API Reference - Business Name Registrations

Business Name Registrations endpoint. The Business API suite exposes registration, lodgement, lookup and related functions that can be used for a variety of purposes. For the latest release information please check our release notes.

Getting Started
API Documentation
Company Registration ABN Registration Company Deregistration Company Name Change Business Name Registrations Business Name Renewals Registered Agent Cessation Registered Agent Appointment ASIC Form 484 (Company Changes) ASIC Account Transactions Business Accounts PPSR Searches Entity Monitoring
References

Business Name Registrations

Download Postman collection (all entity types)
Endpoint Overview
  • Production
    /api/v2/business-name-registrations
  • Sandbox
    /api/test/v2/business-name-registrations
  • Methods
    POST , GET
  • Agency
    Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)

  • Use this endpoint to lodge new business name registration applications. Use the helpers to check the status of an application or retrieve its entire transmission log. All responses are delivered in JSON format.

Quick links: Name Availability • Application Request • Status • Refresh Payment Link

Name Availability

Check a proposed business name against ASIC's own name test before you lodge. ASIC can return several objections for one name, and we return all of them. Send holderName (the legal name of the entity that will hold the business name) so the response can tell you whether the name is available for that holder.

/api/v2/business-name-availability?name={name}&holderName={holderName}
GET

The same check is also available at /api/v2/helpers/business-name-availability with a public key. See Authentication for key types.

Query parameters

  • name (required): the proposed business name.
  • holderName (optional, recommended): the legal name of the entity that will hold the business name, for example EXAMPLE ELECTRICAL PTY LTD. "Pty Ltd", "Limited" and punctuation are ignored when comparing, so Example Electrical Pty Ltd matches EXAMPLE ELECTRICAL PTY. LTD.

Why holderName matters. A company is allowed to register a business name that matches its own company name, but ASIC's name test does not know who the holder will be, so it still reports that match as "identical". With holderName we mark objections that match only the holder's own name as harmless, and tell you whether anything else stands in the way.

Response fields

  • availability: ASIC's result code, passed through as received (for example Available, Identical, ExistingBN). It is not adjusted for the holder, so an own-name match still reads Identical.
  • shortDescription: ASIC's summary. It names only the first match, so use objections for the full picture.
  • objections: every objection ASIC returned (an empty array when the name is available). Each has:
    • code: ASIC's objection code (for example BNTST6 for an identical match, BNTST9AA for a near-identical match to a registered business name).
    • level and description: ASIC's severity (for example RED 3) and its description of the test, when it gives one.
    • message: ASIC's explanation, or a plain-language line built from the description and the matched names when ASIC gives none.
    • matchedNames: the existing name or names the proposed name conflicts with.
    • ownName (only when holderName is sent): true if the only match is the holder's own name.
  • availableForHolder (only when holderName is sent): true if the name is available, or every objection is the holder's own name. false if any other objection remains.

How to use it. With holderName, lodge when availableForHolder is true. When it is false, ASIC will reject the application (error 00133, "One or more proposed names are not available"), so choose another name; the objection with ownName false shows which existing name is in the way. Without holderName, ignore objections whose matchedNames are only the holder's own company name. Any other objection means ASIC will reject the name.

Example: EXAMPLE ELECTRICAL for the holder EXAMPLE ELECTRICAL PTY LTD. The own-company match is harmless, but the name is also near-identical to a business name registered by someone else (ASIC ignores generic words such as "Solutions"), so it is not available:

