Online services for foreign investors

Overview

You can use ATO Online services for foreign investors to manage your obligations relating to Australian investments.

ATO online services are streamlined, contemporary and secure. You (or your representative) can use them at a time that is convenient to you.

You can use Online services for foreign investors to:

• lodge residential property applications and pay associated fees
• monitor your residential application status
• view the history of your residential property applications (from 1 January 2021)
• manage your foreign person details
• manage residential and non-residential asset registrations
• lodge vacancy fee returns and pay associated fees
• review your vacancy fee return lodgments
• review your payment history
• delegate authority to representatives to act on your behalf.

Online services for foreign investors supports the Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets.

Use the Foreign investors navigation page for a list of help and instruction pages when using Online services for foreign investors.

We're here to help as you make the transition to the new online service.

If you are having difficulty meeting your foreign investment obligations on time, contact us. We take a reasonable approach to compliance with those who are trying to do the right thing.

Set up your access

You need to complete a setup process before you can access all functions in Online services for foreign investors.

Use one of the following options to see the detailed setup instructions relevant to your circumstances:

• Access Online services for foreign investors
• Access Online services for foreign investors for businesses or entities with an Australian business number (ABN).

You will need:

• a Digital ID, such as myID to access Online services for foreign investors
• to complete a one-off Registration.

Digital ID to access Online services for foreign investors

As a foreign investor, you (and if applicable your representatives) need a Digital ID such as myID to access Online services for foreign investors.

myIDOpens in a new window is the Australian Government’s Digital ID provider. It is an app that lets you prove who you are when logging in to a range of government online services. Your myID is unique to you and can't be shared.

Complete a one-off registration

You need to complete a one-off registration the first time you access Online services for foreign investors.

You must set up the access yourself. An authorised representative cannot do this for you. After you have access, you can authorise a representative to access Online services for foreign investors on your behalf.

Log in to Online services for foreign investors

Use your Digital ID, such as myID, to log in to Online services for foreign investors. You'll receive a 4-digit code that lets you enter the myID app.

Online services for foreign investors will log out after 25 minutes of inactivity. You must complete your transaction in one session, as you cannot save your progress.

If you have issues accessing the service, check for system maintenance and known issues at Troubleshooting Online services for foreign investors.

For more information about managing your registrations and obligations for investments in Australia using Online services for foreign investors, see Foreign investors.

Access for authorised representatives

Refer to Authorise a representative for instructions on authorising representatives to use Online services for foreign investors on your behalf.

You can only authorise others after you have completed setting up your access. Authorised representatives will need to have:

• their own Digital ID, such as myID
• an email address that only they can access.