Register Your Company in Australia
from the UK — End to End

Yes — but with an important structural nuance. An Australian Pty Ltd requires at least one director who ordinarily resides in Australia. UK founders who do not have an Australian-resident director must either use a nominee director service or instead register as a foreign company (Branch), which does not require an Australian-resident director but does require a registered Australian agent. Sirius Global Solutions advises on the most appropriate route and coordinates the nominee director or registered agent requirement through our Australian partner network — the entire process is completed remotely from the UK.

A Pty Ltd is a separate Australian legal entity with its own ACN and limited liability for shareholders — ideal for active trading in Australia, hiring staff, and building a permanent presence. A Branch is not a separate entity: it is the UK parent company operating in Australia directly, registered with ASIC under Part 5B.2. The UK parent bears direct liability for Australian activities. A Unit Trust is primarily used for property investment and asset holding rather than active trading. The right structure depends on your liability objectives, tax position, investment horizon, and whether you expect to trade actively or hold assets. Sirius provides a detailed entity selection consultation before any registration is initiated.

The ACN (Australian Company Number) is a unique nine-digit number issued by ASIC when your company is registered. Every Australian company must display it on documents. The ABN (Australian Business Number) is an eleven-digit identifier used for tax and business interactions — required to issue tax invoices, claim GST credits, and interact with the ATO. The TFN (Tax File Number) is issued by the ATO for tax return lodgement purposes. You will need an ACN (obtained at registration), an ABN (applied for through the ABR after ASIC registration), and a TFN for ATO dealings. Sirius handles all three as part of our complete UK-to-Australia incorporation service.

GST registration in Australia is mandatory for any business with a current or projected annual GST turnover of AUD 75,000 or more. If your company expects to exceed this threshold, GST registration must happen before or as soon as the threshold is reached. Businesses below this may register voluntarily to claim input tax credits on Australian business purchases. Once registered, your company must lodge Business Activity Statements (BAS) — typically quarterly — reporting GST collected and paid to the ATO. Sirius includes GST registration advice and setup as part of our incorporation service and can refer you to an Australian tax agent for ongoing BAS lodgement.

ASIC typically processes a new company registration within 1–3 business days of lodgement. ABN registration through the Australian Business Register is usually issued within 24–48 hours, though some applications may take up to 28 days if the ATO selects them for additional review. The overall timeline from first engaging Sirius to a fully registered, operationally ready Australian company — including ACN, ABN, registered office, and agent — is typically 5–10 business days, subject to the speed of identity document preparation and any nominee director arrangements.

Key ongoing obligations include: ASIC Annual Review — paying the annual review fee (AUD 290 for small Pty Ltds in 2024–25) and confirming company details each anniversary; maintaining statutory registers of members, directors, and secretaries; lodging material changes (new directors, address changes, share allotments) with ASIC within 28 days; and, for UK-controlled entities, potentially lodging financial reports with ASIC under the large foreign-controlled company rules. Sirius monitors all these obligations for clients through our Australian partner network and provides proactive compliance management to ensure your company remains in good standing.

For each proposed director and shareholder: full legal name, date of birth, residential address, and certified identity documents (passport copy and proof of address). For the proposed company: preferred company name (plus alternatives for ASIC name availability), share structure, and the nature of Australian business activities. For a Branch registration, the UK parent's Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum and Articles of Association, and current Register of Directors are also required — typically needing apostille or notarisation. Sirius provides a detailed, customised document checklist for your specific structure and guides you through UK-based certification procedures for Australian lodgement.

Registering an Australian company from the UK does not itself require a visa or trigger immigration obligations. The company registration process is entirely separate from personal immigration status. However, if you or other UK-based individuals intend to physically work in or manage the Australian business from Australia, the appropriate visa must be obtained. Relevant visa categories for business owners may include the Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Subclass 188/888), the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (Subclass 482), or the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186). Sirius handles corporate registration only and does not provide Australian immigration advice — we refer clients with visa needs to specialist Australian immigration advisors in our partner network.