Registering a relevant provider

This application is used by Australian financial services (AFS) licensees to register relevant providers, regardless of whether the relevant provider is an AFS licensee.

Note: A ‘relevant provider’ is an individual who is:

a financial services licensee
an authorised representative, or
an employee or director of a financial services licensee (or a related body corporate of a financial services licensee) who is authorised to provide personal advice to retail clients in relation to relevant financial products: see section 910A of the Corporations Act 2001 (Corporations Act).

Industry sometimes uses the terms ‘relevant provider’ and ‘financial adviser’ interchangeably.

Important information

Relevant providers (including time-share advisers) must be registered with ASIC to provide personal advice to retail clients on relevant financial products.
Provisional relevant providers cannot be registered with ASIC.
AFS licensees must register their relevant providers with ASIC.
AFS licensees can only apply to register relevant providers they have appointed and who are recorded on the Financial Advisers Register.
If a relevant provider is authorised by two or more AFS licensees, each authorising AFS licensee can apply to register the relevant provider with ASIC at any given time. However, the relevant provider must be registered by at least one AFS licensee before they provide any personal advice to retail clients on relevant financial products.
A relevant provider’s registration will remain in force until one of the following events occur:

The AFS licensee who registered the relevant provider ceases the relevant provider’s authorisation. However, if the relevant provider is registered by another AFS licensee at that time, the relevant provider will remain registered in relation to the other AFS licensee.
If the relevant provider is also the registering AFS licensee, at the time the AFS licence ceases to be in force. However, if the relevant provider is registered by another AFS licensee at that time, the relevant provider will remain registered in relation to the other AFS licensee.
A registration prohibition order takes effect.
A banning order takes effect, which prevents the relevant provider from providing personal advice to retail clients in relation to relevant financial products.

A relevant provider’s registration(s) can be suspended by a written order made by the Financial Services and Credit Panel. The suspension will end on the date specified in the suspension order, after which date the relevant provider’s registration(s) will recommence, provided the registration(s) have not been cancelled for any of the reasons listed above (i.e. the relevant provider’s authorisation with the registering AFS licensee has not ceased, or a registration prohibition order or banning order has not taken effect).

For additional information on the registration process, please visit the How to register a financial adviser with ASIC page on the ASIC website.

Key information required

An AFS licensee completing the registration application (either on behalf of a relevant provider or as the relevant provider) must provide the following information for each relevant provider that they are applying to register:

representative number – the relevant provider will have a representative number – if they have been appointed as a representative before – which is located on the Authorised Representatives Register or Financial Advisers Register
the relevant provider’s principal place of business
the relevant provider’s email address
the relevant provider’s landline or mobile number.

An AFS licensee completing the registration application on behalf of a relevant provider must also provide the following declarations:

that the relevant provider has given the ASF licensee a declaration that the relevant provider is a fit and proper person to provide personal advice to retail clients in relation to relevant financial products
as to whether the AFS licensee is aware of any reason why the relevant provider might not be a fit and proper person to provide personal advice to retail clients in relation to relevant financial products
that, if applicable, the relevant provider has met the relevant education and training standards set out in section 921B of the Corporations Act
that the relevant provider is a qualified tax relevant provider (as defined in section 910A of the Corporations Act) if they provide, or intend to provide, a tax (financial) advice service: see Information Sheet 268 FAQs: Relevant providers who provide tax (financial) advice services (INFO 268).

A relevant provider who is the AFS licensee completing their own registration application must also provide a declaration that:

they are a fit and proper person to provide personal advice to retail clients in relation to relevant financial products
if applicable, they have met the relevant education and training standards set out in section 921B of the Corporations Act
they are a qualified tax relevant provider (as defined in section 910A of the Corporations Act) if they provide, or intend to provide, a tax (financial) advice service: see INFO 268.

Privacy

Information provided using this form may include personal information. This information is provided by you in accordance with the terms of our Electronic Lodgement Protocol and the ASIC Privacy Policy.

Please refer to our privacy policy for information about how we handle your personal information, your right to seek access to or correct your personal information, and how to complain about breaches of your privacy by ASIC.

Financial Advisers Dataset

Information relating to a relevant provider’s registration status is available on the Financial Advisers Register published on moneysmart.gov.au and in the Financial Advisers Dataset available on data.gov.au. The Financial Advisers Dataset on data.gov.au is refreshed on a weekly basis, every Thursday.

Registration webinars

In December 2023, ASIC hosted two webinars to provide more information to AFS licensees and relevant providers about the requirement for relevant providers to be registered. See resources from the registration webinars, including recordings, slides and a consolidated Q&A.

Where can I get more information?

For more guidance, go to:

the financial advice hub on the ASIC website, including the Quick reference guide: Applying the financial adviser professional standards
INFO 268 FAQs: Relevant providers who provide tax (financial) advice services
INFO 276 FAQs: Registration of relevant providers
INFO 277 FAQs: Registration of relevant providers: Guidance on making declarations

You can also ask a question.

ASIC