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  • Contact us about foreign investment

    You can use our dedicated channels to contact us about foreign investment in Australia.

    On this page

    Changes coming soon

    As part of foreign investment reforms a new Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets will be introduced on 1 July 2023.

    From 26 June 2023 our new ATO online service, Online services for foreign investors, will be available. You will be able to use this service to manage a range of foreign investment obligations online, including:

    • applying for residential approval
    • registering your assets
    • updating your details
    • lodging your vacancy fee return.

    Online services for foreign investors

    For questions about Online services for foreign investors or the Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets expected to start in mid-2023:

    Residential real estate application form enquiries

    New or near-new dwelling exemption certificate enquiries

    For property developers with questions about completing an application, or meeting your reporting requirements for the new or near-new dwelling exemption certificate enquiries:

    Land and water register enquiries

    For questions about registering Australian agricultural land, residential land or water entitlements on the Land and water register:

    Vacancy fee enquiries

    For questions about your vacancy fee return:

    Foreign investment compliance

    For questions about complying with foreign investment rules for residential and non-sensitive commercial real estate:

    • email firbcompliance@ato.gov.au
    • phone 1800 050 377.

    If you know or suspect someone is deliberately breaking our foreign investment rules, you can report it confidentially by completing the ATO tip-off form.

    For more information see Report a breach of the foreign investment real estate rules.

    Calling from overseas

    If you are calling from overseas you can contact us between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm (AEST or AEDT), Monday to Friday on +61 2 6216 1111, and ask to be transferred to 1800 050 377.

    If you would like to speak in a language other than English, phone the Translating and Interpreting service (TIS National) between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm (AEST or AEDT), Monday to Friday on +61 3 9268 8332 and request to be connected to the ATO in the language you want to speak in.

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    Last modified: 18 Jan 2023QC 65675