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.net.au

Effective from 1 July 2024, we have added "Trust" to the list of possible relation types for .AU, .COM.AU, .NET.AU and .ASN.AU. You can find the updated overview in the document AU-Relationtype-Table-01-07-24.PDF.

  • Legal Changes

AUDA will change the registration policies and eligibility requirements for .au third level domains.
Please check the links below for more details and examples:
https://www.auda.org.au/au-domain-names/new-au-licensing-rules
General changes to registration and management of all domain names under .au:
Renting or leasing of domain names to a third party as well as proxy or privacy services are prohibited, the only exception is the registrations by related corporate bodies such as Australian subsidiaries.

The window to restore a cancelled domain is set to two days, the window to fix minor policy breaches is increased from 12 to 30 days.
Registrants must provide additional warranties and consent to the collection, processing and publication of their registration data by the registry.
https://www.auda.org.au/au-domain-names/new-au-licensing-rules/changes-how-registrants-use-and-manage-au-domain-names

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  • Changes for .com.au and .net.au:

Registrants using a Trade Mark as basis for their eligibility must bear in mind that the domain name must include all the words in the order in which they appear in the Australian Trade Mark, excluding: DNS identifiers such as com.au; punctuation marks such as an exclamation point or an apostrophe; articles such as ‘a’, ‘the’, ‘and ’or ‘of’; and dashes or ampersands. To remain eligible for a domain name the registrant should change the basis on which it meets the Australian presence requirement.

Companies can now apply for and hold .au domain name licences on behalf of another company in their corporate group (a ‘related body corporate’), as long as that related company meets the Australian presence requirement.
The definition of ‘commercial entity’ has been expanded to include Commonwealth entities, statutory bodies under commonwealth state or territory legislation, incorporated limited partnerships under State or Territory legislation, trading co-operatives and the government being the crown.
The registrant must provide company registration or trademark registration numbers that can be matched to the respective Australian government databases.
https://www.auda.org.au/au-domain-names/new-au-licensing-rules/comau-and-netau-rule-changes

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  • Changes for .org.au:

The registrant must be a not-for-profit-organization. The definition of that term has changed as detailed in the link below. Unincorporated associations are no longer eligible in this TLD unless it is registered in the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission’s (ACNC) Register of Charities. Other unincorporated associations are eligible to register in the asn.au namespace.
The registrant must provide organisation registration numbers that can be matched to the respective Australian government databases.
The allocation rules are changed as well, please see the link below for details.
https://www.auda.org.au/au-domain-names/new-au-licensing-rules/orgau-rule-changes

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  • Changes to .id.au:

Names that refer to a personal interest or a hobby can no longer be registered in the id.au namespace.
The id.au domain name being applied for must be:

a) a match to a Person’s legal name, first name or family name;
b) an acronym or abbreviation of the Person’s legal name, first name or family name; or
c) a nickname of the Person.

It is recommended that registrants apply for priority to register the matching second level .au name once the implementation of second level names begins.
https://www.auda.org.au/au-domain-names/new-au-licensing-rules/idau-rule-changes

Please note that domain name registrations that used to be eligible under the old rules but are no longer eligible under the new rules cannot be renewed after April 12, 2021 unless the registration information is updated to comply with the new policies. These changes will be hard-coded in our system to enforce the new policies.

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  • Technical Changes

Mapping of X-AU-Extensions
We removed extensions that are used for the mapping which are not in use at all anymore.
But the mapping does not make a difference for the use of the extensions.
No extensions are added or removed.
Registrant Name: => X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION
Registrant ID Type: ABN/ACN etc => X-AU-DOMAIN-IDTYPE
Registrant ID Number: => X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER
Eligibility Name: => X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION (formerly: X-AU-DOMAIN-RELATIONNAME → doesn’t exist any more)
Eligibility ID Type: => X-AU-DOMAIN-IDTYPE
Eligibility ID Number: => X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER
Eligibility Type: Company, sole trader etc => X-AU-DOMAIN-RELATIONTYPE

API commands

Please find in the following a set of the most commonly used standard API commands in order to register, modify, renew, and transfer a domain name.

Domain Registration

(API Command reference » AddDomain)
Exception
command         = AddDomain
domain          = yourdomain.net.au
period          = (INT)
ownercontact0   = (CONTACT)
admincontact0   = (CONTACT)
techcontact0    = (CONTACT)
billingcontact0 = (CONTACT)
nameserver0	= (NAMESERVER)
nameserver1 	= (NAMESERVER)
X-AU-DOMAIN-IDTYPE       = (TEXT)(mandatory for all Related TLDs)
X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER     = (TEXT)(mandatory for all Related TLDs)
X-AU-DOMAIN-RELATION     = 1|2
X-AU-DOMAIN-RELATIONTYPE = (TEXT)
X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION  = (TEXT)
X-AU-ELIGIBILITY-NAME     = (TEXT)(optional for all Related TLDs)
X-AU-ELIGIBILITY-IDTYPE   = (TEXT)(optional for all Related TLDs)
X-AU-ELIGIBILITY-IDNUMBER = (TEXT)(optional for all Related TLDs)

As the domain owner contact needs to provide a valid Australian postal address, the below states (provinces) are valid for the state contact field:

  • VIC - Victoria
  • NSW - New South Wales
  • SA - South Australia
  • NT - Northern Territory
  • WA - Western Australia
  • TAS - Tasmania
  • ACT - Australian Capital Territory
  • QLD - Queensland
  • JBT - Jervis Bay Territory

Check of X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER / X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION
For AddDomains, for Trades and for Modifies affecting the respective extensions checks will be done to make sure that the data provided is valid (X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER, X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION). X-AU-DOMAIN-IDTYPE determines if, respectively, how the check is done, as we access different external databases or might not have a database available (when Type = OTHER), depending on this type. We check IDs of the type ABN or ACN against the entries of the ABR. For IDs of the type TM there is a trademark database.

Registration for trademark owner

Exception
command         = AddDomain
domain          = yourdomain.net.au
period          = (INT)
ownercontact0   = (CONTACT)
admincontact0   = (CONTACT)
techcontact0    = (CONTACT)
billingcontact0 = (CONTACT)
nameserver0	= (NAMESERVER)
nameserver1 	= (NAMESERVER)
X-AU-DOMAIN-IDTYPE       = TM (mandatory for all Related TLDs)
X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER     = [Trademark number](mandatory for all Related TLDs)
X-AU-DOMAIN-RELATION     = 2
X-AU-DOMAIN-RELATIONTYPE = TrademarkOwner
X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION  = [Trademark owner name]
X-AU-ELIGIBILITY-NAME     = (TEXT)(optional for all Related TLDs)
X-AU-ELIGIBILITY-IDTYPE   = (TEXT)(optional for all Related TLDs)
X-AU-ELIGIBILITY-IDNUMBER = (TEXT)(optional for all Related TLDs)

Precheck for X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER / X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION

Exception
command      = AddContact
title        = [TEXT]
firstname    = [TEXT]
middlename   = [TEXT]
lastname     = [TEXT]
organization = [TEXT]
street0      = [TEXT]
street1      = [TEXT]
street2      = [TEXT]
city         = [TEXT]
zip          = [TEXT]
state        = [TEXT]
country      = [COUNTRY]
fax          = [PHONE]
phone        = [PHONE]
email        = [EMAIL]
X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER =  [TEXT]
X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION = [TEXT]
X-AU-DOMAIN-IDTYPE = [TEXT]
checkonly    =1
EOF

In the course of the changes we also provided a precheck which is now already available in the LIVE system. It allows you to check already now if the data of the extensions is correct. This precheck is included in the AddContact command and can be called as mentioned below.

Domain Modification

(API Command reference » ModifyDomain)
Standard command
command = ModifyDomain
domain  = yourdomain.net.au

Change of registrant

Exception
command       = TradeDomain
domain        = yourdomain.net.au
ownercontact0 = (CONTACT)
period = 1-5 years
X-AU-DOMAIN-IDTYPE       = (TEXT)(mandatory for all Related TLDs)
X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER     = (TEXT)(mandatory for all Related TLDs)
X-AU-DOMAIN-RELATION     = 1|2
X-AU-DOMAIN-RELATIONTYPE = (TEXT)
X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION  = (TEXT)
X-AU-ELIGIBILITY-NAME     = (TEXT)(optional for all Related TLDs)
X-AU-ELIGIBILITY-IDTYPE   = (TEXT)(optional for all Related TLDs)
X-AU-ELIGIBILITY-IDNUMBER = (TEXT)(optional for all Related TLDs)

The trade is carried out through a FoA process where current and future owner have to approve the trade by email to their respective address. The trade will expire if not approved.

It's not necessary to transmit parameter "period = " if the default value "1 year" is desired.

!! Important Note !!

For domain names with expiration date in the future (current expiration year +1-9 years), the remaining registration period will be revoked after the trade.

Check of X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER / X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION
For AddDomains, for Trades and for Modifies affecting the respective extensions checks will be done to make sure that the data provided is valid (X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER, X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION). X-AU-DOMAIN-IDTYPE determines if, respectively, how the check is done, as we access different external databases or might not have a database available (when Type = OTHER), depending on this type. We check IDs of the type ABN or ACN against the entries of the ABR. For IDs of the type TM there is a trademark database.

!! Important Note !!

If only the Owner Contact needs to be Updated, this can be considered a Correction and can be performed via Domain Update. To successfully update the Owner Contact, please make sure, that no Extensions are also updated within this command.

Updating single Extensions

If you only want to update ONE of X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION or X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER, this is a correction wich can be sent via Domain Update, if the following conditions are met:

  • Only X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION or only X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER are updated
  • X-AU-DOMAIN-IDTYPE is one of ABN, ACN or TM
  • The Checks for Validity are successful

Updating several Extensions

If more than one Extension (especially more than only X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION or X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER) need to be updated, this may be a Correction, that needs to be approved and be done Manually by RRP Support.
If this update is not a correction, it can be Done with TradeDomain.

Domain Renewal

(API Command reference » RenewDomain)
Command
command    = RenewDomain
domain     = yourdomain.net.au
period     = (INT)
expiration = (INT)
  • Domain names may be renewed a maximum of 90 calendar days before the expiry date

Domain Deletion

(API Command reference » DeleteDomain)
Command
COMMAND = DeleteDomain
DOMAIN = yourdomain.net.au

Domain Transfer

(API Command reference » TransferDomain)
Command
command = TransferDomain
domain = yourdomain.net.au
action = REQUEST
auth = (TEXT)
  • A .net.au domain transfer must be initiated with a so-called "Authorisation Code", which can be obtained from the current registrar through the owner or Admin-C of the domain.
  • Please ensure, that you have a correct "Authorisation Code" associated with the domain, before initiating the transfer, otherwise it will fail.
  • Please note that you need a signed request from the registrant before you initiate the transfer.
  • Initiate the transfer on time and not just shortly before the domain expires.
  • The transfer request is confirmed by FoA email and will be processed after confirmation

Domain Restore

(API Command reference » RestoreDomain)
Command
command = RestoreDomain
domain  = yourdomain.net.au

Domain Extensions

X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBERSpecify the identification number as appropriate
X-AU-DOMAIN-RELATIONTYPESpecify what makes the registrant eligible to register a .com.au, .net.au, .org.au or .id.au domain name.

company
registeredbusiness
soletrader
partnership
trademarkowner
pendingtmowner
incorporatedassociation
club
nonprofitorganisation
charity
tradeunion
industrybody
commercialstatutorybody
politicalparty
other
citizenresident
religiouschurchgroup
HigherEducationInstitution
ResearchOrganisation
GovernmentSchool
ChildCareCentre
Preschool
NationalBody
TrainingOrganisation
NongGvernmentSchool
UnincorporatedAssociation
IndustryOrganisation
RegistrableBody
IndigenousCorporation
RegisteredOrganisation
Cooperative
Trust
EducationalInstitution
CommonwealthEntity
StatutoryBody
TradingCooperative
CompanyLimitedByGuarantee
NonDistributingCooperative
NonTradingCooperative
CharitableTrust
PublicPrivateAncillaryFund
PeakStateTerritoryBody
NotForProfitCommunityGroup
X-AU-ELIGIBILITY-IDNUMBER(optional) Specify the identification number as appropriate.
X-AU-ELIGIBILITY-NAME(optional) Is used when a legal entity has a registered business name or registered trademark that matches the domain name, can also be used for the name of the trust or incorporated association.
X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION* The name of the registrants organisation

* If X-AU-DOMAIN-IDTYPE = TM, the name of the trademark as found on https://search.ipaustralia.gov.au/trademarks/search/quick

Domain Extensions for organisations or companies

X-AU-DOMAIN-IDTYPEFor .com.au, .net.au and org.au
ABN | ACN | TM | ACT | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA
X-AU-DOMAIN-RELATIONThis indicates the relationship between the Eligibility Type (e.g. business name#) and domain name. Specify the Policy reference number as appropriate from the table below:
1 2LD name is an exact match, an acronym or abbreviation of the company or trading name, organisation or association name, or trademark.
2 2LD name is closely and substantially connected to the organisation or activities undertaken by the organisation.
X-AU-ELIGIBILITY-IDTYPE(optional) Used for the Australian government issued identifier associated with the Eligibility Name. For .com.au, .net.au and org.au,
ABN | ACN | TM | ACT | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA

Domain Restrictions

  • Check of X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER / X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION
    For AddDomains, for Trades and for Modifies affecting the respective extensions checks will be done to make sure that the data provided is valid (X-AU-DOMAIN-IDNUMBER, X-AU-OWNER-ORGANIZATION). X-AU-DOMAIN-IDTYPE determines if, respectively, how the check is done, as we access different external databases or might not have a database available (when Type = OTHER), depending on this type. We check IDs of the type ABN or ACN against the entries of the ABR. For IDs of the type TM there is a trademark database.
    Until recently it was also compared with the entry "Organization" at the Domain Owner. But this check was removed now.
  • Physical persons can only register ID.AU domains.
  • Companies can only register *.COM.AU, *.NET.AU, *.ORG.AU domains.
  • .COM.AU
    • Domain names must be an exact match, abbreviation, or acronym of the Registrant's name or trademark, or otherwise closely and substantially connected to the Registrant.
    • Eligibility Type - ABN/ID and eligibility name must match.
      • Company
      • Partnership (An Australian partnership or sole trader.)
      • Pending TM Owner (An applicant for an Australian Registered Trademark.)
      • Registered Business
      • Sole Trader
      • Trademark Owner (The owner of an Australian Registered Trademark.)
  • .NET.AU
    • Domain names must be an exact match, abbreviation, or acronym of the Registrant's name or trademark, or otherwise closely and substantially connected to the Registrant.
    • Eligibility Type - ABN/ID and eligibility name must match.
      • Company
      • Partnership (An Australian partnership or sole trader.)
      • Pending TM Owner (An applicant for an Australian Registered Trademark.)
      • Registered Business
      • Sole Trader
      • Trademark Owner (The owner of an Australian Registered Trademark.)
  • .ID.AU
    • Domain names must be an exact match, abbreviation, or acronym of the Registrant's personal name or otherwise closely and substantially connected to the Registrant. The name must include or be derived from one or more words of the Registrant's name or the name by which the Registrant is commonly known (nickname).
    • Eligibility Type
      • Citizen/Resident (To register a .ID.AU domain name, registrants must be an Australian citizen or an Australian resident.)
  • .ORG.AU
    • Domain names must be an exact match, abbreviation, or acronym of the Registrant's name or otherwise closely and substantially connected to the Registrant.
    • Eligibility Type - ABN/ID and eligibility name must match.
      • Charity (A charity operating in Australia, as defined in the registrant’s constitution or other documents of incorporation.)
      • Club (A sporting or special interest club operating in Australia.)
      • Incorporated Association (An association incorporated in any Australian State or Territory.)
      • Non-profit Organisation (A non-profit organization operating in Australia, as defined in the registrant’s constitution or other documents of incorporation.)
      • Trade Union (A trade union or other organization registered under the Workplace Relations Act 1996.)
  • Notes:
    • The Eligibility Type must correspond to the Eligibility Name. This can be validated/checked through an ABN checker like http://abr.business.gov.au/. I've outlined the available eligibility types for each TLD above.
    • The Eligibility ID (typically an ABN/ACN) must be provided for all .AU TLDs, with the exception of .ID.AU. This ID is checked and validated against the entity/registrant name that's provided.
    • The Policy Reason has 2 options. It's essentially the reason that the registrant is entitled to use the domain name. This field is required. Allowed values are:
    • The name exactly matches the acronym or abbreviation of the registrant's company or trading name, organization or association name, or trademark.
    • The name is connected closely and substantially to the registrant.

We domains
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