Direct .au names (e.g. yourname.au)
You only need an Australian presence, so an Australian citizen or permanent resident can register one without an ABN.
.com.au and .net.au
These are for commercial use, so you need to be a commercial entity, which in practice usually means having an ABN or ACN. The name must also be one of:
- an exact match, abbreviation or acronym of your company, business or personal name
- a match of your Australian registered trade mark
- the name of a partnership you're in or a trust you're trustee of
- a match or synonym of a service you provide, goods you sell, an event you run, an activity you teach, or premises you operate
You don't need a company: sole traders and trade mark owners are eligible too.
Need an ABN?
You can apply for free on the Australian Business Register. Make sure you use the official government site, because other sites may charge a fee.
Registering for a trust? See Registering a .au Domain Name as a Trust.
