Foreign founders can own 100% of an Australian company, but every Pty Ltd needs at least one director who ordinarily resides in Australia. That single requirement shapes almost every decision in this guide.
The structure decision shapes everything after it — funding, tax, and how much ongoing compliance you're signing up for.
The structure for a foreign-owned Australian subsidiary. Under the Corporations Act 2001 (s201A), it must have at least one director who ordinarily resides in Australia — ownership and directorship are legally separate, so this doesn't affect who holds the shares.
Registers your existing overseas company to operate in Australia without creating a new local legal entity. Requires a local agent and carries the same ASIC fee as a Pty Ltd, with different ongoing obligations.
The same sequence we run for every Australia filing — so nothing depends on memory or luck.
This is the step that actually gates everything else. If none of your founders qualify, a resident director service runs from roughly AUD $6,000/year plus GST — budget for it up front rather than discovering the requirement mid-filing.
Every director needs one, including the resident director and any overseas directors. Australian-resident applicants with myGovID can often get this in days; overseas applicants filing on paper should budget 28–56 days.
Filed with your registered office address, resident director, at least one shareholder, and a constitution (foreign-owned subsidiaries generally need a custom constitution, not the off-the-shelf replaceable rules).
ASIC issues the Australian Company Number, typically within 1–3 business days of a complete lodgement.
Filed alongside or immediately after ASIC registration. Foreign applicants often need additional supporting documentation and should budget up to 28 days rather than the near-instant turnaround Australian residents see.
Mandatory once you cross the threshold, or immediately if you're already confident you will — voluntary early registration is common for B2B businesses that want to claim input credits from day one.
ASIC registration itself clears in 1–3 business days. The full sequence — Director ID, ASIC, ABN, TFN and GST — realistically takes 2–4 weeks for a foreign-owned company once the resident director is in place.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ASIC company registration | AUD $636 (from 1 July 2026) | $611 until 30 June 2026 — ASIC fees rise annually on 1 July |
| Business name registration | AUD $47/year or $108/3 years | Only needed if trading under a name different from the registered company name |
| Resident director service | AUD $6,000+/year plus GST | Required if no founder qualifies as an Australia-ordinarily-resident director |
| Registered office service | AUD $500+/year | If you don't already have a compliant Australian address |
| Professional formation service | AUD $900+ | Typical starting point for full-service registration handling ASIC, ABN and TFN together |
| Annual ASIC review fee | AUD $342/year (from 1 July 2026) | Recurring fee to keep the company on the register, separate from any accounting or tax compliance cost |
Registration is day one. This is what the calendar looks like after.
The resident director requirement is permanent, not just a one-time filing condition — the company must maintain at least one Australia-ordinarily-resident director throughout its life, not only at registration.
Annual financial reporting obligations depend on company size (the "large proprietary company" thresholds), so a small foreign-owned subsidiary often has lighter statutory reporting than founders assume — worth confirming rather than over-building compliance from day one.
GST registration is mandatory once turnover exceeds AUD $75,000; once registered, quarterly Business Activity Statements (BAS) become a standing obligation.
A foreign shareholder needs no Australian visa to own shares or sit as a non-resident director — a visa is only required if you'll physically work in Australia, run day-to-day operations, or attend meetings on the ground.
Yes — there's no local ownership requirement for a standard proprietary limited company. The only mandatory local element is the resident director, which is a board seat, not an ownership stake.
You appoint a resident director — often a nominee director service — who satisfies the legal requirement without holding any shares or ownership rights unless you separately choose to make them a shareholder.
Australian residents with myGovID can often get one in days. Overseas applicants generally file on paper, which can take 28–56 days — start this in parallel with everything else, not after.
No. ASIC and the ATO don't require bank details at the registration stage. You'll need an account once operational, and opening one as a foreign-owned company can involve extra AML/KYC verification worth planning for in advance.
Once your turnover exceeds (or you reasonably expect it will exceed) AUD $75,000 in a 12-month period. Many B2B businesses register earlier, voluntarily, to claim GST credits on setup costs.