au Domain Administration

After registering a .au or .com.au domain, au Domain Administration (auDA), the organization that oversees these domains, requires that registrants are provided with a certificate of registration. How you change multiple fields in your Additional Information panel depends on whether your domain is registered through Tucows or Domain Directors Pty Ltd trading as Instra, a partner of Key-Systems. How you change a single field in your Additional Information panel depends on whether your domain is registered through Tucows or Domain Directors Pty Ltd trading as Instra, a partner of Key-Systems.

Which entities can register for .au and .com.au domains?

If you don’t register the .au alternative, it’s also possible that someone else could step in and take it.
It’s for this reason that the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) recommends that all Australian businesses with existing domain names register the .au equivalents.
But from March 2022 the way we register domain names in Australia is changing, and it’s the biggest shake-up to domain names in the last 20 years.
From 24 March 2022, Australians have access to shorter and simpler domain names with the introduction of direct .au domain names.
You should also be aware that the initial registration price may change or increase when it comes time to renew.
This will ensure no one else can access them once the priority registration period ends.
You need to have a valid ABN to register one, so it’s a quick and easy way of letting your customers know that you are an entity with a presence in Australia.

The new .au domain names can be a good opportunity for you to secure a shorter website name for your business, helping you appeal to customers, create trust and improve your marketing. Tracing cybercriminals can be difficult, and it can also be complicated to regain a domain name once it is registered to someone else, so as always, prevention is key. It’s generally a good idea to register the different endings of domain names, such as the .com and the .com.au versions. If you choose not to buy your .au direct domain, then following the end of the priority period on 20 September 2022, it will become possible for others to register it. Your domain name is an important part of your business – its identity, brand and marketing. Your existing name in the .au domain will continue to operate as it does today, provided you keep your registration up to date. Generally, you can register a domain name for between one and 5 years, with extensions available if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements for the domain. You should also be aware that the initial registration price may change or increase when it comes time to renew. Registrars set the retail price so it’s worth shopping around to find a registrar with a competitive price and whose services meet your needs.

There are also specific rules around whether you can register domains in the .au namespace.
Browse the table below to learn about the unique features and rules of registering a domain ending in .au or .com.au.
This guide covers certain special requirements and exceptions from Squarespace and the relevant organization that oversees .au and .com.au domain registration.
Similarly, .au domains can be used for businesses and organizations, or for individuals with an Australian address.
How you receive your certificate depends on if your domain is registered through Tucows or Domain Directors Pty Ltd trading as Instra, a partner of Key-Systems.
Once you’re ready, you can apply for your .au domain through your existing domain name registrar, or by visiting any auDA accredited registrar.

Public impact

It’s important to use the priority registration period from now until 20 September 2022 to register any .au domains that you’re entitled to claim. That’s why the ACSC recommends that all Australian businesses with existing domain names register the .au equivalents. It’s for this reason that the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) recommends that vicibet casino all Australian businesses with existing domain names register the .au equivalents.

Registrar resources

For domains registered through Tucows, there's no need to manually generate your certificate. To change one field in the Additional Information panel of your domain, contact us with the information you need to update. Whether or not you need an Australian Business Number (ABN), an Australian Company Number (ACN), or neither to register your domain depends on your entity type and which ccTLD you’re registering. When registering or renewing a .au domain, ensure that your Australian Government issued ID matches the registrant information you provide. This will ensure no one else can access them once the priority registration period ends.

What happens if your business doesn’t register a .au direct domain?

