AFS licensees
Important notice: AFS licensees are required to submit reportable situations (previously breach reports) to ASIC via the ASIC Regulatory Portal. Visit our Reportable situations page for more information.
You must have an Australian financial services (AFS) licence to conduct a financial services business.
If you carry on a business of providing financial services, you must hold an AFS licence (unless you are exempt or are authorised to provide those services as a representative of another person who holds an AFS licence).
You may need an AFS licence if, as part of your business, you:
- provide financial product advice to clients
- deal in a financial product
- make a market for a financial product
- operate a registered scheme
- provide a custodial or depository service
- provide traditional trustee company services
- provide a crowd funding service
- provide a superannuation trustee service
- provide a claims handling and settling service, or
- operate the business and conduct the affairs of a corporate collective investment vehicle (CCIV).
You will need to have your AFS licence or be a representative of a licensee from the day you start your financial services business. Depending on your business, you may decide to apply for a limited AFS licence.
ASIC assesses applications for AFS licences as part of our role as regulator of the financial services industry.
Consumers should be aware that the licensing process is a point-in-time assessment of the licensee, not of its owners or employees. Holding an AFS licence does not guarantee the probity or quality of the licensee’s services.
Related information
- AFS Licensing Kit
- Do you need a licence?: Check if you need an AFS licence or a limited AFS licence for your business
- Applying for and managing your AFS licence: How to apply for an AFS licence
- Changing details and lodging documents: Update your details and lodge forms
- Your obligations as AFS licensee: What you must do to comply with your obligations
- Varying or cancelling your AFS licence: If your circumstances change you may need to vary or cancel your licence
- More information about AFS licensing