{
    "name": "EXAMPLE ELECTRICAL",
    "availability": "Identical",
    "shortDescription": "Name is not available. EXAMPLE ELECTRICAL is identical or nearly identical to a name already registered, or currently under application or review. This name will be rejected. We suggest you try another name. Identical or nearly identical name match EXAMPLE ELECTRICAL PTY LTD",
    "objections": [
        {
            "code": "BNTST6",
            "level": "RED 3",
            "description": null,
            "message": "Name is not available. EXAMPLE ELECTRICAL is identical or nearly identical to a name already registered, or currently under application or review. This name will be rejected. We suggest you try another name. Identical or nearly identical name match",
            "matchedNames": ["EXAMPLE ELECTRICAL PTY LTD"],
            "ownName": true
        },
        {
            "code": "BNTST9AA",
            "level": "RED 3",
            "description": "NEAR IDENTICAL TEST AGAINST BUSINESS NAME",
            "message": "Near identical test against business name: EXAMPLE ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS",
            "matchedNames": ["EXAMPLE ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS"],
            "ownName": false
        }
    ],
    "availableForHolder": false
}

Example: ACME TRADING for the holder ACME TRADING PTY LTD where the only match is the holder's own company name. ASIC still reports Identical, but the name is available for this holder:

{
    "name": "ACME TRADING",
    "availability": "Identical",
    "shortDescription": "Name is not available. ACME TRADING is identical or nearly identical to a name already registered, or currently under application or review. This name will be rejected. We suggest you try another name. Identical or nearly identical name match ACME TRADING PTY LTD",
    "objections": [
        {
            "code": "BNTST6",
            "level": "RED 3",
            "description": null,
            "message": "Name is not available. ACME TRADING is identical or nearly identical to a name already registered, or currently under application or review. This name will be rejected. We suggest you try another name. Identical or nearly identical name match",
            "matchedNames": ["ACME TRADING PTY LTD"],
            "ownName": true
        }
    ],
    "availableForHolder": true
}

Results are cached for about a minute per name. If ASIC is temporarily unavailable the check answers 200 with availability: null, asicUnavailable: true and a message saying the ASIC name search is not available. That means the name could not be checked, not that it is available: try again shortly before lodging.

Business Name Registration Request

A POST request to this endpoint will return a JSON response with the request ID. There are two options for generalInformation.paymentMethod: invoice (where you receive an ASIC invoice via email, that you would have to pay as a service provider with a bank transfer), or card (where you receive an ASIC online payment link, that you would need to use to pay for the application using your card). It's a single field on an otherwise identical payload - there is no separate request shape per payment method.

/api/v2/business-name-registrations
POST

One example per entity.type. The ABNs and ACNs are checksum-valid placeholders - replace them with the holder's real numbers, as ASIC checks them against the ABR.

Individual (IND)

{
    "generalInformation": {
        "businessName": "SAMPLE HERBAL BLENDS",
        "term": "3",
        "paymentMethod": "card",
        "email": "[email protected]"
    },
    "businessAddress": {
        "unitOrOfficeNumber": null,
        "streetNumber": "1",
        "streetName": "EXAMPLE",
        "streetType": "STREET",
        "locality": "SAMPLE SUBURB",
        "state": "QLD",
        "postCode": "4000"
    },
    "serviceAddress": {
        "postalType": "PO BOX",
        "postalNumber": "1",
        "locality": "SAMPLE SUBURB",
        "state": "QLD",
        "postCode": "4000"
    },
    "entity": {
        "type": "IND",
        "abn": "51824753556",
        "individual": {
            "name": {
                "familyName": "SMITH",
                "givenNames": "JOHN",
                "otherGivenNames": null
            },
            "birthDetails": {
                "date": "1985-06-15",
                "cityTown": "Sample City",
                "state": "QLD",
                "countryOfBirth": "AU"
            },
            "address": {
                "unitOrOfficeNumber": null,
                "streetNumber": "1",
                "streetName": "EXAMPLE",
                "streetType": "STREET",
                "locality": "SAMPLE SUBURB",
                "state": "QLD",
                "postCode": "4000",
                "country": "AU"
            }
        }
    },
    "signatory": {
        "name": {
            "familyName": "SMITH",
            "givenNames": "JOHN"
        },
        "declaresTrueAndCorrectIndicator": "1"
    },
    "testTransmissionIndicator": "0"
}

Incorporated Body (IB) - use this for companies

{
    "generalInformation": {
        "businessName": "SAMPLE TRADING CO",
        "term": 3,
        "paymentMethod": "card",
        "email": "[email protected]"
    },
    "businessAddress": {
        "unitOrOfficeNumber": "1",
        "streetNumber": "1",
        "streetName": "EXAMPLE",
        "streetType": "ST",
        "locality": "SAMPLE SUBURB",
        "state": "QLD",
        "postCode": "4000",
        "country": "AU"
    },
    "serviceAddress": {
        "unitOrOfficeNumber": "1",
        "streetNumber": "1",
        "streetName": "EXAMPLE",
        "streetType": "ST",
        "locality": "SAMPLE SUBURB",
        "state": "QLD",
        "postCode": "4000",
        "country": "AU"
    },
    "entity": {
        "type": "IB",
        "subType": "PRV",
        "abn": "51824753556",
        "organisation": {
            "name": "SAMPLE COMPANY PTY LTD",
            "acn": "000000019"
        }
    },
    "signatory": {
        "name": {
            "givenNames": "John",
            "familyName": "Smith"
        },
        "declaresTrueAndCorrectIndicator": true
    },
    "testTransmissionIndicator": false
}

Partnership (PTSH)

{
    "generalInformation": {
        "businessName": "SAMPLE PARTNERS",
        "term": "1",
        "paymentMethod": "card",
        "email": "[email protected]"
    },
    "businessAddress": {
        "unitOrOfficeNumber": null,
        "streetNumber": "1",
        "streetName": "EXAMPLE",
        "streetType": "STREET",
        "locality": "SAMPLE SUBURB",
        "state": "NSW",
        "postCode": "2000"
    },
    "serviceAddress": {
        "postalType": "PO BOX",
        "postalNumber": "1",
        "locality": "SAMPLE SUBURB",
        "state": "NSW",
        "postCode": "2000"
    },
    "entity": {
        "type": "PTSH",
        "subType": "PTR",
        "abn": "51824753556",
        "organisation": {
            "name": "SAMPLE PARTNERS"
        },
        "partners": [
            {
                "individual": {
                    "name": {
                        "givenNames": "JOHN",
                        "familyName": "SMITH"
                    },
                    "birthDetails": {
                        "date": "1985-06-15",
                        "cityTown": "Sample City",
                        "countryOfBirth": "AU",
                        "state": "NSW"
                    },
                    "address": {
                        "streetNumber": "1",
                        "streetName": "EXAMPLE",
                        "streetType": "STREET",
                        "locality": "SAMPLE SUBURB",
                        "state": "NSW",
                        "postCode": "2000",
                        "country": "AU"
                    }
                }
            },
            {
                "organisation": {
                    "name": "SAMPLE HOLDINGS PTY LTD",
                    "acn": "000000019"
                }
            }
        ]
    },
    "signatory": {
        "name": {
            "familyName": "SMITH",
            "givenNames": "JOHN"
        },
        "declaresTrueAndCorrectIndicator": "1"
    },
    "testTransmissionIndicator": "0"
}

Unincorporated Trust (USTR)

{
    "generalInformation": {
        "businessName": "SAMPLE FAMILY TRUST",
        "term": "1",
        "paymentMethod": "card",
        "email": "[email protected]"
    },
    "businessAddress": {
        "unitOrOfficeNumber": null,
        "streetNumber": "1",
        "streetName": "EXAMPLE",
        "streetType": "STREET",
        "locality": "SAMPLE SUBURB",
        "state": "VIC",
        "postCode": "3000"
    },
    "serviceAddress": {
        "postalType": "PO BOX",
        "postalNumber": "1",
        "locality": "SAMPLE SUBURB",
        "state": "VIC",
        "postCode": "3000"
    },
    "entity": {
        "type": "USTR",
        "subType": "DTT",
        "abn": "51824753556",
        "organisation": {
            "name": "SAMPLE FAMILY TRUST"
        },
        "trustees": [
            {
                "organisation": {
                    "name": "SAMPLE TRUSTEE PTY LTD",
                    "acn": "000000019"
                }
            }
        ]
    },
    "signatory": {
        "name": {
            "familyName": "SMITH",
            "givenNames": "JOHN"
        },
        "declaresTrueAndCorrectIndicator": "1"
    },
    "testTransmissionIndicator": "0"
}

