Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC): register, licences and requirements
AUSTRAC is Australia's financial intelligence unit and AML/CTF regulator. It licenses two fintech-relevant categories: remittance service providers (money transfer businesses) and, since the 2024 AML/CTF reforms, virtual asset service providers (VASPs, formerly digital currency exchanges). Both registrations are free to apply for, last 3 years, and both public registers went searchable online, with the VASP register opening to the public on 30 June 2026.
How to check a firm on the AUSTRAC register
Both registers are searched on AUSTRAC's public web apps by entering the business name; an active VASPR entry shows the registered entity name, ABN, registered virtual-asset services and any conditions attached to the registration, while an active RSR entry shows the remittance network provider or independent remittance dealer's registered details. Both apps are JavaScript-driven search tools rather than static listings, so a live search must be run interactively.3
At a glance
| Official name | Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Australia |
| Type | Financial intelligence unit |
| Headquarters | Barton, Canberra (Australian Capital Territory)1 |
| Founded | 19891 |
| Website | austrac.gov.au2 |
| Public register | Official public register3 |
| Licence types in the Atlas | 2 |
What AUSTRAC supervises
AUSTRAC is Australia's financial intelligence unit and AML/CTF regulator: it collects and analyses financial transaction reports to detect money laundering, terrorism financing and other serious crime, and it registers and supervises remittance service providers and virtual asset service providers under the AML/CTF Act.1
- Remittance service providers (remittance network providers and independent remittance dealers)5
- Virtual asset service providers (VASPs): exchange, safekeeping, transfer and ICO-related virtual asset services5
- AML/CTF programs, compliance and reporting obligations of reporting entities across the banking, gambling, bullion and other designated-service sectors1
Licences AUSTRAC issues
Lesser-known services for applicants
Pre-application meeting / pre-assessment
The regulator does not publish this.
Innovation hub
AUSTRAC runs an 'Innovation Hub' but it sits inside Fintel Alliance, AUSTRAC's public-private financial-crime intelligence partnership (~30 members: major banks, remittance providers, gambling operators, law enforcement): it is aimed at joint intelligence/technology projects with existing partners, not at helping new applicants through registration or licensing.4
Regulatory sandbox
AUSTRAC offers no regulatory sandbox or AML/CTF relief of its own. A firm operating inside ASIC's Enhanced Regulatory Sandbox (which can waive the need for an AFS licence) still must fully comply with AUSTRAC enrolment, registration and AML/CTF program obligations from day one: there is no reduced AUSTRAC regime for sandbox participants.5
Application portal: AUSTRAC Online (https://online.austrac.gov.au/): the login portal used to enrol, register as a remittance or virtual asset service provider, update registration details and file AML/CTF compliance reports.6
Fee schedule: No dedicated AUSTRAC fee regulation or schedule was found. AUSTRAC registration and enrolment (remittance and VASP) carry no government application fee; registered/reporting entities separately pay an annual AUSTRAC industry funding levy whose amount depends on business size and type and was not found published as a fixed figure.7
Compare with other regulators: pre-application meetings · sandboxes and innovation hubs.
Fees and timelines
| Licence | Fee | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Registration as a remittance service provider (remittance network provider or independent remittance dealer) | application | AUD 0 (no government application fee)7 |
| Registration as a virtual asset service provider (VASP) on the AUSTRAC Virtual Asset Service Provider Register (formerly the Digital Currency Exchange Register) | application | AUD 0 (no government application fee)7 |
Changing the owner of a licensed firm
Notification only. No percentage-based ownership threshold applies. Registered remittance providers and VASPs must notify AUSTRAC of any change to beneficial owners or key personnel: including new personnel's police checks and any criminal/civil enforcement history: within 14 days of the change, via AUSTRAC Online. This is post-completion notification, not prior approval; AUSTRAC can still suspend, cancel or impose conditions on the registration if it considers the new ownership or personnel pose a money-laundering, terrorism-financing or other serious-crime risk. Legal basis: AML/CTF Act 2006 (Cth).9
Buying a company that already holds one of these licences is often faster than applying. See ready-made licensed companies · emoney payments · crypto digital assets.
