Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for Digital Service Providers (DSPs)
This page provides documents and information for Digital Service Providers (DSPs) interested in building services to directly connect with the ASIC registers.
ASIC Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) give developers an easy way to integrate ASIC Registry interactions (company and business name registration for example) with third party software to create web and mobile services.
APIs available to DSPs include:
- Business names transactions
- Company registration and maintenance
- Other Government business registrations
- Standard Business Reporting
DSPs should review the APIs and contact ASIC if they would like to proceed with development. ASIC will provide:
- access to a test environment for the purposes of development,
- support for technical questions about the specifications, and
- testing to ensure your product is suitable.
There is no fee to use the ASIC API’s however, use of these API’s and the services available are governed by terms and conditions.
Digital Service Access Terms and Conditions
We have updated terms and conditions that govern access to ASIC’s digital services. The ASIC Digital Services Access Terms and Conditions (T’s&C’s) define requirements and obligations to be fulfilled by ASIC Digital Service Providers (DSPs).
A DSP is a person or organisation who allows data to be sent to and from ASIC to submit transactions and request information searches of the ASIC Registers.
The T’s & C’s include:
- requirements to be an approved DSP,
- obligations of DSPs in relation to conduct (including marketing), use and security measures,
- grounds on whch ASIC may suspend or cancel access to ASIC digital services, and
- expectations of DSPs in managing customer interactions.
By better communicating the requirements to be a DSP and strengthening our compliance work, we hope to better inform new and current DSPs about their obligations and promote the integrity of our registers and digital services.
Business names transactions
Our business name service (also referred to as web services) offers registration, address update, cancel, and renewal transactions. It also provides access to search business name information from ASIC's register.
The APIs below will help software developers implement business name services.
For more information about our business names services, please contact webservices@asic.gov.au
| API document | Description | Last updated |
| A list of error messages transmitted through the service. | 21 April 2016 | |
|
Message Implementation Guide for Digital Service Providers v3.4 (PDF 1.46MB) |
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 142kb) |
Sample messages submitted through the service. | 6 October 2022 |
| Outlines the information that must be included for the streamlined business registration service transaction. | 20 September 2022 | |
| Explains the common aspects and architecture of the system and how it works. | 20 September 2022 |
Our company service (also referred to as EDGE) offers registration and maintenance transactions. It also provides access to search company information from ASIC's register and scheduling workflows. Our most commonly lodged forms for the Companies Register are also supported.
The APIs below will help DSPs implement company services.
For more information about our company services, please contact webservices@asic.gov.au
| API document | Description | Last updated |
Describes the requirements for searching the Companies register. This includes:
|
2 August 2021 | |
|
Electronic Lodgement System (ELS) Documentation Summary v5.10 (PDF 132kb)
|
A guide to our APIs. | 2 August 2021 |
|
Internet Transport Layer Application Communication Protocol Specifications v1.03 (PDF 292kb) |
Outlines how the service communicates with ASIC. | 27 January 2016 |
|
Document Interchange System Interface Specifications v1.07 (PDF 685kb) |
Outlines how the service communicates with ASIC. | 14 April 2003 |
|
ELS Document Messages Specification v5.10 (PDF 1.00MB) |
Explains common aspects of the system. | 1 December 2024 |
|
ELS Digital Signature Specification v2.00 (PDF 202kb) |
Outlines the digital signature requirements for company registration. | 2 August 2021 |
|
ELS Company Registration Messages Specification v3.00 (PDF 1.27MB) |
Outlines the information that must be included for company registration transactions. | 2 August 2021 |
|
ELS Registry Messages Specification v5.00 (PDF 1.01MB) |
Outlines the information that must be included for company maintenance transactions. | 18 February 2021 |
|
ELS Agent Services Messages Specification v5.00 (PDF 992kb) |
Outlines the information that must be included to nominate or cease a registered and requirements for data downloads and other transactions. | 1 December 2024 |
| Outlines how ASIC will send you messages through EDGE. | 19 June 2018 | |
| Outlines the information that must be included for the streamlined business registration service transaction. | 20 September 2022 | |
| Explains the common aspects and architecture of the system and how it works. | 20 September 2022 |
Other Government Business Registrations
Third party DSPs can also build services to directly connect with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Business Registrations.
Web and mobile services can be developed for a range of ATO registrations including Australian Business Number Registration.
Application Programming Interfaces (API's) and supporting documentation are available here.
Standard Business Reporting
Standard Business Reporting (SBR) is an Australian Government initiative to reduce the reporting burden of business. SBR enables business and tax professionals to report to government directly from their financial, accounting or payroll software. ASIC supports lodgement of financial reporting obligations via SBR.
Technical information regarding the SBR system can be obtained here: https://www.sbr.gov.au/digital-service-providers
Technical information regarding the ASIC SBR forms can be obtained here: https://www.sbr.gov.au/digital-service-providers/developer-tools/australian-securities-and-investments-commission-asic