Joint Venture (JV)

{
    "generalInformation": {
        "businessName": "SAMPLE JOINT VENTURE",
        "term": "1",
        "paymentMethod": "card",
        "email": "[email protected]"
    },
    "businessAddress": {
        "unitOrOfficeNumber": null,
        "streetNumber": "1",
        "streetName": "EXAMPLE",
        "streetType": "STREET",
        "locality": "SAMPLE SUBURB",
        "state": "WA",
        "postCode": "6000"
    },
    "serviceAddress": {
        "postalType": "PO BOX",
        "postalNumber": "1",
        "locality": "SAMPLE SUBURB",
        "state": "WA",
        "postCode": "6000"
    },
    "entity": {
        "type": "JV",
        "organisation": {
            "name": "SAMPLE JOINT VENTURE"
        },
        "associates": [
            {
                "organisation": {
                    "name": "SAMPLE HOLDINGS PTY LTD",
                    "abn": "51824753556",
                    "acn": "000000019"
                }
            },
            {
                "organisation": {
                    "name": "EXAMPLE VENTURES PTY LTD",
                    "abn": "51824753556",
                    "acn": "000000037"
                }
            }
        ]
    },
    "signatory": {
        "name": {
            "familyName": "SMITH",
            "givenNames": "JOHN"
        },
        "declaresTrueAndCorrectIndicator": "1"
    },
    "testTransmissionIndicator": "0"
}

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the valid values for entity.type?
Exactly five: IND (individual), IB (incorporated body - use this for companies), PTSH (partnership), USTR (unincorporated trust), JV (joint venture).
What are the valid entity.subType values?
The holder's ABR entity type code, as shown on its ABN record - not the entity type itself. Required for IB, PTSH and USTR; not used for IND or JV. Common codes: PRV (Australian private company) and PUB (Australian public company) for IB; FPT (family partnership) and PTR (other partnership) for PTSH; DTT (discretionary trading trust), DIT (discretionary investment trust) and FUT (fixed unit trust) for USTR. A code that doesn't belong to the entity type is rejected with a 400.
What's the structure of entity.partners, entity.trustees and entity.associates?
Partners (PTSH), trustees (USTR) and joint venture associates (JV) share one shape: an array where each entry is either an individual or a company - there is no explicit "type" flag on an entry, which one you're sending is inferred from whichever key is present.
  • Individual: individual.name.familyName, individual.name.givenNames, individual.birthDetails.date, individual.birthDetails.cityTown, individual.birthDetails.countryOfBirth (plus state if born in Australia), and a full individual.address.
  • Company: organisation.name and organisation.acn.
  • Joint venture associates also need their own ABN: individual.abn or organisation.abn.
Is partner email required?
No - there is no email field anywhere on a partner record at all, individual or company.
Any minimum or maximum number of partners?
No minimum or maximum.
For IB (Incorporated Body), what's required under entity.organisation, and are both ABN and ACN required?
entity.organisation.name is required. entity.abn (top-level, not inside organisation) is required for every entity type except JV, and entity.organisation.acn is also required specifically for IB - so yes, both. No other IB-specific fields exist beyond the standard businessAddress, serviceAddress and signatory blocks every entity type needs.

Business Name Registration Response

{
    "requestId": 185,
    "status": "new",
    "warnings": null,
    "errors": null
}

Business Name Registration Status Request & Response

A GET request to this endpoint will return a JSON reponse. When you use card as the paymentMethod, you will receive the certificate as well in the response, otherwise the response will only contain the application confirmation PDF.

