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Companies

Hide a residential address on the companies register

Key points:

  • Company officeholders’ residential addresses are published on the companies register.
  • You can ask us to hide this address if your or your family’s safety will be at risk.
  • We call this ‘suppression’ of a residential address.
  • You will need to give us an alternative (different) address.
  • How you apply to hide the address will depend on whether you are enrolled to vote in Australia.
  • If the matter is urgent call us on 1300 300 630.

Details on the companies register

The companies register shows each company officeholder’s:

  • name
  • date of birth
  • place of birth
  • residential address.

The only detail we can hide (suppress) is a residential address.

Reasons we hide (suppress) details

We can only hide your residential address if you believe that your safety, or your family’s safety, will be at risk. You will still need to tell us your residential address, but we will not publish it.

Hiding your residential address on the company register does not mean it will be hidden on the business names register. It will still be public. See how to hide your personal details on the business names register.

Using an alternative address

You will need to give us a different address to publish on the register. We call this an alternative address. This will be shown on the public register instead of your residential address.

This must be a physical address in Australia. Documents must be able to be served on you there.

If we approve your application, you will receive an ASIC approval number. You must quote your approval number on any ASIC form that requires your residential address.

Always include the alternative address (and not your residential address) on ASIC forms that ask for your residential address. If you include your residential address on an ASIC form, that address may appear on the public register.

Steps to hide your address if you are on the electoral roll

If you are enrolled to vote in Australia, you will be on the electoral roll.

Register as a silent elector with the AEC

If you are on the Australian electoral roll, you must be registered as a silent elector with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) before we can suppress your address.

You can apply to be a silent elector if you believe having your address on the public electoral roll could put you or your family’s safety at risk.

If you are not already a silent elector, apply through the AEC.

Download and fill in the suppression form

Fill in this form to apply to hide your address:

Form 379 Application for suppression of residential address

You will need to give us:

  • your full name, date of birth and place of birth
  • your usual residential address that you would like to hide from the public
  • an alternative address that is a physical address within Australia to display on the public register
  • a copy of the AEC approval letter that says you have silent elector registration.

The form must be signed by the person whose address is to be suppressed.

Send us the form

You can email the form to suppression@asic.gov.au.

Or you can mail it to:

Attn: Alternative Address Officer
Australian Securities and Investments Commission
PO Box 4000
GIPPSLAND MAIL CENTRE VIC 3841

Steps to hide your address if you are not on the electoral roll

Download and fill in the suppression form

Fill in the form to apply to hide your address:

Form 379 Application for suppression of residential address

You will need to give us:

  • your full name, date of birth and place of birth
  • your usual residential address that you would like to hide from the public
  • an alternative address that is a physical address within Australia to display on the public register.

The form must be signed by the person whose address is to be suppressed.

Download and fill in the alternative address form

You will also need to fill in a form to apply to use an alternative address:

Form 378 Application to use an alternative address

There is a fee to apply for an alternative address if you are not on the electoral roll. The current fee is {A15}.

You must attach a statutory declaration explaining why your or your family’s safety is at risk.

You need to send us both form 378 and form 379.

Send us the forms

You can email the forms to suppression@asic.gov.au.

Or you can mail them to:

Attn: Alternative Address Officer
Australian Securities and Investments Commission
PO Box 4000
GIPPSLAND MAIL CENTRE VIC 3841

Making changes to your addresses in future

If your residential address changes, you must tell us within 14 days. If your alternative address changes, you must tell us within 28 days.

Do not use the usual form for changing company details. Instead, use the same form you use to apply for suppression and send it to the email or postal address listed in the steps to hide your address:

Form 379 Application for suppression of residential address.

Cancel an address suppression

If you want to cancel your address suppression, ask us in writing and tell us the details.

Use the email or postal address listed above.