Information Centre

Many people ask whether they can register .com.au domains without an ABN (Australian Business Number) and the answer to this question is - it depends.

In order to register .com.au domain names, as part of the registration process you'll need to supply either:

• an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• an Australian Company Number (ACN)
• a Registered Business Number (BN)
• Trademark number

If you don't have any of the above (and/or don't meet other eligibility criteria), you won't be able to register a .com.au web address.

The good news is getting an ABN is a very simple thing to do - it's a fairly quick process and it won't cost you a cent. You can register for an ABN here, then come back to this site to register your chosen name.

If for whatever reason you aren't able to obtain an ABN, such as you're not carrying out a business activity, there are some other .AU options. For example, .org.au is available for community groups and .asn.au for associations. For those names, you'll need to provide incorporation details.

Finally, there's also the .id.au names; for which you don't need any of the above. However, it's important to note there are strict guidelines as to the domain name you can use and the address cannot be used for commercial purposes. The id.au extension is strictly for hobby or personal use only.

Failing all that, there's always the well known generic Top Level Domains such as .com, .net and .org that have no eligibility criteria - anyone, anywhere in the world can register these and use them for any purpose (within registry guidelines). While these extensions may not have the same level of trust among Australians as .AU names, they are well-recognised and also suitable for an international audience.

While eligibility rules for .AU names can be somewhat of a pain, they serve a very important purpose - preserving the namespace's integrity and ensuring it continues to enjoy a solid reputation as one that can be trusted.

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