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Find the answers to your questions and get the support you need with the VentraIP help centre.

Using the auDA Priority Status Tool for .AU

Use the official auDA Priority Status Tool to look up the priority allocation status for a .au direct domain name, as well as review the status for all applicable existing domain names against it. This will help you identify whom the registrant may need to contact and negotiate with to secure a contested .au direct domain name.

The tool will display matching names to the .au direct name with the following labels: • Priority category 1: Domain names created on or before 4 Feb 2018 • Priority category 2: Domain names created after 4 Feb 2018 and before 24 Mar 2022

Along with one of the following status labels: • Applied: The registrant has applied for priority status to register the exact match of the name in .au, • Not applied: Registrant has not yet applied for priority status to register the exact match of the name in .au, • Declined: Registrant has indicated they either do not wish to register the exact match of the name in the .au namespace or have withdrawn their priority status.

As an example, we have a lookup for the .au direct domain name ‘australia.au’ below:

This outlines that the registrant for ‘australia.gov.au‘ is considered a ‘Priority Category 1‘ and has not yet taken any action to apply or decline.

The registrant for ‘australia.net.au‘ is considered ‘Priority Category 2‘ and has not yet taken any action to apply or decline.

Both registrants are welcome to apply the contested domain name by retrieving their Priority ID Token from auDA, and then applying with a supporting registrar.

Who is awarded the .au direct domain name ‘australia.au’ will vary based on the applicants, what priority they are, and how many eligible applicants exist (which we’ll cover in other guides in the FAQ section).

For more information on how a decision is made in matters of multiple applications, please read through the following guide.


The website used for retrieving or declining your Priority ID Token will be released and added to this guide upon launch of .au direct on 24/3/22.

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