Our Purpose
DotAU exists to answer the questions people actually have about .au domain names. Should you register a .com.au or the shorter .au direct? What does your ABN have to do with it? What happens if a renewal notice lands in your spam folder and your domain quietly expires? How do you move a domain to a better registrar without breaking your email?
The .au namespace is administered by auDA (the .au Domain Administration), with its own licensing rules, eligibility requirements, and lifecycle that differ in important ways from generic domains like .com. Most advice online is written for the global market and glosses over those differences. We write specifically for the Australian context.
What We Cover
- Choosing a namespace -- .au direct versus .com.au, .net.au, .org.au and the rest, and which fits your situation.
- Eligibility and registration -- how the Australian presence requirement works, what counts as a valid ABN or ACN connection, and how to register step by step.
- The domain lifecycle -- renewals, expiry grace periods, the drop list, and drop-catching in the .au space.
- Transfers -- moving a .au domain between registrars, domain passwords (EPP codes), and avoiding downtime.
- Choosing a registrar -- what actually matters: renewal pricing, alerts, DNS control, and support.
- Brand protection -- defensive registrations, the .au direct priority allocation history, and dealing with lookalike domains.
Our Editorial Team
Our articles are written and reviewed by a small team with direct, hands-on experience in the Australian domain industry:
- Tom Barker, Domain Portfolio Manager -- more than a decade managing Australian domain portfolios, including renewals, drop-catch auctions, and registrar migrations.
- Lisa Nguyen, Small Business Web Consultant -- has guided hundreds of Australian sole traders and companies through domain selection, eligibility, DNS, and email setup.
- Mark O'Sullivan, DNS & Domain Policy Analyst -- in the Australian hosting and DNS industry since the early 2000s, closely following auDA policy including the 2021 licensing rules and the .au direct launch.
Our Approach
Accurate and Current
.au policy changes. The licensing rules were consolidated in 2021, .au direct launched in 2022, and registrar practices evolve constantly. We reference auDA's published rules at auda.org.au and clearly indicate when articles were last updated.
Practical and Plain-English
We write for business owners and investors, not domain industry insiders. Where jargon is unavoidable -- registrant, registrar, registry, EPP -- we explain it the first time we use it.
Independent, With Clear Disclosures
We are not a registrar and we are not affiliated with auDA. This site is monetised through advertising (Google AdSense) and affiliate referrals to domain registrars. Affiliate links are disclosed where they appear and never determine what we recommend: our registrar guidance is based on the criteria we publish, and we tell you to check renewal pricing no matter who you register with.
Australian Focused
All content is written in Australian English for the Australian regulatory context: auDA's licensing rules, the Australian Business Register, and Australian consumer law as it touches domain registration.
Important Disclaimer
This website provides general information only. It is not legal or professional advice. Licensing rules, eligibility requirements, and registrar policies change over time. Always verify current requirements with auDA or your registrar before making decisions.
For official information about .au domain names, visit the auDA website or read the .au Licensing Rules.