This will also help you protect yourself, your business or your organisation from attempts at fraud or types of cybercrime. AuDA lists the wholesale price of a .au domain at $8.67 per year including GST. So, what do you need to know and what are the opportunities and risks for your business? Your website can be a great place to showcase what you do or what you sell, attract new customers, and create trust in your business. If you run a business in Australia, you probably already have a website – or have at least thought about getting one. You can reserve your .au domain name through your existing domain name registrar, or by visiting any auDA accredited registrar. Once you’re ready, you can apply for your .au domain through your existing domain name registrar, or by visiting any auDA accredited registrar. You’ll see businesses and companies using domains such as .com.au or .net.au, a charity using .org.au and governments using .gov.au, as some examples. There are also specific rules around whether you can register domains in the .au namespace. This means you’re now able to register and use a shorter domain name, such as yourbusiness.au rather than yourbusiness.com.au. Business Victoria delivers programs and services to support Victorian business to start, run and transform their business. As 2026 kicks into gear, auDA CEO Bruce Tonkin provides his first update of 2026, taking a look at the year ahead. Find the tools and resources to manage your .au domain name. Search for your perfect .au domain name and find a domain name provider. We'll charge you the current price of a .au or .com.au domain, plus any applicable taxes. You can transfer your domain away from Squarespace at any time because .au and .com.au domains don't have a 60 day lock period. There's no grace period to cancel .au or .com.au domains, and no refunds. When registering a .au or .com.au domain, you'll need to provide information about you or your Australian company or organization. Browse the table below to learn about the unique features and rules of registering a domain ending in .au or .com.au. Whether or not you need an ABN, an ACN, or neither, depends on your entity type and which ccTLD you’re registering. If they don't match, we'll email you prompting you to update your registration information. If your domain no longer appears in your domains dashboard, the option to renew it may no longer be available, but you can contact us to confirm if the domain can be reactivated. If you don’t already have a .au or .com.au domain, you can register one with us.

What are the changes to Australian domain names?

When you complete the domain transfer steps, you'll receive an email from your new domain provider confirming the transfer is in progress. Keep in mind, there may be a redemption fee to restore the domain in addition to the domain’s regular renewal cost. If you connect a third-party .au or .com.au domain, these guidelines don't apply. This guide covers certain special requirements and exceptions from Squarespace and the relevant organization that oversees .au and .com.au domain registration. The .au and .com.au country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) follow different rules than most other ccTLDs we offer. These domains are a great option if you want to establish an online Australian presence. Your clients might not spot that the invoice they’ve just received was from and not your actual email address Consider this risk carefully and how it might affect your business and its operation in the future. However, it’s important to consider the risks of not doing so, including cybersecurity risks. This is because .com.au domains are intended for registered Australian businesses and organizations. When registering or renewing a .au or .com.au domain, ensure that your registration information exactly matches your ABN records. Even if you don’t plan on using the new .au direct domain name, registering it now ensures you have access to it in the future. But from March 2022 the way we register domain names in Australia is changing, and it’s the biggest shake-up to domain names in the last 20 years. If your domain had time remaining on its registration, that time is lost when you change the information. A new year of domain registration begins when the change is complete. Changing multiple fields in the Additional Information panel is considered a trade, or a change to the ownership of the domain. You can find your registrar by entering your domain into the au Domain Administration (auDA) whois tool and reviewing the Registrar field. The process for how to update the information depends on whether you change one field or multiple fields in the Additional Information panel. Similarly, .au domains can be used for businesses and organizations, or for individuals with an Australian address.

What documentation do I need to register a .au or .com.au domain?

You can register or connect domains ending in .au or .com.au to Squarespace if you have an Australian address. However, it’s also important to protect your business, your clients or customers, and yourself during this process. If you don’t register the .au alternative, it’s also possible that someone else could step in and take it. This new category of domain name allows users to register shorter, more memorable online names. Once your application is approved, you should be able to complete your registration and start using the .au direct domain shortly after that. The .au direct domain priority period runs from 24 March 2022 to 20 September 2022. A domain name ending in the .au namespace (com.au, .net.au, .org.au, .edu.au etc.) tells us that the business, organisation or individual using it has a connection to Australia. In addition to protecting your cybersecurity, shorter and simpler domains can be helpful for branding and marketing, making them more memorable to your customers and clients. After this priority period, the .au domain will become available to the general public on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. So, for example, if Joe owns joesbusiness.com.au, he has until 20 September 2022 to register joesbusiness.au as well. Previously, it was only possible to license lower level .au domain names, such as com.au, net.au, org.au, and so on. From 24 March 2022, Australians have access to shorter and simpler domain names with the introduction of direct .au domain names. The Australian Domain Name Administrator requires that all .au and .com.au domains include specific information in their registration details. If your entity type isn't listed, you can’t register your domain with Squarespace. If you have an issue registering your domain, you’ll receive an error message with instructions on how to fix it.