Becoming a registered Australian body allows certain entities to operate across Australia.
A registered Australian body is not a legal entity but a type of registration.
It is mostly used by incorporated associations.
Registration comes with obligations.
There is a process to apply for registering as an Australian body.
About registered Australian bodies
A registered Australian body is not a type of legal entity, like a company or an incorporated association is. It is a registration that allows certain entities to operate across Australia when they would not usually be allowed to. These include:
incorporated associations
some body corporates
unincorporated bodies.
By registering with ASIC they can carry out their activities Australia-wide.
For example, Fantastic Football Club is registered as an incorporated association in NSW. The club decides it wants to expand into Queensland. To do this, the club must apply to become a registered Australian body. Once it’s registered, it can expand into any other states as well.
We give registered Australian bodies an Australian Registered Body Number (ARBN).
There is a fee to register as a registered Australian body. The current fees are:
{I08} for a non-association
{I07} for an association.
Obligations of registered Australian bodies
As a registered Australian body, you must meet your obligations.
You must display your organisation’s name outside all your offices and places of business. This does not include offices or places of business in the state or territory where your organisation is from.
where your organisation is from, such as country, state or territory
the words ‘registered office’ at your registered office
notice of the member limited liability (if the organisation’s name does not end in ‘Limited’ or ‘Ltd’).
Your name and ARBN must appear on all your public documents.
Unless you’re an ADI, your documents must also show:
where your organisation is from, such as country, state or territory
notice of the member limited liability (if the organisation’s name does not end in ‘Limited’ or ‘Ltd’).
You can use some abbreviations when displaying these details. These include:
Australian – Aust
Registered – Regd
Number – No.
Australian Registered Body Number – ARBN or A.R.B.N.
You must tell us when your details change. This includes changes to your name, address, and directors. See the bottom of this page for the forms you’ll need.
You cannot register a name that is identical to another reserved name, registered company name or business name. Use our Check name availability search.
If it is available, you can reserve the name (see Register a company) for 2 months.
Prepare your supporting documents
When you apply to register, you will need to give us documents to support your application.
You must give us a certified copy of the organisation’s current certificate of incorporation or registration. It must be certified by the authority that administers your organisation. It should be certified no more than 3 months before you lodge it with us.
You must give us a certified copy of the organisation’s constitution. This might be a Memorandum and Articles of Association. It must be current and include all resolutions that have affected the constitution.
It must be certified by:
whoever has lawful custody of the original document (the ‘ASIC-equivalent’)
a public notary, or
a director or officer of the organisation, making a statement in writing.
If your organisation does not have a constitution, its director or officer must give us a written statement. It should say that the organisation does not have, or does not need to have, a constitution.
The copy should be certified no more than 3 months before it’s lodged with us.
You will need to provide details about your current organisation. You must also tell us details of all directors and officers, including their date and place of birth.
If the registered office is not your own address, you must get their written permission to use the address. For example, you may use your accountant’s office.
Make sure your application form is signed by a director or authorised person.
Pay fees
There is a fee to register as a registered Australian body. The current fees are:
{I08} for a non-association
{I07} for an association.
You can pay by cheque or money order.
Send us the form and supporting documents
Send the form and your supporting documents to:
Australian Securities and Investments Commission PO Box 4000 GIPPSLAND MAIL CENTRE VIC 3841
Next steps
If we approve your application, we’ll send you your registration certificate. This includes the registered Australian body’s ARBN.
Tell us about changes to your details
If your organisation’s name changes, tell us within 14 days. Use:
