The Australian Presence requirement means that a .au domain name represents a person or organisation with a genuine connection to Australia.
Part of the rules which govern .au domain names, the Australian Presence requirement means anyone who registers a .au domain name must be able to show a validated connection to Australia.
When a .au domain name is created, renewed or transferred to a new registrant, the domain name provider is required to validate the information provided by the registrant which shows they meet the Australian Presence requirement, such as an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Australian-issued drivers' licence.
The Australian Presence requirement is why when you see a .au domain name, you can trust it’s local.
Why the Australian Presence requirement matters
The Australian Presence requirement helps ensure .au remains trusted, secure and locally relevant.
You can trust it’s Australian
Requiring a validated connection to Australia ensures a .au domain name represents an individual, business or organisation with a connection to Australia.
Protecting Australian users and businesses
The rule helps reduce misleading or deceptive domain name registrations, bad-faith use (such as impersonation) and misuse of Australian brand identity. It plays an important role in auDA’s efforts to ensure very low levels of DNS abuse in .au.
As .au domain name holders require an Australian presence, it also means they are subject to Australian law.
How do you meet the Australian Presence requirement?
The most common ways to meet the Australian Presence requirement are by holding a valid ABN or Australian Company Number (ACN), or being an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
The full list of entities which meet Australian Presence requirement can be found in the definitions section of the .au Licensing Rules.
Note: This page provides an overview and examples of the Australian Presence requirement for registering .au domain names. Find the definition, including the list of ways you can meet the Australian presence requirement, at section 1.4 of the .au Licensing Rules.