🇦🇺 Australia · Investment
Foreign investment rules, incentives, investment promotion agencies, and restricted sectors.
Quick answer
Australia is open to foreign investment, promoted by Austrade, but proposals above monetary thresholds (and any in sensitive sectors or land) need Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval. There are no exchange controls, so profits repatriate freely; R&D and other incentives are available.
Inward investment is promoted by Austrade / Invest Australia; significant foreign investments are reviewed by the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) and approved by the Treasurer.
- Invest Australia (Austrade) provides support to international investors.
- Foreign investments above the relevant thresholds require FIRB approval.
- Sensitive sectors and government-related investors face lower or zero thresholds.
Step-by-step
- 1
Check the investment regime
Australia welcomes FDI, with Austrade providing support; most greenfield investment is straightforward.
- 2
Check FIRB approval thresholds
Investments above monetary thresholds, in sensitive sectors, or in land generally need Foreign Investment Review Board approval.
- 3
Choose your vehicle and register
Register a company or branch with ASIC, get an ABN, and register for tax with the ATO.
- 4
Access incentives and programs
Use the R&D Tax Incentive and state/territory grants and investment attraction programs where eligible.
- 5
Handle capital and repatriation
There are no exchange controls, so you can bring in capital and repatriate dividends and profits freely.
- 6
Meet reporting and protections
Meet FIRB conditions and ongoing corporate/tax filings; Australia’s treaties and stable legal system protect investors.
Checklist
- Open regime (Austrade facilitation)
- FIRB approval (thresholds / sensitive / land)
- Company/branch (ASIC) + ABN + ATO
- R&D Tax Incentive + state/territory grants
- No exchange controls (free repatriation)
- FIRB conditions + corporate/tax filings
- Investment-treaty protection
- CTA to .com/.ai for AI-assisted planning
Official authorities
- Invest Australia (Austrade)
National investment-promotion agency.
- Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB)
Reviews foreign investment proposals.
Frequently asked questions
What is FIRB?
The Foreign Investment Review Board, which advises on and screens foreign investment proposals above thresholds or in sensitive sectors and land.
Do I always need FIRB approval?
No — only above monetary thresholds or for sensitive sectors, land and certain investors; many smaller investments do not need approval.
Can I repatriate profits from Australia?
Yes — Australia has no exchange controls, so dividends, interest and capital can be sent abroad freely (withholding tax may apply).
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- Australian Government — Australian Government's official entry point — quick access to all department services
- Dept of Home Affairs — Student/work visas, skilled migration (189/190/491 subclasses), and citizenship applications
- Australian Tax Office (ATO) — TFN application, tax refunds, GST, superannuation, and personal income tax lodgment