To register a .com.au domain, the applicant must meet the Australian commercial-entity requirements, and the name must have a permitted connection to that entity. An active ABN or ACN is the route for many businesses, but the full rules also cover other eligible circumstances. Simply having an Australian address does not make any chosen name eligible.
Before you buy the website package, compare shared hosting for your Australian site separately from the domain licence. First establish the eligible registrant and a name that meets the .com.au rules.
Two checks: who can hold it, and which name they can use
.com.au is intended for commercial entities with an Australian connection. The proposed label must also match one of the allocation criteria in the .au Licensing Rules. A valid ABN is not a blanket approval to register an unrelated word or another business's brand.
- Registrant test: identify the commercial entity that will hold the licence and the evidence of its Australian presence.
- Name test: identify how the proposed domain connects to that entity under the rules.
- Continuing test: the registrant must continue to meet the applicable requirements while it holds the licence and at renewal or transfer.
What connection can the name have to the business?
auDA's public guidance gives examples including a business or personal name, an acronym, a matching Australian trade mark, or a product or service the business offers. The Licensing Rules include more detail on the permitted relationships. For a trade mark-based application, special rules apply to how closely the domain must match the mark. Do not assume the broad examples remove the full criteria.
Use the name that can be explained with evidence, not just a search-friendly phrase. A town name, popular term or product keyword does not automatically qualify because a business operates in Australia.
ABN, ACN and other evidence
For many Australian small businesses, the current ABN or ACN is the clearest starting point. business.gov.au's introductory guide highlights ABN or ACN. auDA's more detailed guidance also recognises additional situations, such as an Australian Registered Body Number for a foreign company registered to trade in Australia, or an Australian trade mark in the relevant circumstances.
The exact evidence depends on the entity and eligibility route. A physical Australian street address is not required in every case: auDA says it is not the determining factor if the applicant meets the commercial-entity presence requirement another way. If your situation is unusual, check the current Licensing Rules or ask the registrar to confirm which evidence applies before payment.
Example: a new café name
Hypothetical example: a company with an active ABN plans to open a café and sell coffee. A name matching its registered business name may meet a different path from a name connected to a service or product it actually offers. The company should verify the proposed name against the relevant rule and check availability and trade mark rights. This example does not establish that a particular real café is eligible.
Check these details before submitting
- Use the legal details of the intended registrant and make sure that entity is eligible.
- Record the precise allocation criterion you believe the name meets and the evidence for it.
- Search availability and check relevant trade marks. Domain availability is not trade mark clearance.
- Review the licence period, initial fee, renewal terms and contact email with the registrar or reseller.
- After registration, check that the registry record shows the intended holder and keep the business contact details current.
If you are not eligible for .com.au, compare the rules for .au direct and other Australian domain options before abandoning the name search. Once the domain decision is clear, compare hosting packages for the site.
Sources and photo credit
Registry and government guidance checked on 29 October 2026.
- auDA — .com.au domain names
- auDA — .au Domain Administration Rules: Licensing
- business.gov.au — Register a domain name
- auDA — Which rules apply to my .au domain name?
Cover photo: Tima Miroshnichenko / Pexels. Illustrative office scene; it does not show an ABN, application or auDA check.