Australia is genuinely open to foreign entrepreneurs. You do not need to be a citizen. You do not need to live there. You can own 100% of an Australian company from the other side of the world.
What you do need is to understand that the process has a few non-resident specific requirements that nobody warns you about until you are already stuck. The biggest one can add up to three months to your timeline before you even submit a registration. Most people find this out after they have already announced a launch date.
This guide goes through every step of starting a company in Australia as a non-resident, in the right order, so you go in knowing what to expect.
First, Pick Your Structure
Everything else depends on this. The main options for non-residents are:
- Proprietary Limited Company (Pty Ltd): The most common choice. Separate legal entity, limited liability, trusted by Australian banks and clients. Requires at least one Australian resident director
- Branch of a Foreign Company: Lets your existing overseas business operate in Australia without creating a new local entity. The parent company remains liable for all branch activities. Better for testing the market before fully committing
- Sole Trader or Partnership: Available to non-residents but offer no separation between personal and business liability. Rarely the right call for international founders
Most non-residents go with Pty Ltd. It is structured, credible, and built for growth. The rest of this guide is built around that route.
Step 1: Check Whether You Need FIRB Approval
Before anything else. This step gets skipped constantly and it is the one that can stop a registration entirely.
The Foreign Investment Review Board reviews certain foreign investments to confirm they align with Australia’s national interest. Not every business needs approval. But some do, and submitting a registration without it when it is required creates serious legal exposure.
FIRB approval is generally required when:
- The investment involves sensitive sectors like agriculture, media, telecommunications, or critical infrastructure
- A foreign government or state-owned enterprise is involved in the ownership structure
- The value of the investment exceeds certain thresholds that vary by sector and nationality
If your business does not fall within sensitive sectors or exceed applicable investment thresholds, FIRB approval is often not required. However, thresholds vary based on investor nationality and investment type, so this should be confirmed before proceeding.
Step 2: Sort Out Your Resident Director
This is the requirement that surprises almost every non-resident founder. Under the Corporations Act 2001, a Pty Ltd company must have at least one director who ordinarily resides in Australia. Not a shareholder. A director.
This person carries real legal responsibility. They are not just a name on a form. They are accountable to ASIC for governance, reporting, and compliance obligations. Choosing someone credible and experienced matters. A nominee director who does not understand their obligations creates liability for the entire company.
Your options:
- A trusted contact in Australia: A business partner, a lawyer, an accountant, or someone else you genuinely trust and who understands what the role involves
- A professional nominee director service: Companies that provide this service as a formal, regulated arrangement. More expensive but more structured and legally clear
Get this sorted before you move to Step 3. The registration cannot proceed without it.
Step 3: Apply for Your Director Identification Number Early
Here is the step that derails timelines more than any other.
Every company director in Australia must have a Director Identification Number before being appointed. Australian residents get theirs quickly through an online digital identity process. Non-residents cannot use that route.
If you are a non-resident director, you must complete a paper application, provide certified copies of two identity documents, and send it by post to the Australian Business Registry Services. Processing takes up to 56 business days. That is nearly three months.
Do this immediately. Not when you are ready to register. Not when everything else is sorted. Now. While you are doing everything else.
Your Australian resident director needs one too, though their process is faster.
Step 4: Choose and Check Your Company Name
Check name availability through ASIC’s online search before you commit to anything. The name cannot be identical or confusingly similar to an existing registered company. A few other rules worth knowing:
- Restricted words like “bank,” “trust,” “government,” and “royal” require special approval before use
- The name cannot contain computer code or scripts
- It cannot exceed 160 characters including spaces
Also check the IP Australia trademark database separately. A name that clears the ASIC register can still belong to someone else as a registered trademark. Building a brand on top of that is a problem you want to find before you invest in it.
Step 5: Prepare Your Registration Documents
Before you submit anything to ASIC, have these ready:
- Proposed company name: Confirmed available
- Registered office address in Australia: Must be a physical address, not a P.O. box. All official ASIC correspondence goes here. If you have no physical presence yet, a registered office service or your lawyer’s address works
- Director details: Full name, date of birth, nationality, residential address, and service address for every director. All directors must have their Director ID in hand before this step
- Shareholder details: Full name, address, number of shares, share class, and amount paid per share for every shareholder. Foreign shareholders are permitted. Australia allows 100% foreign ownership in most industries
- Share structure: How many shares are being issued, at what nominal value, and to whom
- SIC code: The Standard Industrial Classification code describing what your business does. You can list more than one
- Articles of Association: The internal rules governing how the company runs. You can use the standard model articles from ASIC or submit a custom constitution. Custom is worth the investment if you have multiple shareholders, investors involved, or anything beyond a very simple structure
- Written consents: Signed consent from every director, secretary if applicable, and every initial shareholder. These must be in place at the time of registration, not collected after
Step 6: Register With ASIC
Submit your application through the Australian Business Registration Service online. The registration fee is AUD 576 for a proprietary company as of 2025. If all documents are accurate and consistent, ASIC typically confirms registration within one to two business days.
