What is the New .au Direct Domain Name?

As a business owner, having a trusted presence online is not only essential in this day and age but can also be a great way to stand out from your competitors.

With so many domain names options available, the new, shorter, .au domains provide a shorter but still uniquely Australian domain to help customers stay focussed on your brand. Get ahead of your competitors and find out more about the new .au direct domain name and eligibility requirements below.

Register your .au Domain Name on March 2022

You may have heard of domain names such as .com.au, .net.au, .org.au and more, but from March 2022, a new domain name will be added to the list of available domain names to register for!

The Australian domain governing body, auDA, has announced the introduction of .au direct domain name in 2022, which opens up options for Australian business owners like yourself who are looking to expand their online presence and reach more customers on the internet.

Benefits to Registering .au Direct for Your Business

While .au direct domain names have similar function for your online business, there are a few other advantages that your business may experience from the new domain name. These include:

• More domain name options in the trusted Australian domain
• Shorter, more memorable URLs for your business
• Easier typing and better visual display on mobile devices

How Do I Know if I am Eligible for .au Direct Domain Names?

The rules are pretty simple. All you need to apply for a .au direct domain name is to show proof of your Australian presence. This could mean:

• An individual with proof of Australian citizenship or PR
• A business entity be registered in Australia
• Australian registered associations and government entities

Importantly, unlike registering a .com.au, you do not need to have an ABN or ACN to register a .au domain. This means, for the first time, Australian-based individuals are able to register a uniquely Australian namespace.

Once you have established your eligibility, you will be able to register your .au direct domain name through an auDA accredited registrar like Webcentral.

Pre-Register Your New Domain Name

If you already have a registered domain name for your business and are one of our existing customers, there is no need to wait. You can pre-register your.au direct domain name through us right now.

While it is unlikely that another person will want the same .au direct domain name as you, these cases do happen. For example:

Person A is the owner of newaussiebusiness.com.au
Person B is the owner of newaussiebusiness.net.au

In this scenario, the priority allocation process will be activated. Should you think you might face a similar scenario, you may need to know how the Priority Allocation Process works.

Webcentral Can Help You Secure Your .au Direct Name

As an accredited registrar with auDA, we will be able to help you secure your preferred new .au direct domain name for your Australian business. Register for our newsletter today for more updates closer to March and look up our FAQs page to help you better prepare for application.