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The Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Australia is '.au'. ccTLDs are the two-letter domain extensions at the end of an Internet domain name that is associated with a specific country. ccTLDs are derived from ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes. The creation and delegation of ccTLDs are described in RFC 1591. The .au ccTLD was created on 5 March 1986 and is managed by .au Domain Administration (auDA).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Internet country code top-level domain | ..au |
| Date created | 5 March 1986 |
| Domain name policy manager | .au Domain Administration (auDA) |
| Registry operator | Afilias |
| Domain name allocator | Jon Postel, operator of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) |
| Domain name recipient | Kevin Robert Elz of Melbourne University |
| auDA description | Not-for-profit organisation with membership from Internet organisations, industry members and interested individuals |
| auDA revised rules | Adopted in 2021; applies to all domain names created or renewed after 12 April 2021 |
| auDRP | Adopted in 2016; applies to all domain names in the Australian open 2LD's registered after 2002 |
| auDRP dispute resolution providers | Two as of 2022 |
| Registrations | Permitted below a second-level domain |
| Second-level domain example | yourname.com.au |
| Direct registrations | Implemented on 24 March 2022 |
| Registration | Completed through a reseller, known as a registrar |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's internet country code top-level domain is '.au'
A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a two-letter internet top-level domain (TLD) that is generally used or reserved for a country, sovereign state, or dependent territory. ccTLDs are derived from ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes. All ASCII ccTLD identifiers are two letters long, and all two-letter top-level domains are ccTLDs. ccTLDs make up about 40% of the total domain name industry.
In 2018, the IANA began implementing internationalised country code top-level domains, consisting of language-native characters when displayed in an end-user application. The creation and delegation of ccTLDs are described in RFC 1591. While generic TLDs (gTLDs) have to obey international regulations, ccTLDs are subject to requirements determined by each country's domain name regulation corporation.
In the context of Australian domain names, the '.au' ccTLD has historically been bundled with a generic top-level domain. For example, the domain name 'resurgedigital.com.au' combines the '.com' gTLD with the '.au' ccTLD, indicating that the website is for an Australian business.
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This was created on 5 March 1986
The Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Australia is '.au'. This was created on 5 March 1986, when Jon Postel, operator of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), allocated it to Kevin Robert Elz, a computer programmer at Melbourne University. Elz created the original policies for .au and was responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Australian namespace on a voluntary basis for several years.
The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is a global body that controls numbers for protocols, the country code top-level domains (ccTLDs), and maintains IP address allotments. In 2018, the IANA began implementing internationalised country code top-level domains, consisting of language-native characters when displayed in an end-user application.
The .au ccTLD is managed by .au Domain Administration (auDA), a self-regulatory body created by the Australian Internet industry in the 1990s. The auDA obtained assent from ICANN in 2001 and commenced operating a new competitive regime for domain registration on 1 July 2002. Since this new regime, any registration has to be ordered via a registrar. Oversight of .au is by auDA, a not-for-profit organisation whose membership is derived from Internet organisations, industry members and interested individuals.
The naming rules for .au require registrations under second-level categories that describe a type of entity. For example, com.au is designed for commercial entities. This follows a similar allocation policy to that formerly used in other countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. Registrations are currently permitted below a second-level domain, such as "yourname.com.au". In April 2016, auDA announced it would introduce registrations directly at the second level, such as "yourname.au". Direct registrations were due to be implemented in 2017, but after a delay, the new launch date was set for 24 March 2022.
Au is not the only top-level domain name assigned to Australia. Some Australian territories have their own ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code and, therefore, their own ccTLD. For example, ".cc" is now operated by VeriSign, and ".hm" represents a nature preserve with no human inhabitants.
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Domain name policy is managed by .au Domain Administration (auDA)
The Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Australia is .au. It was created on March 5, 1986, and is currently operated by Afilias.
AuDA manages domain name policy as the ICANN and Australian Government-endorsed manager of the .au DNS. Under the 2012 Eligibility Rules, registering a domain in the "open" .au namespace required that one be an Australian organisation or individual, the holder of an Australian trademark, or a foreign company licensed to trade in Australia. auDA adopted revised rules for domain names in 2021, providing an "Australian presence" requirement for all domain name holders. To satisfy this requirement, an individual must be an Australian permanent resident or citizen, while an organisation must either be incorporated in Australia or hold an Australian Business Number (ABN).
The auDRP was adopted in 2016 and applies to all domain names in the Australian open 2LDs registered after 2002. All domain registrants and registrars are contractually required to agree to the auDRP under the terms of registration or accreditation, and are bound by the decisions issued by auDRP Dispute Resolution Providers. In April 2016, auDA announced it would introduce registrations directly at the second level, such as "yourname.au". Direct registrations were due to be implemented in 2017, but an ongoing debate on how cybersquatting would be mitigated led to a delay, with a new launch date of March 24, 2022.
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auDA is endorsed by ICANN and the Australian government
The Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Australia is .au. The domain name was originally allocated by Jon Postel, operator of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to Kevin Robert Elz of Melbourne University in 1986. Elz devised the second-level domain (2LD) name structure, including .com.au, .net.au, .edu.au, and .org.au, and introduced policies concerning eligibility for these domains.
The .au domain is managed by .
Through its sponsorship agreement with ICANN, auDA represents .au at ICANN meetings and other international fora and is also responsible for the management of the .au domain name system zone file. The zone file is a text file that contains a list of DNS servers for the second-level domains in the .au domain space and contains the IP addresses of DNS servers for .au and second-level domains, where those DNS servers themselves are within .au. auDA also operates under an agreement with ICANN, the international body that coordinates the internet's naming and numbering system.
The Australian Government undertook a review of Australia's .au domain management in 2018 to ensure it remains fit for purpose in serving the needs of Australians online. auDA welcomed the government review. On 24 March 2022, auDA launched a new namespace, .au direct, which provides a greater choice of names for Australian websites and email addresses. auDA also manages domain name policy as the ICANN and Australian Government-endorsed manager of the .au DNS.
AuDA has over 5,000 members who participate in the .au membership program. Its members are vital stakeholders who support its work and meet the changing needs of Australian internet users. auDA also engages with members of the Australian public and stakeholders from industry, government, the technical community, civil society, and academia to deliver its core functions.
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Some Australian territories have their own ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code and ccTLD
The Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Australia is '.au'. It was created on March 5, 1986, and is managed by .au Domain Administration (auDA). However, some Australian territories have their own ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code and ccTLD.
ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes are two-letter country codes defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to represent countries, dependent territories, and special areas of geographical interest. They are used to create the ISO 3166-2 country subdivision codes and the Internet country code top-level domains (ccTLDs).
In the case of Australia, some of its territories have their own ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes and ccTLDs. For example, the ..cc ccTLD is used by some Australian local government authorities as an abbreviation for "City Council". The Brisbane City Council uses the domain name "bne.cc". The .hm ccTLD represents a nature preserve with no human inhabitants.
It is important to note that the creation and delegation of ccTLDs follow the standards set by RFC 1591, which corresponds to ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes. While gTLDs must adhere to international regulations, ccTLDs are subject to requirements determined by each country's domain name regulation corporation.
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Frequently asked questions
The internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Australia is ..au.
The .au domain was created on 5 March 1986.
ccTLD stands for country code top-level domain.
The .au domain is managed by .au Domain Administration (auDA).
The .au domain is a country code top-level domain, whereas ..com.au is a generic top-level domain.
