To register a .com.au domain, you need an Australian business identity (usually an ABN or ACN), and a name that’s allowed under auDA’s rules. Then you search for the name, enter your ABN at checkout and pay for one to five years. The detail that trips most people up is the name itself: it has to connect to your business. And since May 2026, your ABN has to stay active for the domain to renew.
Key takeaways
- You need an Australian commercial identity: an ABN, ACN or ARBN, or an Australian trade mark.
- The name must match or abbreviate your business name or trade mark, or describe what you sell.
- Since 20 May 2026, .au renewals are blocked if the ABN or ACN behind the domain is no longer active.
- Register the domain to the business entity that will use it, not to a staff member or a web designer.
- Changes to the “goods and services” rule are proposed, not final. Existing names are expected to keep current rules.
Who can register a .com.au?
According to auDA’s rules, you must be a commercial entity registered to trade in Australia. In practice that means one of:
- An Australian Business Number (ABN), including sole traders.
- An Australian Company Number (ACN).
- An Australian Registered Body Number (ARBN), for foreign companies registered here.
- An Australian registered trade mark, or a trade mark application.
You don’t need a physical address in Australia. You do need to stay eligible for as long as you hold the name.
Which names are you allowed to register?
This is where most applications go wrong. Your .com.au must be one of these:
| Allowed basis | Example for “Smith Plumbing Pty Ltd” |
|---|---|
| A match of your business or company name | smithplumbing.com.au |
| An abbreviation or acronym of it | sp.com.au |
| A match of your trade mark | flowfix.com.au (if you own that trade mark) |
| A match or synonym of a product, service, event, activity or premises you offer | emergencyplumber.com.au |
A random brand idea that doesn’t match any of these won’t qualify, even if it’s available. Register the business name first, or choose a .au direct name instead, which has looser rules.
Proposed change: In August 2026, the auDA Board approved in principle removing the “product, service, event, activity or premises” pathway for new .com.au and .net.au names. In October, auDA proposed that the roughly 3.5 million existing names keep the current rules (SmartCompany). Draft rules are going to consultation. If you rely on that pathway, register sooner rather than later, and check for updates.
How do I register a .com.au, step by step?
- Check your ABN or ACN is active on the Australian Business Register, and note the exact legal name.
- Search for the domain and confirm it’s available.
- Choose the registrant carefully. It should be the business entity that trades under the name, such as the company, not a director personally.
- Enter your ABN or ACN and choose the eligibility basis (for example, “company name match”).
- Pick a term of one to five years and turn on auto-renew.
- Use a business email address you’ll always have access to, as the contact email.
- Confirm and pay. The name is usually live within minutes.
You can do all of this from our .com.au domain registration page.
What is the new ABN renewal check?
From 20 May 2026, renewals of .au names are blocked if the ABN or ACN behind the domain is no longer active. The check runs during the 90-day renewal window, according to registrar notices such as TPP Wholesale’s. Older articles that say “eligibility is only checked at registration” are now out of date.
This catches businesses that changed structure, for example a sole trader who later formed a company. If the domain is still under the old, cancelled ABN, it can’t renew. Fix it early with a registrant transfer to the new entity. If you don’t have an ABN at all, our guide to .com.au without an ABN explains your options.
What else trips businesses up?
- Registering in a designer’s or staff member’s name. When they leave, so can your control of the domain.
- Using a personal email as the contact. Renewal reminders go to an inbox nobody checks.
- Selling the business without moving the domain. Domain licences don’t transfer automatically with a sale. A registrant transfer is needed.
- Forgetting the cooling-off period. There’s a three-day cooling-off period after registration. After that, changing the registrant needs a transfer.
- Letting it lapse. After expiry, there’s a 30-day grace period. Then the name is purged and anyone can register it (auDA).
How much does a .com.au cost?
Prices vary between registrars, and cheap first-year deals often renew higher. Look at the multi-year cost and what’s included, such as DNS management and support. Our guide to .com.au domain costs breaks down real prices and hidden fees.
Should I also register .com and .au?
If your brand matters to you, yes. Australian customers trust .com.au most, but owning the matching .au and .com stops others using near-identical addresses. Point them all to one site. Our comparison of .com.au vs .com explains which to lead with.
Once your domain is registered, you’ll need somewhere to host your website and email. We offer Australian web hosting with free SSL and free migration, and you can register your domain with WMS in the same account.
Frequently asked questions
Can a sole trader register a .com.au?
Yes. A sole trader’s ABN is enough. The name must match your registered business name, your own name, a trade mark or what you sell.
How long does .com.au registration take?
Usually minutes, once eligibility details are correct. It can take longer if the registrar needs to check your documents.
Can I register a .com.au for a business I haven’t started yet?
You need an ABN, ACN or trade mark application first. Get the ABN and register the business name, then register the domain.
What happens if my ABN is cancelled?
You lose eligibility. Since May 2026, the domain won’t renew. Transfer it to an active entity before the renewal window opens.
Does .au WHOIS show my home address?
No. .au WHOIS shows the registrant name, the eligibility type and ID, and a contact name. It doesn’t show street addresses or phone numbers.
Sources
- com.au and net.au rule changes, auDA
- AU domain renewal rules changing from 20 May 2026, TPP Wholesale, 2026
- Small businesses keep existing .com.au URLs, SmartCompany, 21 October 2026
- Renewing your domain licence, auDA
- WHOIS Policy v1.2, auDA, June 2026