Registering Australian Domain Names - What You Need To Know

Domain Names Articles | January 25, 2011

With the increasing popularity of Australian domain names, potential registrants need to know certain conditions for registering a name in the .au space

Australian domain names are becoming increasingly popular; not only in Australia, but with overseas companies wanting to establish an online presence in the country. However, unlike .com, .net org and .biz names; there are some special conditions for registering a domain in the .au space.

The policy authority and regulatory body for the .au domain space is .au Domain Administration Ltd (auDA). According to auDA policies, to be eligible to register .com.au and .net.au domain names, registrants must be one of the following:

- An Australian registered company
- Trading under a registered business name in any Australian State or Territory
- An Australian partnership or sole trader
- A foreign company licensed to trade in Australia
- Be an owner of an Australian Registered Trade Mark
- An applicant for an Australian Registered Trade Mark
- An association incorporated in any Australian State or Territory
- An Australian commercial statutory body

There are other .au extension options that can be registered, but these too have conditions. For example, to be eligible for an .id.au name, you need to be an Australian citizen or resident and these cannot be used for commercial purposes. To be eligible for a org.au or .asn.au domain name, the registrant must be either:

- an Australian incorporated association
- an Australian political party
- an Australian Trade Union or organization under Workplace Relations Act 1966
- an Australian sporting or special interest club.

While having a .com.au domain name for doing business in Australia will certainly give you a bit of an edge, if you are not eligible for any .au name you may wish to consider registering a .com, .net, .org or .biz domain name - in many cases

, it won't scare Australian consumers off as they are quite comfortable with the ".com" extension. Just give your site an Australian flavor to make Aussies feel at home!

Article Tags: Australian Domain Names, Australian Domain, Domain Names, Australian Registered

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael Bloch is currently consulting for Domain Registration Services, who have been providing Australian domain names and website hosting since 1998.