Proprietary company (Pty Ltd)
Most businesses, including foreign-owned ones.
- At least one director who ordinarily resides in Australia
- Every director needs a Director ID before appointment
The World Desk Floor 4 · Americas & Oceania
Room 402
Australia
Welcome. How may I help you?
Director ID, ASIC registration, ABN and GST, and import declarations.
The concierge
What do you need in Australia?
01 · Set up
Ways to be present
Registry: Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC); business numbers through the Australian Business Register.
Registered foreign company
A foreign company operating as itself.
- Registers with ASIC and appoints a local agent
Trusts and partnerships
Family and investment structures common in Australia.
- Need specialist local advice
01 · Set up
First registrations
- 01
Director ID
From the Australian Business Registry Services. Overseas directors usually apply on paper with attested identity documents, which takes longer.
- 02
ASIC registration
Company registered with ASIC; annual review each year.
- 03
ABN, TFN and GST
ABN and tax file number; GST registration at A$75,000 turnover; PAYG withholding when employing.
02 · Trade
Moving goods
- 01
Hold an ABN; register for GST where required
- 02
Goods over A$1,000: full import declaration through the Integrated Cargo System (usually via a licensed customs broker), with GST and biosecurity charges
- 03
Goods of A$1,000 or less: self-assessed clearance
- 04
Check biosecurity import conditions (BICON) before shipping
03 · Close
Done when
Watch
- Some foreign investments need Foreign Investment Review Board approval
Sources
Checked against
- Department of Agriculture: self-assessed clearance agriculture.gov.au
- Plus each authority’s own portal. Several points come from practitioner reports; where they disagreed, the text above says so.