To register a .com.au domain, the applicant must meet Australia’s presence requirements, qualify as a commercial entity and satisfy the rules connecting the chosen domain name to that entity.
The changes recommended in the 2025-2026 auDA review have been approved in principle, but their implementation dates have not been finalised. Existing registration requirements continue to apply while auDA prepares the revised rules and transition arrangements.
For a planned registration, you can check NiceNIC's registration and renewal prices and search for your preferred domain. If your company's eligibility or trademark wording needs clarification, NiceNIC support can help review the requirements before you place an order.
Have the proposed .com.au rule changes taken effect?
As of September 23, 2026, auDA’s published review information says the implementation timetable remains under development.
The auDA Board approved the Policy Advisory Panel’s recommendations in principle at its August 2026 meeting. Further work includes an implementation plan, proposed amendments and consultation on the draft rules.
An approval in principle does not make a proposed requirement immediately binding. The article below therefore distinguishes between rules currently used to assess applications and changes recommended for future implementation.
The latest status is available on auDA's Licensing Rules Review page.
Who can register a .com.au domain?
.com.au is intended for eligible commercial entities with a recognised connection to Australia.
Common eligibility routes include an Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN), Australian Registered Body Number (ARBN), or an eligible Australian trademark registration or application.
Australian citizenship or permanent residence alone does not establish every requirement for .com.au. The commercial entity and domain allocation requirements also matter.
auDA's official .com.au guide explains the available routes and links to the complete eligibility rules.
Does the domain have to match my business name?
Not necessarily under the current rules.
Depending on the applicant’s eligibility basis, a domain may qualify through a permitted match or acronym of an entity’s name, a trademark, certain related entities, or specified goods, services and activities.
The current goods and services route requires the relevant offering to exist when the application is made. A general intention to start a business later does not automatically establish the required connection.
The precise definitions matter. A domain being available, or containing a word related to an industry, does not by itself make the registration eligible.
The applicable provisions are in sections 2.4.4 and 2.4.5 of the auDA Licensing Rules.
Can a foreign company register without an Australian office?
Yes, if it satisfies an accepted eligibility route. A physical Australian office is not a universal requirement. An overseas company may, for example, qualify through an Australian trademark or appropriate Australian business registration.
Where an applicant relies on an Australian trademark to establish its Australian presence, Rule 2.4.5 requires the domain to meet the trademark exact match standard.
This generally requires the trademark’s words in their original order, subject to the exclusions permitted by the rules. Adding a product category, location or other descriptive word can break that match.
For illustration, assuming all other requirements are met and the name is available:
-
An Australian trademark for APEX may support
apex.com.au. -
That trademark alone does not support
apexcloud.com.auorapexaustralia.com.authrough the trademark exact match route.
This restriction follows the eligibility basis used. It should not be described as a blanket rule applying identically to every foreign company.
auDA provides a dedicated explanation of the trademark exact match requirement.
Which .com.au rules may change?
The review covers more than domain naming. The official summary of recommendations includes the following proposals.
Domain allocation
Recommendation 2 proposes removing the allocation route based on goods, services, events, activities or premises. Other specified name and trademark routes would remain.
Renewal timing
Recommendation 6 proposes removing the restriction that normally limits renewal to the final 90 days before expiry.
Cooling-off period
The same recommendation proposes extending the cooling-off period from three days to five.
Recovery and deletion
Changes are also proposed to redemption and pending/hold periods.
Domain monetisation
Recommendation 1 supports continuing to permit monetisation in .com.au, .net.au and .au direct, subject to the applicable rules.
These are proposed outcomes awaiting implementation. In particular, the existing 90-day renewal window and three-day cooling-off period should not be described as permanently unchanged.
Current Rules vs. Proposed Changes at a Glance
Status checked: September 23, 2026. The recommendations below have not yet replaced the current rules.
Will existing .com.au domains be affected?
The effect on existing registrations will depend on the final implementation and transition arrangements.
auDA currently says existing .com.au and .net.au holders do not need to take action because of the proposed allocation change yet. The review alone is not a reason to abandon a domain, register a new business name or purchase an additional trademark.
However, existing obligations continue. Keeping registrant information accurate and maintaining the eligibility supporting a domain remain important.
For portfolio planning, a useful record is the basis supporting each registration: an entity name, trademark, related entity or current goods and services connection. That record can help assess any future transition requirements once they are published.
What information should I prepare for registration?
The information needed depends on the eligibility route. A practical preparation checklist includes:
- Intended registrant: the person or legal entity that will hold the domain licence.
- Legal name: consistent with the relevant business or trademark record.
- Eligibility identifier: the applicable ABN, ACN, ARBN or Australian trademark application or registration number.
