The auDA registry is introducing stricter enforcement of eligibility requirements for .AU domain names, specifically related to ABN (Australian Business Number) and ACN (Australian Company Number) validation.
This update impacts all domain holders with .AU domains and requires immediate attention to ensure continued domain renewal eligibility.
What Is Changing?
From 1 May 2026 at 15:00 UTC, the registry will:
Enforce strict validation of ABN / ACN information
Prevent renewal of domains with:
Missing ABN / ACN
Invalid details
Outdated registration data
Impact on Your Domains
Domains that do not meet the updated eligibility requirements:
Will NOT be eligible for renewal
Will be placed into auto-delete status
Can only be retained if valid ABN / ACN data is provided before expiry
Notification Process
To support compliance, affected domains will be proactively flagged:
Notifications are sent 30–45 days before domain expiration
Emails are delivered to the “Urgent email” address in your reseller account
Subject line:
“Action required: .AU domains not meeting eligibility criteria”
Required Actions
To avoid service disruption, you should:
Monitor incoming notifications carefully
Ensure alerts reach the relevant domain owner or administrator
Review your .AU domain portfolio
Update any:
Missing ABN / ACN details
Incorrect or outdated information
Important Notes
This enforcement currently applies only to ABN / ACN validation
Trademark (TM) number enforcement is expected later in 2026
Delays in updating eligibility data may result in permanent domain loss
Support
If you need help:
Reviewing your domain portfolio
Identifying impacted domains
Updating eligibility details
Please contact the Instra support team, who are available to assist.
Summary
This is a critical compliance update that directly affects your ability to retain and renew .AU domains. Early action is strongly recommended to avoid disruption or unintended domain deletion.