A .com.au domain is for commercial entities with a connection to Australia, and the name you choose must relate to your business. An active ABN or ACN is the most common way to qualify. If you want something shorter or you do not run a company, .au direct is open to anyone with a validated Australian presence. Rules are set by auDA and can change, so confirm the current wording on its site before you register.
Who can hold a .com.au
According to auDA’s .com.au page, these domains are for businesses with a connection to Australia: commercial entities registered to trade in Australia, or holders of an Australian trade mark. The most common route is an active ABN or ACN. Foreign companies trading in Australia can use an ARBN or an Australian trade mark. Set up your ABN before registering, because you must meet the requirements both at registration and for as long as you hold the name (auDA, com.au domain names).
You do not need a physical address in Australia, provided you meet the Australian commercial entity presence requirement.
The name must connect to the business
Having an ABN is not enough on its own. auDA says the domain must connect to your business, for example through your business or personal name, an acronym of it, a match to your Australian trade mark, or a match to a service or product you offer. It advises aiming for a name that closely matches your legal business name if the one you want differs from it.
Older guidance you may still see online (the 2012 policy) described “exact match, abbreviation or acronym” tests. auDA marks that policy as applying only to names last registered, renewed or transferred before 12 April 2021, and as superseded for new registrations by the .au licensing rules (auDA, 2012-04 policy). If a blog post quotes the old text, check it against the current rules.
.com.au or .au direct?
| Question | .com.au | .au direct |
|---|---|---|
| Who can register | Commercial entities with an Australian connection | Anyone with a validated Australian presence |
| ABN or ACN needed | Usually the route to eligibility | No |
| Name rules | Must connect to your business | Any available name, with permission to use it |
| Typical use | Established or trading businesses | Side projects, personal sites, new ideas, or a shorter alternative |
auDA’s .au direct page confirms that it can be registered by Australian citizens, permanent residents, trade mark holders and locally registered organisations, and states there is no intention to phase out .com.au in favour of .au direct (auDA, .au direct domain names).
Practical decision steps
- Check you are eligible for the namespace you want, using your ABN, ACN or trade mark details.
- Prefer the name customers already use. A name that matches your trading name is easier to say aloud and to remember.
- Avoid hyphens, odd spellings and long strings where you can, because people mistype them.
- Check the trade mark position before committing, particularly if you plan to build a brand around the name. Domain registration does not itself give trade mark rights.
- Register obvious variants if budget allows, and point them to one primary address with permanent redirects.
- Record who owns the registration. The licence should be held by the business, not by a freelancer or former staff member.
- Put renewal in the calendar and keep the registrant email current so notices reach someone.
.com.au or .com?
An Australian audience may find .com.au more familiar, and it signals an Australian connection. A .com is global and may suit a business primarily serving overseas customers, but the name you want is often taken. There is no ranking shortcut either way: Google’s SEO starter guide says keywords in the domain or URL path have hardly any effect on ranking beyond breadcrumbs (Google Search Central). Choose for clarity and trust, not for SEO tricks.
Keeping eligibility over time
Eligibility is not checked once and forgotten. auDA says you must meet the requirements for as long as you hold the name. If you change your legal structure or stop trading, review who holds the domain and whether it still qualifies. The same applies to a rebrand that changes your trading name; see the website redesign guide for protecting search visibility when domains change.
This is general information, not legal advice. For disputes or trade mark questions, seek professional advice.
Related decisions
A domain is one part of a trustworthy site. Once the name is settled, secure it properly with HTTPS, and make sure the site itself helps visitors take action, as covered in what makes a website convert.
Where Radiance Impact fits
Radiance Impact’s Technology division builds and redesigns business websites, including the practical set-up around them. To discuss your site, see Technology or get in touch.
Sources
- com.au domain names, auDA
- .au direct domain names, auDA
- Domain Name Eligibility and Allocation Policy Rules for the Open 2LDs (2012-04), auDA
- SEO starter guide, Google Search Central
