.AU Domain Eligibility and Renewal Checks
auDA requires registrars to confirm that .AU domain registrations continue to meet Australian eligibility requirements. These checks may occur when a domain is registered, transferred or renewed.
For most customers, there is nothing to worry about. If the eligibility details linked to your domain are still current and valid, your domain can continue to renew normally.
If we are notified of an eligibility problem with your domain, we will contact you and explain what needs to be checked or updated. We also prevent an affected domain from being renewed until the issue has been resolved, so you do not inadvertently pay for a renewal that cannot be completed.
The most common issues involve an ABN, ACN or other eligibility detail that has changed, been cancelled, or no longer matches the entity associated with the domain.
Do I need to do anything?
If you have not received a notification from us, you do not normally need to take any immediate action. It is still a good idea to make sure the business, organisation or individual associated with your .AU domain remains eligible and that the relevant registration details are current.
You can check your domain via WHOIS lookup :
https://whois.auda.org.au/
Ensure the "Eligibility" fields contain your active ABN or ACN details.
If we contact you about an eligibility issue, please follow the instructions in the email or support ticket. The eligibility issue needs to be resolved before the domain can be renewed.
What happens if the issue is not resolved?
An affected domain cannot be renewed until its eligibility requirements have been satisfied. If the issue remains unresolved through expiry and the applicable grace periods, the domain may eventually be cancelled.
This can ultimately affect websites, email and other services using the domain, which is why we recommend responding to an eligibility notice promptly. In most cases there is time to resolve the issue before it reaches that stage.
Why might a domain be flagged?
A domain may be selected for an eligibility or compliance review if the registrar or auDA needs to confirm that the registration still meets the rules for that namespace.
This may happen because:
- an ABN or ACN is no longer active;
- the registered entity has changed;
- the business or organisation has been restructured;
- ownership of the domain has changed;
- the registrant details no longer match the eligible entity; or
- supporting information is required to confirm the connection between the registrant and the domain name.
How do I check my details?
If you want to review your eligibility information, check the entity currently associated with the domain and confirm that it is still active and eligible.
Depending on the type of registration, this may involve checking:
- an ABN through the Australian Business Register;
- company or organisation details through ASIC;
- trademark details where relevant; or
- the individual or organisation details associated with the domain.
Please note that ordinary domain contact details are not always the same as the eligibility details used to support the registration.
What if the registrant itself needs to change?
Sometimes the problem cannot be corrected by simply updating existing details. For example, the domain may need to be transferred from an old or cancelled business entity to the current eligible entity.
In these cases a Registrant Name Change (RNC) may be required.
The RNC fee is $88.00 and includes a new two-year registration period, so you do not also pay a separate domain renewal fee for that period.
We will let you know if an RNC is required and what information you need to provide.
What information might I be asked to provide?
If additional verification is required, you may be asked for information such as:
- an active ABN, ACN or relevant trademark;
- evidence of the connection between the domain name and your business, organisation or activity;
- ASIC extracts;
- trust or organisation documents;
- sale or transfer documentation; or
- other information needed to confirm eligibility.
Not every review requires documents. In some cases, correcting or updating the registrant details is enough.
How long do I have to respond?
If your domain is flagged, we will tell you the response deadline in the email or support ticket we send you.
Please respond as soon as practical. Resolving the issue while the domain is still active is generally much easier than waiting until the domain is close to expiry.
Will my website or email stop working immediately?
No. Being notified of an eligibility issue does not normally mean your website or email will immediately stop working.
The risk arises if the issue is not resolved and the domain ultimately expires or is cancelled. At that point, services that rely on the domain, including websites and email, can stop working.
What makes a .AU domain eligible?
Eligibility depends on the type of .AU domain:
- .com.au / .net.au – generally used by Australian commercial entities and must meet the applicable auDA eligibility and domain-name connection rules.
- .org.au – intended for eligible not-for-profit organisations and associations.
- .id.au – intended for eligible Australian individuals for personal use.
- .au direct – requires an eligible Australian presence, which may include Australian citizens, permanent residents, businesses and other qualifying entities.
The exact rules can vary depending on the namespace and the basis on which the domain was originally registered.
Is there a fee for a compliance check?
No. There is no fee simply because a domain has been selected for an eligibility or compliance review.
A fee only applies if a Registrant Name Change or another separately chargeable process is required.
I updated my details in the client area, but WHOIS does not show the change
Domain contact information and domain eligibility information are not always the same thing.
Updating your contact name, email address or phone number does not necessarily update the entity or eligibility details supporting the domain registration. If you are unsure, reply to the support ticket or email we have sent you and we can confirm what needs to be changed.
How will I be notified?
If we are notified that one of your domains requires attention, we will contact you by email and/or support ticket.
Your domain renewal page may also display a warning and prevent renewal until the eligibility issue has been resolved.
Received an eligibility notice from us?
Don't panic and don't ignore it. Reply to the support ticket or email we have sent you and we will help you work through what needs to be corrected.
Most eligibility issues are much easier to resolve while the domain is still active and well before its expiry date.
