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Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)

Find out about ASIC’s APIs for our business names and companies registers, and for submitting reportable situations.

Business names and companies register APIs

These APIs can be used to lodge documents and access information on our business names and companies registers.

We have provided the specifications for these APIs on this page. There is no fee to access the APIs.

You need to apply to be an ASIC digital service provider before you can use these APIs.

How to apply to be an ASIC digital service provider

Before you apply:

  1. Read and understand ASIC’s digital services access terms and conditions (PDF 235 KB).
  2. Review the API technical specifications below.

Steps to apply:

  1. Contact webservices@asic.gov.au and ask for application information. Tell us which API you would like to access and your purpose for accessing it.
  2. Complete your application and send to webservices@asic.gov.au.

If we approve your application, we will provide:

  • access to a test environment for the purposes of development
  • testing support to ensure your product meets ASIC’s requirements.

Technical specifications for business name APIs

Our business name APIs (also referred to as ‘web services’) offer access to:

For technical specifications for ABN APIs, contact the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

Table: Business name API documentation
API document Description Last updated

Error Codes (PDF 229 KB)

A list of error messages transmitted through the service. 21 April 2016

Message Implementation Guide for Digital Service Providers v3.4 (PDF 1.46 MB)

Outlines the information that must be included for business name registration, renewal and search transactions. 20 September 2022

Message Implementation Guide for Digital Service Providers v3.2 - Sample XML (zip 142 KB)

Sample messages submitted through the service. 6 October 2022

Business Registration Service - Message Implementation Guide for Digital Service Providers v1.8 (PDF 2.57 MB)

Outlines the information that must be included for the streamlined business registration service transaction. 20 September 2022

Web Services Implementation Guide v3.2 (PDF 472 KB)

Explains the common aspects and architecture of the system and how it works. 20 September 2022

Technical specifications for companies register APIs

Our companies register APIs (also referred to as 'EDGE') offer access to:

  • company registrations
  • maintenance transactions
  • scheduling workflows
  • commonly lodged forms
  • information from the companies register.
Table: Company API documentation
API document Description Last updated

Electronic Lodgement System (ELS) Documentation Summary v5.10 (PDF 132 KB)

A guide to our APIs. 2 August 2021

Internet Transport Layer Application Communication Protocol Specifications v1.03 (PDF 292 KB)

Outlines how the service communicates with ASIC. 27 January 2016

Document Interchange System Interface Specifications v1.07 (PDF 685 KB)

Outlines how the service communicates with ASIC. 14 April 2003

ELS Document Messages Specification v5.10 (PDF 1.00 MB)

Explains common aspects of the system. 2 August 2021

ELS Digital Signature Specification v2.00 (PDF 202 KB)

Outlines the digital signature requirements for company registration. 2 August 2021

ELS Company Registration Messages Specification v3.00 (PDF 1.27 MB)

Outlines the information that must be included for company registration transactions. 2 August 2021

ELS Registry Messages Specification v5.00 (PDF 1.01 MB)

Outlines the information that must be included for company maintenance transactions. 18 February 2021

ELS Agent Services Messages Specification v5.00 (PDF 871 KB)

Outlines the information that must be included to nominate or cease a registered agent and requirements for data downloads and other transactions. 7 October 2020

ELS ASIC Generated Messages Specification v2.00 (PDF 729 KB)

Outlines how ASIC will send messages through EDGE. 19 June 2018

Business Registration Service - Message Implementation Guide for Digital Service Providers v1.8 (PDF 2.57 MB)

Outlines the information that must be included for the streamlined business registration service transaction. 20 September 2022

Web Services Implementation Guide v3.2 (PDF 472 KB)

Explains the common aspects and architecture of the system and how it works. 20 September 2022

Reportable situations API

This API enables Australian financial services (AFS) licensees and credit licensees to submit or update high volumes of reportable situation forms. It replicates the ‘Submit or update reportable situation by licensee (includes updating a breach report)' pathway in the ASIC Regulatory Portal.

This API does not allow users to submit or update breach reports for breaches that occurred before October 2021.

How to apply for access to the reportable situations API

Before you apply:

  1. Review the ASIC Reportable Situations API User Agreement (PDF 294 KB).
  2. Develop your own API (that will interact with our API) in accordance with the technical specifications. You must be ready to test your API before you apply. You will only be able to access the testing environment for a limited period. If you are not ready, you may not be approved.

Steps to apply:

  1. Complete the ASIC Reportable Situations API - Application Form (PDF 673 KB). Send the form to ASIC for review at api.breach@asic.gov.au.
  2. Wait for ASIC to provide user credentials for the test environment and test scenarios.
  3. Conduct tests on the provided test scenarios. Once you are satisfied with the test results, email them to ASIC for review at api.breach@asic.gov.au.

If we approve your application, we will provide user credentials for the production environment of the API.

There is no fee to access the ASIC reportable situations API.

Technical specifications for reportable situations API

ASIC Reportable Situations API Specifications Version 1.9 (Word 1.3 MB).

Development of this API has been guided by the Australian Government API Design Standard.