Frequently Asked Questions
Please refer to our F.A.Q. to resolve any questions you may have before submitting a support ticket.
Domain Names:
What general conditions cover registration of Australian domain names?
The basis of registration of .au domain names is this:
ELIGIBILITY AND ALLOCATION RULES FOR ALL OPEN 2LDS
First come, first served
1. Domain name licences are allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. It is not possible to pre-register or otherwise reserve a domain name.
Registrants must be Australian
2. Domain name licences may only be allocated to a registrant who is Australian, as defined under the eligibility and allocation rules for each 2LD.
Composition of domain names
3. Domain names must:
a) be at least 2 characters long;
b) contain only letters (a-z), numbers (0-9) and hyphens (-), or a combination of these;
c) start and end with a number or a letter, not a hyphen; and
d) not contain hyphens in the third and fourth position (eg. ab--cd.com.au).
Domain name licence renewal period
4. The domain name licence period is fixed at 2 years. It is not possible to license a domain name for a shorter or longer period.
5. Renewal of a domain name licence at the end of the 2 year period is dependent on the registrant continuing to meet the eligibility and allocation rules for the relevant 2LD.
Number of domain names
6. There is no restriction on the number of domain names that may be licensed by a registrant.
auDA’s Reserved List
7. auDA’s Reserved List contains names that may not be licensed. The list is available on auDA’s website at http://www.auda.org.au.
Prohibition on registering domain names for sole purpose of resale
8. A registrant may not register a domain name for the sole purpose of resale or transfer to another entity.
ELIGIBILITY AND ALLOCATION RULES FOR ALL OPEN 2LDS
First come, first served
1. Domain name licences are allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. It is not possible to pre-register or otherwise reserve a domain name.
Registrants must be Australian
2. Domain name licences may only be allocated to a registrant who is Australian, as defined under the eligibility and allocation rules for each 2LD.
Composition of domain names
3. Domain names must:
a) be at least 2 characters long;
b) contain only letters (a-z), numbers (0-9) and hyphens (-), or a combination of these;
c) start and end with a number or a letter, not a hyphen; and
d) not contain hyphens in the third and fourth position (eg. ab--cd.com.au).
Domain name licence renewal period
4. The domain name licence period is fixed at 2 years. It is not possible to license a domain name for a shorter or longer period.
5. Renewal of a domain name licence at the end of the 2 year period is dependent on the registrant continuing to meet the eligibility and allocation rules for the relevant 2LD.
Number of domain names
6. There is no restriction on the number of domain names that may be licensed by a registrant.
auDA’s Reserved List
7. auDA’s Reserved List contains names that may not be licensed. The list is available on auDA’s website at http://www.auda.org.au.
Prohibition on registering domain names for sole purpose of resale
8. A registrant may not register a domain name for the sole purpose of resale or transfer to another entity.
What are the conditions of registration for a .com.au domain name?
The com.au 2LD is for commercial purposes.
The following rules are to be read in conjunction with the Eligibility and Allocation Rules for All Open 2LDs, contained in the first question of this FAQ.
1. To be eligible for a domain name in the com.au 2LD, registrants must be:
a) an Australian registered company; or
b) trading under a registered business name in any Australian State or Territory; or
c) an Australian partnership or sole trader; or
d) a foreign company licensed to trade in Australia; or
e) an owner of an Australian Registered Trade Mark; or
f) an applicant for an Australian Registered Trade Mark; or
g) an association incorporated in any Australian State or Territory; or
h) an Australian commercial statutory body.
2. Domain names in the com.au 2LD must be:
a) an exact match, abbreviation or acronym of the registrant’s name or trademark; or
b) otherwise closely and substantially connected to the registrant.
The following rules are to be read in conjunction with the Eligibility and Allocation Rules for All Open 2LDs, contained in the first question of this FAQ.
