Registration as a Foreign Company
Administered by: Australian Securities and Investments Commission / Investors and Financial Consumers
When is this licence required?
You must register if your entity is a 'foreign company' that intends to carry on business in Australia. A 'foreign company' is a company registered outside Australia.
What are the eligibility requirements for this licence?
To be eligible for this registration you must:
- provide a certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation or Registration and a Certified copy of the body's Constitution (which are not more than three months old)
- appoint a local agent / power of attorney who is a natural person or company, resident in Australia, and authorised to accept, on behalf of the foreign company, service of process and notices.
A foreign company that is not bound by a written constitution and / or is bound by some other means of governance, you will need to provide a statement in writing to that effect and wherever possible include a description of the legislation that governs the administration of your company.
Please note that if any document is not in English, you will need to provide a certified translation of that document into English.
How much does this licence cost?
| Task | Type | Amount | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | Application | $611.00 | Fees for 2025-26 |
How often do you need to apply for this licence?
As specified
Are there any specific application requirements?
| Task | Information |
|---|---|
| Lodge | Please lodge your completed application with supporting documentation with the agency. |
What forms provide more information?
| Task | Forms |
|---|---|
| Initial | Application for Registration as a Foreign Company - Form 402 |
What resources provide more information?
| Task | Type | Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Comply | Advisory Material | Checklist for Registering a Company |
| Initial | Application Guidance | Memorandum of Appointment of Local Agent - Form 418 |
| Initial | Application Guidance | Verification of Copy of Document Authorising on Behalf of a Foreign Company, Execution of a Document Appointing a Local Agent - Form 403 |
What legislation specifies this licence?
Corporations Act 2001 (Australian Government)
Corporations Regulations 2001 (Australian Government)
Who can you talk to for more information?
Customer Contact Centre
Australian Securities and Investments Commission / Investors and Financial Consumers
| Phone | 1300 300 630 |
More Information
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