Search and document delivery at a glance
- Search online
- ASIC states that register searches need no registration. Online document purchases require a credit card and email. [2] [3]
- Search language
- The public ABN search is available in English. Search by ABN, ACN or company name. Paid ASIC records are a separate service. [11]
- Digital documents
- Purchased online information comes as a PDF. After payment, select “View PDF” on the receipt page. The confirmation email also contains download links, which remain active for 90 days. Certified document copies arrive by post. [9] [10]
- Document language
- The Current company extract is in English. The official PDF sample shows this product’s fields and layout. [5]
- Paper and collection
- Certified copies of public filings are sent by post. ASIC does not certify extracts or copies of registration certificates. [1] [2]
- International delivery
- Not specified
- Fees at a glance
- Basic search free; current extract AUD 10; with history AUD 20
- Access
- No account for searches; credit card and email for online purchases
Choose the right register
ASIC, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, maintains national company registers. These cover Australian companies and registered foreign companies, alongside other organisation registers. For a trading name, use the Business Names search and identify the person or company holding that name. [1]
ABN Lookup answers a different initial question: what public information is recorded against an Australian Business Number? Its free search is useful when you have only an ABN or business name. An ASIC extract is the appropriate product for more detailed company research. [8]
Names and abbreviations explained
- ASICAustralian Securities and Investments Commission
- Australia’s corporate and financial regulator and company registry operator. [1]
- ACNAustralian Company Number
- A nine-digit company identifier, useful for separating similar names. [6]
- ABNAustralian Business Number
- An identifier on the Australian Business Register. Its public information is available free through ABN Lookup. [8]
- ARBNAustralian Registered Body Number
- An identifier used for registered bodies and foreign companies in ASIC’s system. [1]
- Current and historical extractCurrent information with registry history
- The paid product for current details and previous registered information. [1]
Search step by step
Find the company and obtain an extract
Select the correct register
Open ASIC register search. Under „Search within“, select „Organisation & Business names“. Enter the company name or a known identifier such as its ACN or ARBN. [1] [4]
Open the matching result
Select the relevant name. Match its identifier and registration date. Review the free basic details and list of lodged documents before purchasing. [4]
Choose an extract or a filing
Under „Information for purchase“, choose a current extract or the version with history. For a particular set of accounts, select the lodged Financial Report instead. „Show all documents“ reveals additional filings. [1] [4]
Receive the document
Add the product to the cart and check your selection. Pay by credit card and provide your email address. Then select “View PDF” on the receipt page or use the download link in the confirmation email. Save the file within 90 days. Certified copies are sent by post. [2] [9] [10]
Documents and fees
| Document / information | Contents and purpose | Fee | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current company extract [1] [5] | Current company record, including officer and membership details. | AUD 10 | Available among the result’s purchase options. |
| Current and historical company extract [1] | Current details with historical registered information. | AUD 20 | Choose the historical version in the result. |
| Certificate of registration [1] | Certificate showing the company’s registration. | AUD 23 | A separate product, not a substitute for a current extract. |
| Copy of a lodged document [1] | For example, a Financial Report or another public filing. | AUD 20 for fewer than 10 pages; AUD 50 for 10 pages or more | Choose from the document list, or search by document number if known. |
| Certified document copy [1] [2] | Copy of a public filing with ASIC’s stamp and signature. | AUD 43 for fewer than 10 pages; AUD 73 for 10 pages or more | Mailed to the purchaser. ASIC cannot certify register extracts or copies of registration certificates. |
What the extract contains
The official sample contains company addresses and officer information, together with capital and member details and references to lodged documents. Check the date and time at the top: these identify when the database was queried. [5]
For proprietary companies, ASIC records the top twenty members of each share class, plus members tied with the twentieth largest holding. This is not necessarily a complete shareholder list. „Beneficially held: No“ indicates that the registered holder holds for someone else; the extract need not identify that other person. [6]
Financial statements are not public for every company
Public companies and large proprietary companies generally have financial reporting obligations to ASIC. Requirements for small proprietary companies depend on their circumstances. Some foreign-controlled small companies qualify for exemptions. [7]
Look for the lodged Financial Report in the document list. „Next review date“ is an annual registry review date, not confirmation that audited accounts are available. A Company Extract and a Financial Report are separate products. [6] [7]
Overseas users and personal information
ASIC explicitly says that you do not need to sign up to search its registers. Accounts for managing a business name are separate. For online purchases, ASIC specifies payment by credit card and delivery by email. [2] [3]
ASIC’s current register guidance says that officeholder addresses are no longer available in the ASIC extract. These personal addresses should not be confused with the company’s business or registered office address. [1]
Two search interfaces
ASIC links to a new public beta search alongside ASIC Connect. Its current guidance says the beta initially provides free information. Use the ASIC Connect link on the same official page for paid extracts and documents. [1]
Official samples and reading guides
Official ASIC sample extract
ASIC’s linked example of a paid current company extract, February 2026 file version. Use it to understand the fields. [5]
Avoid common mistakes
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an Australian user account?
Not for the register search. ASIC separates public searching from accounts used for business-name administration and filings. [3]
Does the extract identify every beneficial owner?
It reports registered holdings, with limits on the members displayed. A registered holder may act for another person. You cannot generally infer a complete beneficial-owner list from it. [6]
Original sources
Sources reviewed: 16 September 2026. The guidance is based on the linked information published by registers and public authorities.
- Company and organisation registers Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Search fees Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Welcome to ASIC Connect Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Organisation and Business Name Search: user guide Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Current company extract: official sample Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Guide to reading ASIC company extracts Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Company financial reports Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- ABN Lookup Australian Business Register
- ASIC Connect: search products Australian Securities and Investments Commission
- ASIC Connect: save and view your results Australian Securities and Investments Commission
- ABN Lookup: public search Australian Business Register