Differences Priority Category 1 and Priority Category 2 allocation for .AU

You can find out the current priority status of your existing .au domain name through the auDA Priority status tool. Everything is broken into two categories:

• Priority Category 1
• Priority Category 2

These are the categories assigned to existing registrants of a .au domain name. Having a domain name in one of these categories locks the .au direct equivalent domain name from being purchased by the general public during the Priority Allocation period, being 6 months after the launch of .au direct domain names (20th September 2022).

How is it decided what Priority Category is assigned?

Priority Category 1

If a registrant purchased an existing .au domain name license prior to or on the 4th of February 2018, and have maintained that license to the .au direct launch day, they will have an opportunity to apply for the .au direct version of the domain involved as a Priority Category 1 applicant. All applicants in this group have equal priority when applying for a .au direct domain name.

Priority Category 2

If a registrant purchased a .au domain name license after the 4th of February 2018 and have maintained that license to the .au direct launch day, they will have an opportunity to apply for the .au direct version of the domain name involved as a Priority Category 2 applicant. If there are more than one Priority Category 2 domain holders for a .au direct domain name, the registrant who registered their domain name the earliest will have priority in this group.

So how will the .au direct domain be allocated?

Anyone who holds an existing domain name in the namespace can apply for Priority Allocation. There is a cost involved in applying for a Priority Allocation and renewal might be needed for each year the domain is contested. There is no refund for any Priority Allocation applications, even if your application is unsuccessful. A Category 1 applicant will be awarded a domain name above any Category 2 applicant.

Please note, if you hold multiple domains for the same .au direct application, we strongly suggest you only apply on your highest priority domain name and decline to apply on the remaining domain names.

The .au direct domain will be awarded as per the provided chart.

Only one eligible domain name

If there is only one eligible domain name (Category 1 or 2), then as soon as that registrant applies, they will be allocated the .au direct domain name within 24 hours.

If there is no application made before the 6-month holding period, or the eligible registrant declines to apply, the .au direct domain will be made available to the general public for purchase.

Multiple Category 1

If there are multiple Category 1 applications for a .au direct domain name, then the domain will be locked until all, but one applicant changes their status to “decline to apply”. Each applicant will need to renew their application every year to remain in the running to obtain the .au direct domain name.

During this period, each Category 1 applicant can contact each other to negotiate who will obtain the .au direct domain name. If the registrants reach a consensus, then the registrants who are giving up their applications to the .au direct domain name will need to change their status to “decline to apply”.

If renewal for the .au direct domain name is not paid before expiry, then the application will be dropped.

One Category 1, and one or more Category 2 eligible domains

As soon as the only Category 1 registrant applies for allocation, they will be allocated the .au direct domain name within 24 hours. This is regardless of whether or not any Category 2 registrants have applied.

If the Category 1 registrant does not make an application within 6 months, the domain will be allocated to the Category 2 registrant who has applied and has the earliest registration date for their eligible domain name.

If the Category 1 registrant “declines to apply” before the 6-month period, then the application process moves to who has the highest priority in category 2. If that person has not made an application, or has not declined to apply, then the process will wait until the 6-month period ends to assign to the next highest priority Category 2 applicant.

If there is no application made before the 6-month holding period, or all the eligible registrants decline to apply, the .au direct domain will be made available to the general public for purchase.

Multiple Category 2

If there are no Priority Category 1 applicants registered, and multiple Category 2 applicants, then as soon as the applicant with the highest priority in Category 2 (earliest registration date) applies for priority allocation, they will be allocated the .au direct domain name within 24 hours. If the registrant with the earliest registration date does not apply within the 6-month holding period, then the domain name will be allocated to the next applicant with the earliest registration date.

If there is no application made before the 6-month holding period, or all the eligible registrants decline to apply, the .au direct domain will be made available to the general public for purchase.