- Domain connection: the basis connecting the requested name to the registrant.
- Contact information: accurate address, telephone number and a working email address.
- Supporting evidence: relevant records or documents if further verification is requested.
For an ABN-based application, ABN Lookup allows you to check public entity details and whether the ABN is active or cancelled.
For a trademark-based application, Australian Trade Mark Search helps identify the record, applicant or owner, and relevant wording.
There is no single document checklist that guarantees acceptance for every applicant. Identifying the correct eligibility route first helps avoid submitting unrelated evidence.
Can an agency register .com.au for a client?
Yes. An authorised agency or developer can assist with registration, but the client’s eligible entity should be recorded as the registrant when the client is intended to hold the licence.
Using an agency’s own business details merely because they are available can leave the wrong entity recorded as the holder.
For agencies managing several clients, this makes registrant selection a separate decision from choosing the account used to manage or pay for domains. auDA explains this distinction in its guidance on third-party domain management.
Why might a registration be delayed or rejected?
When an application needs review, the useful question is which requirement has not been established.
Points to check include:
- Does the eligibility number belong to the intended registrant?
- Does the submitted name match the relevant official record?
- Is the credential still valid?
- Does the requested domain meet the chosen allocation route?
- For a trademark-based presence claim, does the wording satisfy exact matching?
- Has a request for further information reached a monitored email address?
For example, a company name entered alongside a different entity’s ABN creates an identity mismatch. An additional word in a trademark-based domain may create a separate allocation problem.
A payment receipt does not resolve either issue. Correcting the identified mismatch is more useful than repeatedly submitting the same information.
How do I register .com.au through NiceNIC?
1. Check the domain and its cost
The domain search can help establish availability, while the domain price list provides a reference for registration and renewal costs. Availability is separate from eligibility.
2. Identify the intended licence holder
Use the entity that should hold the domain and prepare the information supporting its qualification.
3. Complete any eligibility review
If the requested name or qualification is unclear, NiceNIC support can help clarify what information is needed. A review may require further evidence.
4. Complete payment through an available method
NiceNIC offers the methods listed on its payment options page. For online crypto funding, NiceNIC currently adds no processing fee, while the provider currently charges 1.5%; wallet or network fees may also apply. The checkout total governs the payment.
5. Confirm the registration outcome
Payment completion, account credit and domain activation are separate events. Registration is complete when the order has been successfully processed and the domain’s status confirms the outcome.
For automated workflows, the NiceNIC Domain API documentation and WHMCS integration guide are the appropriate starting points. Any .com.au-specific field mapping needs confirmation before production use.
When can I renew a .com.au domain?
Under the current rules, renewal is available during the 90 days before expiry. Registration and renewal terms can range from one to five years, depending on the provider’s available options.
After expiry, there is currently a 30-day renewal grace period, but the domain will not function normally during that period. Website and email services can therefore be interrupted.
The proposed removal of the 90-day restriction has not yet replaced this process. Waiting for a possible future rule change is not a reason to miss an existing renewal date.
The current process is described in auDA's renewal guidance.
Does transferring a domain change its owner or expiry date?
Changing registrars and changing registrants are different operations.
A registrar transfer changes the service provider managing the domain. A change of registrant changes the licence holder and requires the incoming holder to qualify.
auDA’s current guidance states that full remaining years can carry across during a registrant transfer. Its example describes a domain with three years and two months remaining transferring with a three-year licence period. It is therefore inaccurate to assume every ownership change discards the entire remaining term and starts again.
The applicable fee and resulting expiry date should be confirmed for the transaction. Further details are available in auDA's transfer guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I register the wrong name?
The current three-day cooling-off process allows a cancellation request, with the wholesale registration fee refunded to the provider. A refund to the customer depends on the provider’s policy. It is not an automatic promise of a full retail refund.
Does having an active ABN let me register any .com.au name?
No. The domain must also meet the applicable allocation requirements. An active ABN does not establish a connection to every available name.
Can I use .com.au for email without building a website?
Generally, yes. However, if the eligibility connection relies on a service provided through a website, that supporting basis needs to exist.
Does paying with USDT change the eligibility requirements?
No. Payment method and domain eligibility are separate. Crypto funding does not remove registrant verification or naming requirements.
Where can I confirm a requirement before ordering?
The relevant auDA rules establish the policy requirements. For information about submitting a particular application through NiceNIC, contact NiceNIC support.
Planning a .com.au Registration?
A clear eligibility basis makes the next step easier: the intended holder, the supporting business or trademark record, and the connection to the requested name.
You can search available domains at NiceNIC and compare current registration and renewal prices. For overseas applicants or applications with unusual business or trademark details, NiceNIC support can help clarify the submission requirements.
