Key dates – .au direct priority allocation period

We are approaching the final stages of the priority allocation period for .au direct domain names and there are a few key dates you need to be aware of.

9:59 AM AEST 21 Sept 2022 – Priority application period ends

This is the cut-off date for any .au direct applications. All eligible registrants have until this time to submit their application and apply for priority to register a matching .au direct domain name.

9:00 AM AEST 22 Sept 2022 – Contested names will be allocated to successful registrants

In some cases, there will be more than one registrant eligible for a reserved .au direct name, as different registrants can hold the same name in different namespaces. This is referred to as a contested name.

In these cases, the .au direct domain name will be allocated according to the Priority Allocation Process and each applicant’s priority category.

Priority Allocation Process Where there are multiple applications for a contested name, the following rules apply:

Category 1 applicants have priority over Category 2 applicants Where there are multiple Category 1 applications, the name is allocated on agreement/negotiation between the Category 1 applicants Where there are only Category 2 applicants, the name is allocated to the applicant with the earliest creation date.

You can check your priority category and/or see if there are other registrants eligible for the .au direct name you have applied for using auDA’s Priority Status Tool.

If your application for the .au direct name is unsuccessful, you will be notified and your existing domain name will continue to operate as normal.

8:00 AM AEDT 4 Oct 2022 – .au direct names will be available for registration by the general public

All reserved .au direct names that were not applied for during the priority allocation period will be released to the public for registration.