The Priority Allocation period for registering .au domain names will soon be closing, with existing holders of .com.au or .net.au domain names having until 20 September 2022 to apply for their corresponding .au domain name.
Post 20 September 2022, .au domains will be available for anyone to register provided they meet the eligibility criteria.
What is .au?
An example of a .au domain name is “pof.au”.
A .au domain name is an opportunity to shorten an existing domain name or to register a new one for the first time. Reasons to consider registering a .au domain name are:
- To grow your online presence.
- To simplify your domain name and make it easier to read and remember.
- To make your mobile domain name search easier.
- To ensure no one uses your existing domain name with the new .au extension.
What is the Priority Allocation period?
The Priority Allocation period lasts for 6 months and commenced on 24 March 2022. During the Priority Allocation period, the corresponding domain name (for instance: pof.au) to your currently registered one (pof.com.au) has been reserved for you to register. Once the Priority Allocation period ends on 20 September 2022, .au domains will be available to anyone to register. There are two categories of reserved domains:
- Category 1 – for existing domains registered prior to 4 February 2018
- Category 2 – for existing domains registered post 4 February 2018
For example: pof.com.au was registered prior to 2018, so it falls into Category 1. Category 1 domain holders will receive preference when registering .au domain names over Category 2 domain holders.
Eligibility Requirements
.au domain names are for general use, meaning any person or organisation can register them, provided they meet the eligibility criteria in the .au Licensing Rules. Unlike existing .au domain extensions (.com.au, net.au, etc.) which are subject to strict allocation criteria, the new .au domain extension does not need to match the applicant’s name, trade mark or a service, good, event, activity or premises provided by the applicant. Applicants must meet the same eligibility criteria (i.e. the ‘Australian presence’ requirement), however they are otherwise free to register any available .au domain name.
If two or more eligible parties apply to register the same new .au, there will be a conflict. auDA, the body which oversees domain names in Australia, is currently finalising details of what the conflict resolution process will be.
How much will it cost to register a .au domain?
Please contact us for pricing as costs can vary between Registrars.
To find out more contact: Natalie Hibberd, IP Manager (natalie.hibberd@pof.com.au)