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Company formation & licensing

Australia (ASIC): AFS licence programme.

The ASIC route is people and product driven. Confirm that your product is permitted, then build the team and controls that the regulator expects. Verify current rules.

A harbour skyline at sunrise with the Australian flag
Australia (ASIC) formation

Product feasibility

Check current rules on retail CFD and forex products against your intended offer. Resolve conflicts before committing budget to an application.

People and resources

Identify responsible managers, compliance resources and local presence. Document experience and responsibilities.

A governance team at a glass review wall
A governance team at a glass review wall

Controls and capital

Prepare compliance arrangements, risk management and financial resources. Record each as evidence for the application.

Product governance

Define how products are designed, reviewed and monitored under current rules. Keep records of decisions, target markets and review outcomes. Treat product governance as an operating process.

Product feasibility memo

Describe the product, the relevant rules, how each is met and any open questions. Have counsel review it. The memo is an early risk filter and later becomes part of your governance records.

Questions we hear

Can I serve Australians from offshore?

Take Australian legal advice first.

Is the timeline short?

Rarely. Include contingency.

Australia versus common alternatives

Three common alternatives, rated on the same attributes, for use in your own scoring. Open the full comparison table →

Australia compared with alternatives
JurisdictionRegulatorCategoryRegulation strictnessHeadline corporate taxSetup speed (estimate)Estimated costMarket credibility
AustraliaASICOnshoreHigh30% standard (25% for base-rate entities)Longer · 3–6 monthsHigher · $50k–$150kHigh
United KingdomFCAOnshoreHigh25% main rate (lower for small profits)Longer · 3–6 monthsHigher · $50k–$150kHigh
CyprusCySECOnshore (EU)High15% (from 1 Jan 2026; previously 12.5%)Longer · 3–6 monthsHigher · $50k–$150kHigh
Dubai (DIFC)DFSAOnshore-style free zoneHigh9% standard; 0% on qualifying free-zone incomeLonger · 3–6 monthsHigher · $50k–$150kHigh

Ratings are relative and approximate; time and budget figures are planning estimates, and regulator timelines may exceed them. Verify at source. Tax rates were checked against public sources in October 2026 and are subject to change. Not legal or tax advice.

Formation workflow

  1. 1

    Requirements and shortlist

    Capture business model, activities and constraints; score candidate jurisdictions against weighted criteria.

  2. 2

    Incorporation and dependencies

    Produce the entity artefacts that banks, payment providers and platform vendors will ask for; start banking first.

  3. 3

    Submission and evidence

    Assemble the evidence pack, submit, and track every regulator query with an owner and a deadline.

  4. 4

    Operational readiness

    Verify compliance processes, integrations and reporting before go-live and schedule recurring obligations.

Send your requirements

Share the workflow behind Australia (ASIC) formation. We will map the dependencies and the access each one needs. Email info@mt5graylabel.net, message +91 88816 58480 on WhatsApp, or reach @xacfx on Telegram.