Registering an asset
If you are a foreign investor, you or your authorised representative must register your Australian asset after both of the following has occurred:
- you have applied and received foreign investment approval if required – see, Guidance Note 5 at foreigninvestment.gov.auExternal Link
- you have become the owner of the asset.
You register your asset using Online services for foreign investorsExternal Link. Registration is free.
Registration of mining or production tenements is required regardless of value.
Who must register
If you are a foreign person and have invested in Australian mining, production, or exploration tenements from 1 July 2023, you or your authorised representative must register the asset, unless an exemption applies.
Generally, the foreign person with the direct legal interest is required to register the asset with us, the Australian Taxation Office.
When to register
A foreign person or their representative must register their interest in an Australian mining, production or exploration tenement acquired on or after 1 July 2023 within 30 days of either:
- acquiring the interest in the mining, production, or exploration tenement
- becoming a foreign person while holding an interest in a mining, production or exploration tenement.
Exemptions may apply.
How to register mining, production or exploration tenements
To register, log in to Online services for foreign investors and select Register asset.
For more information, see How to register or manage an asset for foreign investors.
Log in to Online services for foreign investorsIf your situation changes
You'll need to update your details in Online services for foreign investorsExternal Link if:
- you are no longer a foreign person, see Guidance Note 2 at foreigninvestment.gov.auExternal Link
- you no longer hold the mining, production, or exploration tenement
- the type of tenement changes (for example, from exploration to production) or reverts to other type of land
- details of the registration change, such as change in land area.
If your:
- personal details change, update your profile – see Manage your details in Online services for foreign investors
- asset details change, update the asset using Add or Edit an event – see How to register or manage an asset for foreign investors.
Penalties and reporting breaches
If you do not comply with your obligations to give a register notice or keep your details up to date, you may face an infringement notice or civil penalties.
As a foreign investor, you should know your obligationsExternal Link and comply with Australia's foreign investment rules. Together with Treasury, we take compliance actionExternal Link if a foreign investor breaches the foreign investment rules.
If you have information about someone you think may be deliberately breaking our foreign investment rules, you can confidentially report a breach to us.
If you are having difficulties meeting your obligations, contact us.
Statistics and reporting
The Registrar reports to the Treasurer about the operation of the Register. They publish aggregate statistics of foreign ownership.
The reported statistics may include:
- number of tenements held and disposed of during a financial year
- land size held by foreign persons
- mining sector
- land size by country of ownership.
Only aggregated statistics are included in the report. Privacy restrictions prevent publishing information which may identify an individual or entity.
You can view the latest report on the Foreign InvestmentExternal Link website.