The Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets (the Register) is a list that shows which Australian assets are owned by people or companies from other countries.

The first Report of the Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets was released on 30 June 2024.

The Register started on 1 July 2023 and combined the existing registers that tracked:

  • agricultural land
  • residential land
  • water entitlements.

It has now expanded registration requirements to also include:

  • commercial land
  • business interests
  • mining or production tenements
  • exploration tenements.

What do foreign-owned businesses with Australian assets need to know about the Register?

The commencement of the Register added new obligations for foreign-owned businesses with Australian assets.

Foreign persons and companies that own certain assets in Australia must register them and keep their details up to date.

You can register using the Online services for foreign investors, which explains what information you need to provide.

Are you meeting your Register obligations?

Key Register obligations and considerations that may apply to foreign-owned businesses that have Australian assets include:

  • Foreign persons (including foreign-owned companies) must submit a Register notice when acquiring, changing, or disposing of interests in Australian assets.
  • Register notices must generally be lodged within 30 days of:
    • acquiring a relevant interest in specified Australian assets
    • becoming a foreign person while holding an interest (business or non-individuals can be considered foreign persons)
    • a change to a registered circumstance (including ceasing to hold the asset, or ceasing to be a foreign person)
    • a change in the nature of the interest (including increasing or decreasing ownership percentage, or characteristics of the asset).

  • The obligation to register applies on an entity-by-entity basis rather than on a corporate group basis. Each entity within a group may have its own registration obligations for:
    • an action it takes or is deemed to take
    • assets it holds or is deemed to hold.

More information