1. To be eligible for a domain name in the com.au 2LD, registrants must be:
a) an Australian registered company; or
b) trading under a registered business name in any Australian State or Territory; or
c) an Australian partnership or sole trader; or
d) a foreign company licensed to trade in Australia; or
e) an owner of an Australian Registered Trade Mark; or
f) an applicant for an Australian Registered Trade Mark; or
g) an association incorporated in any Australian State or Territory; or
h) an Australian commercial statutory body.
2. Domain names in the com.au 2LD must be:
a) an exact match, abbreviation or acronym of the registrant’s name or trademark; or
b) otherwise closely and substantially connected to the registrant.
What are the conditions of registration for a .net.au domain name?
The net.au 2LD is for commercial purposes.
The following rules are to be read in conjunction with the Eligibility and Allocation Rules for All Open 2LDs, contained in the first question of this FAQ.
1. To be eligible for a domain name in the net.au 2LD, registrants must be:/
a) an Australian registered company; or
b) trading under a registered business name in any Australian State or Territory; or
c) an Australian partnership or sole trader; or
d) a foreign company licensed to trade in Australia; or
e) an owner of an Australian Registered Trade Mark; or
f) an applicant for an Australian Registered Trade Mark; or
g) an association incorporated in any Australian State or Territory; or
h) an Australian commercial statutory body.
2. Domain names in the net.au 2LD must be:
a) an exact match, abbreviation or acronym of the registrant’s name or trademark; or
b) be otherwise closely and substantially connected to the registrant.
The following rules are to be read in conjunction with the Eligibility and Allocation Rules for All Open 2LDs, contained in the first question of this FAQ.
1. To be eligible for a domain name in the net.au 2LD, registrants must be:/
a) an Australian registered company; or
b) trading under a registered business name in any Australian State or Territory; or
c) an Australian partnership or sole trader; or
d) a foreign company licensed to trade in Australia; or
e) an owner of an Australian Registered Trade Mark; or
f) an applicant for an Australian Registered Trade Mark; or
g) an association incorporated in any Australian State or Territory; or
h) an Australian commercial statutory body.
2. Domain names in the net.au 2LD must be:
a) an exact match, abbreviation or acronym of the registrant’s name or trademark; or
b) be otherwise closely and substantially connected to the registrant.
What are the conditions of registration for a .asn.au domain name?
The asn.au 2LD is for non-commercial organisations.
The following rules are to be read in conjunction with the Eligibility and Allocation Rules for All Open 2LDs, contained in the first question of this FAQ.
1. To be eligible for a domain name in the asn.au 2LD, registrants must be:
a) an association incorporated in any Australian State or Territory; or
b) a political party registered with the Australian Electoral Commission; or
c) a trade union or other organisation registered under the Workplace Relations Act 1996; or
d) a sporting or special interest club operating in Australia; or
e) a charity operating in Australia, as defined in the registrant’s constitution or other documents of incorporation; or
f) a non-profit organisation operating in Australia, as defined in the registrant’s constitution or other documents of incorporation.
2. Domain names in the asn.au 2LD must be:
a) an exact match, abbreviation or acronym of the registrant’s name; or
b) otherwise closely and substantially connected to the registrant.
The following rules are to be read in conjunction with the Eligibility and Allocation Rules for All Open 2LDs, contained in the first question of this FAQ.
1. To be eligible for a domain name in the asn.au 2LD, registrants must be:
a) an association incorporated in any Australian State or Territory; or
b) a political party registered with the Australian Electoral Commission; or
c) a trade union or other organisation registered under the Workplace Relations Act 1996; or
d) a sporting or special interest club operating in Australia; or
e) a charity operating in Australia, as defined in the registrant’s constitution or other documents of incorporation; or
f) a non-profit organisation operating in Australia, as defined in the registrant’s constitution or other documents of incorporation.
2. Domain names in the asn.au 2LD must be:
a) an exact match, abbreviation or acronym of the registrant’s name; or
b) otherwise closely and substantially connected to the registrant.
What are the conditions of registration for a .id.au domain name?
The id.au 2LD is for individuals.
