Treasury’s Foreign Investment website has replaced firb.gov.au. 

To continue to receive updates on foreign investment subscribe to the mailing list on foreigninvestment.gov.au.

Notification of actions

The process to notify the Australian Government of foreign investment actions taken will change 1 July 2023.

  • Between 5pm AEST, Friday 30 June and 12am AEST, Saturday 1 July the notification of action webform is unavailable as we transition to the new arrangements.
  • From 12am AEST, Saturday 1 July please visit the ATO’s Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets page.
  • Some investors may still be required to give notice under sections 98C, 98D or 98E instead of giving notice to the Register. A changed process will apply to the manner of notification for all actions notified on or after 1 July 2023, regardless of when the action was taken. For more information, please visit Treasury's Foreign Investment website.

 

Requests for discretionary refunds of fees on withdrawals of foreign investment applications

The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) recognises that measures being implemented globally, and in Australia by governments, businesses and individuals, in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic are affecting the ability of some investors to progress investment decisions.

Where those measures are resulting in delays to, or deferrals of, investment decisions that are currently the subject of a foreign investment application, and the applicant wishes to withdraw that application, the FIRB will consider refunding the fee paid. This notice provides a temporary exception to the advice provided in Guidance Note 29 and 30 concerning fee refunds in the event of a withdrawal.

Applicants should clearly state the reasons for their remittance request at the time of withdrawal. With reference to the national interest, the FIRB will retain its discretion not to refund fees where the decision to withdraw is not clearly linked to the above factors.