Once approved you receive:
- Australian Company Number (ACN): Your company’s permanent identifier. Required on all official documents going forward
- Certificate of Registration: Proof your company legally exists in Australia
- Corporate Key: An eight-digit number ASIC mails to your registered office address. Since you are not physically in Australia, make sure whoever manages your registered office knows to expect it and forwards it to you immediately. You need it to manage your company details online
Step 7: Apply for Your ABN and TFN
Do this immediately after receiving your ACN. Do not wait.
Your Australian Business Number is an 11-digit identifier required to invoice clients, claim GST credits, and interact with government agencies. Without it, you cannot legally operate commercially. Apply through the Australian Business Register using your new ACN.
Your Tax File Number is required to lodge tax returns and interact with the ATO on financial matters. Apply through the ATO. Both can usually be applied for simultaneously.
Step 8: Register for GST If Required
If your annual turnover in Australia will exceed AUD 75,000, GST registration is mandatory. Register within 21 days of hitting that threshold. If you expect to exceed it from the start, register upfront.
Non-residents supplying digital products, low-value goods, or services to Australian consumers may need to register for GST from the first dollar under simplified registration rules, regardless of the AUD 75,000 threshold. Check whether your specific business model triggers this.
GST is 10% on taxable goods and services. Corporate tax rates are 25% for small businesses and 30% for larger ones.
Step 9: Open an Australian Business Bank Account
Required for companies, partnerships, and trusts. You cannot run a registered Australian company through a personal account.
Most Australian banks require:
- Your ACN and ABN
- Certified copies of director identity documents
- Copy of your Articles of Association or company constitution
- Director consent documentation
Opening a business bank account from overseas without physically being in Australia is possible but takes longer. Some banks require an in-person visit from at least one director. Build this into your timeline. It is often the last bottleneck people expect and one of the most frustrating to resolve under time pressure.
Step 10: Register for Additional Obligations If Hiring
Starting a company in Australia with employees adds a few more requirements:
- PAYG Withholding: Register with the ATO to withhold income tax from employee wages and remit it correctly
- Superannuation: Employers must contribute a minimum of 11.5% of each employee’s ordinary earnings to their nominated super fund. This is not optional and it is not negotiable
- WorkCover Insurance: Mandatory in every Australian state and territory from the moment you have staff. Covers workplace injuries for both employer and employee
- Payroll Tax: Applies in certain states when your total annual wages exceed the state-specific threshold. Rates and thresholds vary by state
What the Timeline Actually Looks Like
People plan for a two-week setup and end up waiting three months. Here is a realistic picture:
- Director ID application for non-residents: Up to 56 business days. Start this on day one
- FIRB approval if required: One to three months. Must happen before registration
- ASIC registration once documents are ready: One to two business days
- ABN and TFN processing: Usually within two to four weeks
- Bank account opening: One to four weeks depending on the bank and whether in-person visits are required
Realistically, allow two to three months from start to fully operational. If FIRB is involved, budget for more.
Getting It Right From the Start
The Australian market is worth it. Stable economy, strong legal system, access to the Asia-Pacific region, and a government that genuinely supports business entry. The process for non-residents has more steps than for local founders, but none of them are complicated once you know what they are and when to do them.
The mistakes that cost people the most are not the complex ones. They are the simple ones. Starting the Director ID application late. Forgetting the FIRB check. Using a P.O. box as the registered office. Getting the bank account sorted last instead of early.
At Aadmi, we help non-residents navigate starting a company in Australia without the guesswork. Company registration, resident director services, compliance setup, and ongoing corporate support so you can focus on building the business rather than untangling the paperwork.
It also helps to explore ASIC registration requirements, foreign company registration in Australia, ABN and TFN registration, FIRB obligations, and corporate compliance in Australia before you begin.
FAQs
Can a non-resident own 100% of an Australian company?
Yes. Australia allows full foreign ownership of private companies in most industries. Certain sectors like agriculture, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure may require FIRB approval before proceeding.
Do I need to be in Australia to register a company there?
No. The entire registration process can be completed remotely. You do need at least one director who ordinarily resides in Australia, but shareholders and other directors can be based anywhere.
How long does a Director ID take for non-residents?
Up to 56 business days because non-residents cannot use the online digital verification route and must submit a paper application with certified identity documents by post. Start this process immediately, not when you are ready to register.
What is the difference between a Pty Ltd and a branch office for foreign companies?
A Pty Ltd is a new, separate Australian legal entity with limited liability protection. A branch office is an extension of the parent company with no separate legal identity, meaning the parent remains fully liable for the branch’s activities. Pty Ltd is better for long-term operations. A branch suits short-term or exploratory entry.
Is a physical presence in Australia required to register a company there?
No. But you need a physical registered office address in Australia for ASIC correspondence, and at least one Australian resident director. Opening a bank account may require one director to visit in person depending on the bank.