The following rules are to be read in conjunction with the Eligibility and Allocation Rules for All Open 2LDs, contained in the first question of this FAQ.
1. To be eligible for a domain name in the id.au 2LD, registrants must be:
a) an Australian citizen; or
b) an Australian resident.
2. Domain names in the id.au 2LD must be:
a) an exact match, abbreviation or acronym of the registrant’s personal name; or
b) otherwise closely and substantially connected to the registrant, because the domain name:
(i) includes, or is derived from, one or more words of the registrant's personal name; or
(ii) is a name by which the registrant is commonly known (ie. a nickname).
The following rules are to be read in conjunction with the Eligibility and Allocation Rules for All Open 2LDs, contained in the first question of this FAQ.
1. To be eligible for a domain name in the id.au 2LD, registrants must be:
a) an Australian citizen; or
b) an Australian resident.
2. Domain names in the id.au 2LD must be:
a) an exact match, abbreviation or acronym of the registrant’s personal name; or
b) otherwise closely and substantially connected to the registrant, because the domain name:
(i) includes, or is derived from, one or more words of the registrant's personal name; or
(ii) is a name by which the registrant is commonly known (ie. a nickname).
What are the conditions of registration for a .org.au domain name?
The org.au 2LD is for non-commercial organisations.
The following rules are to be read in conjunction with the Eligibility and Allocation Rules for All Open 2LDs, contained in the first question of this FAQ.
1. To be eligible in the org.au 2LD, registrants must be:
a) an association incorporated in any Australian State or Territory; or
b) a political party registered with the Australian Electoral Commission; or
c) a trade union or other organisation registered under the Workplace Relations Act 1996; or
d) a sporting or special interest club operating in Australia; or
e) a charity operating in Australia, as defined in the registrant’s constitution or other documents of incorporation; or
f) a non-profit organisation operating in Australia, as defined in the registrant’s constitution or other documents of incorporation.
2. Domain names in the org.au 2LD must be:
a) an exact match, abbreviation or acronym of the registrant’s name; or
b) otherwise closely and substantially connected to the registrant.
The following rules are to be read in conjunction with the Eligibility and Allocation Rules for All Open 2LDs, contained in the first question of this FAQ.
1. To be eligible in the org.au 2LD, registrants must be:
a) an association incorporated in any Australian State or Territory; or
b) a political party registered with the Australian Electoral Commission; or
c) a trade union or other organisation registered under the Workplace Relations Act 1996; or
d) a sporting or special interest club operating in Australia; or
e) a charity operating in Australia, as defined in the registrant’s constitution or other documents of incorporation; or
f) a non-profit organisation operating in Australia, as defined in the registrant’s constitution or other documents of incorporation.
2. Domain names in the org.au 2LD must be:
a) an exact match, abbreviation or acronym of the registrant’s name; or
b) otherwise closely and substantially connected to the registrant.
What are the conditions of registration for a .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info, .cc, .co domain name?
These domain names are open for registration bu anyone of any country with nor restrictions.
How long does it take to register a domain name?
It takes as long as it takes to fillout the form.
However, it can take 24 - 48 hours for your domain name to prpagate through the internet so all the servers know of its existence and where it points to ie. your website.
However, it can take 24 - 48 hours for your domain name to prpagate through the internet so all the servers know of its existence and where it points to ie. your website.
Can I have more than one domain name for my website?
Sure. You can have as many as you like as long as the rules for the.
You simply park the additional ones and point them to your website so when people visit your extra domains, they are routed to your website.
In fact it is very common and somewhat recommended that if it is possible to get the .com.au, .com and .net version of your domain name, you get them as well. This is mainly done to prevent anyone else registering a domain with your name on it.
You simply park the additional ones and point them to your website so when people visit your extra domains, they are routed to your website.
In fact it is very common and somewhat recommended that if it is possible to get the .com.au, .com and .net version of your domain name, you get them as well. This is mainly done to prevent anyone else registering a domain with your name on it.