Laws AUSTRAC applies
- Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006: Act No. 169, 2006 (Cth), registered compilation C2026C00274
Recent and upcoming changes
- 2026-03-31: AUSTRAC's Digital Currency Exchange regime was replaced by the wider Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) regime under the AML/CTF Amendment Act 2024; existing DCE registrations continued automatically as VASP registrations.10
- 2026-06-30: AUSTRAC made the Virtual Asset Service Provider Register (VASPR) publicly searchable for the first time, so anyone can check whether a VASP is registered before using its services.11
- 2026-07-29: deadline by which providers of the newly regulated virtual asset services (added by the 2024 reforms) had to apply to enrol and register with AUSTRAC to keep operating.12
- 2027-04-09 (12 months after 2026-04-08 royal assent): the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026 commences, requiring operators of digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms to hold an ASIC Australian Financial Services Licence in addition to any AUSTRAC registration: an AUSTRAC-only registration will no longer be sufficient for custodial digital-asset businesses.13
Contacts and public register
Address: Level 2, 4 National Circuit, Barton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia1
Website: austrac.gov.au2
Check whether a firm is licensed: official register3 · official register8.
Frequently asked questions
What does AUSTRAC regulate?
AUSTRAC is Australia's AML/CTF regulator and financial intelligence unit. For fintechs, it registers and supervises remittance service providers (money transfer businesses) and virtual asset service providers (VASPs): exchanges, custodians and other crypto businesses: requiring them to run an AML/CTF program and report suspicious and large transactions.
Does AUSTRAC charge a fee to register a crypto exchange or money transfer business?
No. AUSTRAC registration and enrolment for remittance and virtual asset service providers carry no government application fee. Registered entities do separately pay an annual AUSTRAC industry funding levy, whose amount varies by business size and type and was not found published as a fixed figure.
Is there an AUSTRAC sandbox for fintech startups?
No. AUSTRAC has no regulatory sandbox of its own. Even a firm accepted into ASIC's Enhanced Regulatory Sandbox, which can waive the need for an AFS licence, must still fully comply with AUSTRAC's ordinary registration and AML/CTF program obligations from the outset.
What replaced AUSTRAC's Digital Currency Exchange (DCE) register?
The AML/CTF Amendment Act 2024 replaced the DCE regime with a wider Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) regime from 31 March 2026. Existing DCE registrations rolled over automatically as VASP registrations, and AUSTRAC made the VASP register publicly searchable on 30 June 2026.
Do I still need an AUSTRAC registration if I run a custodial crypto exchange in Australia?
Yes, but it will no longer be sufficient on its own. From 9 April 2027, the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026 requires operators of digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms to also hold an ASIC Australian Financial Services Licence, alongside any AUSTRAC registration.
How long does an AUSTRAC registration last and how is a change of ownership handled?
Remittance and VASP registrations run on a 3-year term. There is no prior-approval regime for a change of ownership or key personnel: the business must notify AUSTRAC within 14 days of the change, and AUSTRAC can suspend, cancel or impose conditions if it considers the new owners or personnel pose a crime risk.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre · secondary · retrieved 2026-09-24
- austrac.gov.au · retrieved 2026-09-24
- online.apps.austrac.gov.au: vaspr · retrieved 2026-09-24
- austrac.gov.au: fintel alliance · retrieved 2026-09-24
- legislation.gov.au: text · secondary · retrieved 2026-09-24
- online.austrac.gov.au · retrieved 2026-09-24
- moneytransferlicence.com.au: is austrac registration free or paid · secondary · retrieved 2026-09-24
- online.apps.austrac.gov.au: rsr · retrieved 2026-09-24
- austrac.gov.au: update your details · retrieved 2026-09-24
- legislation.gov.au: text · retrieved 2026-09-24
- austrac.gov.au: virtual asset service provider register goes public · retrieved 2026-09-24
- austrac.gov.au: register us remittance or virtual asset service provider · retrieved 2026-09-24
- legislation.gov.au: text · retrieved 2026-09-24
Applying to AUSTRAC, or buying a firm it licenses?
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