Register Australian domain names
If you are a foreign company wanting to do business in Australia, you cannot register an Australian domain name without an ABN (Australian Business Number) or ACN (Australian Company Number).
Australian domain names end with .au extension. The .com.au extension is the mostly commonly used australian domain name.
How do I register an Australian domain name as a foreign company?
In order to register an Australian domain name, you need to obtain a ABRN number from the Australian Securities and Investment Commission or ASIC. To do this you will need to appoint a local agent (a person that lives permanently in Australia), to lodge and receive company documents
Under s.601CJ - Liability of Local Agent: A local agent of a registered foreign company:
(a) is answerable for the doing of all acts, matters and things that the foreign company is required by or under the Act to do; and
(b) is personally liable to a penalty imposed on the foreign company for a contravention of the Act if a court or tribunal hearing the matter is satisfied that the local agent should be so liable.
After appointing a local agent
You should begin by doing an online name search of Australian business names.
Go to http://www.search.asic.gov.au/gns001.html and use the "all names" search to search for the company name you wish to use in Australia.
or you can also visit http://www.abr.business.gov.au/(ivyvfcivni2jqynwn2jd3ujm)/main.aspx and perform a search on Australian business numbers. Not all businesses in Australia are registered as companies or incorporated organisations but most businesses would be have an ABN or Australian business number.
After you have searched your company name
You may find that the company name that you wish to use in Australia has already been registered or is already in use, you will need to seek legal advice, as to whether or not, the Australian company using your name has breached your international trademarks.
If however, you company name is available, you should lodge an Application to Reserve Your Name . This step is optional but recommended. If ASIC accepts your application, your name will be reserved for 2 months and you are able to extend this time by lodging another form and paying the prescribed fee.
You then need to complete the Application to Register as a Foreign company. and produce documentation before you will be granted an ABRN. For more information on requirements to register a foreigh company go to http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/asic_pub.nsf/byheadline/Foreign+Companies?opendocument
After your ABRN has been approved
You can then visit http://domains.passioncomputing.com.au to register your Australian domain name.
Related Links
Registration and Licences including registering for Australian business number http://www.business.gov.au/Business+Entry+Point/Business+Topics/Registration+and+licences/
ASIC registration fees
http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/pdflib.nsf/LookupByFileName/Fees_for_commonly_lodged_documents.pdf/$file/Fees_for_commonly_lodged_documents.pdf
All domain name registrations with Passion Computing receive;
- A top quality product and service. Our wholesale provider is an established domain name registrar for major Australian and international corporations Passion Computing provide you with a generous discount on domain name registration. We also make the process easy to understand, that even the most novice users can manage their own domain names.
- FREE access to online management system that allows you to update your domain name records and keep track of all your domain name registrations. Login at any time and keep your details up to date
- FREE domain name forwarding or advanced DNS services. Domain name forwarding will allow you to buy domains for your trademarks and products and redirect them to your website for FREE. Forget paying $99 for this service elsewhere.
- Buy from a full suite of domain names and international domain names at competitive prices, with no hidden extras. Our prices are about half the price of the major Australian domain name sellers depending on the domain name registered..
- Freedom to buy a website hosting plan that suits you or use advanced DNS services to point your domain name to any server with a static ip.
- Free Australian domain name transfers and for all other domain names, you simply need to pay for another year of registration to transfer your domain name to us.
- Personal service - domain name registration systems are far from perfect and we are here to assist you. Read more.