Do you have any experience with registering .AU domain names? I heard that although anyone can register them, there are certain limitations in place.

It would be interesting to hear about your personal experience and any insights you may have on the topic.

Permissions required for registering a .au domain name differs significantly from those needed for .com.au domains. In order to register a direct .au domain, you only need to have an "Australian Presence", and a business is not mandatory. One of the standards for "Australian Presence" includes Australian citizenship. However, having a business in Australia or registering a foreign company to operate within the country is a separate issue altogether.

It's interesting to note how regulations for domain registration can vary significantly based on the extension. It's important for businesses and individuals to be aware of these differences before registering a domain for their website. In some cases, such as with the .au domain, having an "Australian Presence" can be enough to secure a domain, while other extensions may require additional requirements.

It is worth noting that when it comes to the Australian domain, third-level domain names can only be registered in one of the public subdomains. As of February 2011, 89% of domain names in AU were registered in the .COM.AU subdomain, with 10.8% in .NET.AU, and 2.5% in .ORG.AU. Similarly to other national domains, not all domain names are delegated and many work for redirects.

In the early 2000s, only a few hundred thousand domain names were registered in AU, however, after Melbourne-based company AusRegistry won a tender for a four-year period of registration of domain names in the national domain of Australia, they registered nearly 53,000 new domain names within this time, bringing the total number of domains to 300,000.

The growth of the Australian domain has been kept in check by strict rules established by academician Robert Elz. The domain is divided into "open" and "closed" segments, with .COM.AU only being available to representatives of registered businesses in Australia, .ASN.AU being intended for non-profit organizations, political parties, sports-related companies, and other interest groups, .NET.AU being reserved for commercial organizations and providers, and ID.AU being restricted to individuals who are residents of the country, while .ORG.AU is intended for public organizations and associations.

Despite the strict regulations, Facebook was able to obtain the rights to the domain Facebook.com.au from another company with the help of WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization), given that it was the sixth most popular site in Australia at the time, despite having no business in the country.

Today, the majority of domain registrations are held by the top 4 registrars, with a further quarter of registrations held by the following 4 companies, and the remaining registrars holding the smallest share. While there were only 19 registrars in Australia in 2002, this number has since grown to 38.

It's clear that the Australian domain has undergone significant growth and regulation over the years, with strict rules governing the allocation of domain names across different subdomains and categories. As one of the most popular and heavily-used domains in the country, it will be interesting to see how the Australian domain continues to grow and evolve in the coming years.

The .AU domain is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Australia. While anyone can potentially register a .AU domain name, there are certain eligibility requirements and restrictions in place.

To register a .AU domain, you generally need to meet one of the following requirements:

1. Australian presence: You must be an Australian registered company, organization, or association under Australian law.

2. Australian trademark: You must hold a registered trademark in Australia that matches the domain name you wish to register.

3. Personal name: If you want to register a domain using your personal name, it must match your legal name or an abbreviation of it.

4. Defensive registration: If you are an overseas company with no Australian presence, you can register a .AU domain to prevent others from using it.

These requirements ensure that .AU domains are primarily used by entities and individuals with a connection to Australia.

It's worth noting that there are different second-level domains within the .AU namespace, such as .com.au for commercial organizations, .org.au for non-profit organizations, and .id.au for individuals. Each second-level domain may have additional requirements.

To register a .AU domain, you would typically go through a domain registrar or reseller that offers .AU domain registrations. They will guide you through the registration process and help ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements.


details about .AU domain registrations:

1. Domain Availability: Before registering a .AU domain name, it's important to check its availability. You can do this by visiting the website of an accredited .AU registrar or using WHOIS lookup tools provided by various registrars.

2. Registration Period: The standard registration period for .AU domains is two years. After this initial period, you can renew the registration indefinitely in one or two-year increments.

3. Domain Transfer: If you already own a .AU domain registered with one registrar, you can transfer it to another registrar if desired. The transfer process typically involves obtaining an authorization code from your current registrar and following the new registrar's instructions for initiating the transfer.

4. Reselling .AU Domains: Some registrars offer the option to become a reseller, allowing you to offer .AU domain registration services to others. This can be a business opportunity if you're interested in providing domain registration services.

5. Domain Disputes: In the event of a domain dispute, the .AU domain registration authority, auDA (au Domain Administration Ltd.), has implemented policies and procedures to resolve conflicts. These include the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) and the .au Dispute Resolution Policy (auDRP).

Remember that specific rules and policies may change over time, so it's advisable to consult official sources or seek guidance from a qualified professional or registrar when considering .AU domain registration.