/api/v2/business-name-registrations/{requestId}/status
GET
{
    "requestId": 7435,
    "status": "finished",
    "documentNumber": "1-CHMX9JL",
    "response": {
        "certificateUrl": "https://uateaswlsvs.asic.gov.au/CustomerDropBoxR1/corresp?f=Notification_1-CHMX9LS.PDF&e=20230808&i=UATA0TaBoUqRKmICk5LjWgymVCQRcMKCatFhvJDmnlEjG1a4%3D",
        "receiptNumber": "27794628"
    },
    "warnings": null,
    "errors": null
}

When using invoice as the paymentMethod, the transactionDocumentUrl contains a link to a document that confirms that the application was received by ASIC. Within the next 24h you will receive an email directly from ASIC with the invoice asseciated with the application. You have 10 days to make the payment and finalise the business name registration.

{
    "requestId": 185,
    "status": "finished",
    "documentNumber": "1-CHMX9UF",
    "response": {
        "transactionDocumentUrl": "https://asic.gov.au/corresp?f=Notification_1-CHMX9UF.PDF&e=20230523&i=UATA0sBL7JZvrlXFah6%2BbLdSs6SqjFn%2Flf6SwF4ALHBsriCw%3D"
    },
    "warnings": null,
    "errors": null
}

When using card as the paymentMethod, the transactionPaymentUrl contains a link to an ASIC credit / debit card payment facility. Once you open the link in a browser and pay the application, ASIC will instantly process the registration.

{
    "requestId": 185,
    "status": "wating ASIC CC payment",
    "response": {
        "transactionFee": "39.00",
        "transactionPaymentUrl": "https://asic.gov.au/index.aspx?SessionId=64549dcb-2206-4fe6-9f98-929c7b1a7d7d&SST=8908e5f3-dfc2-456c-9ed9-916b658116aa"
    },
    "errors": null,
    "warnings": null
}

A card payment link expires, and the payer can also cancel or have their card declined at ASIC's payment page. When any of that happens, the status endpoint returns "status": "cancelled". This refers to the payment attempt, not the application itself - do not submit a new application request when you see it. Call Refresh Payment Link on the same requestId instead - it re-checks the lodgement with ASIC and re-issues a fresh link, re-lodging the same application under a new ASIC transaction reference first if the old one was released. Submitting a fresh application instead risks ASIC rejecting it as a duplicate of the still-reserved name.

Rejected: Name Not Available (00133)

ASIC checks the proposed name again when the application is lodged, with the holder known, and refuses a name that is identical or near-identical to an existing registered name. This happens before any payment link is issued, so nothing is charged (charged_cents is 0) and the status is rejected. The error is keyed 00133 and its text names the existing name or names that conflict:

{
    "requestId": 185,
    "status": "rejected",
    "errors": {
        "00133": "One or more proposed names are not available. EXAMPLE ELECTRICAL conflicts with the existing name EXAMPLE ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS."
    },
    "warnings": null,
    "billing": { "price_cents": 1350, "charged_cents": 0 }
}

A match on the holder's own company name is not a conflict, and is never listed here. ASIC treats generic words such as "Solutions" or "Services" as ignorable, so a name can be near-identical to an existing one even when it looks different. To choose a name that will be accepted, use the Name Availability check with holderName before you lodge. A rejected application cannot be reopened; submit a new application with a different name.

A GET request to this endpoint requests a fresh ASIC payment link for a card-payment application whose original link expired, was cancelled, or had its card payment declined ("status": "cancelled" - see above). No request body. This does not create a new application - it recovers the existing one under the same requestId.

/api/v2/business-name-registrations/{requestId}/requestNewPaymentLink
GET

A successful call returns the fresh link in response.transactionPaymentUrl. Status returns the same link until the application is paid.

{
    "requestId": 185,
    "status": "payment link requested",
    "response": {
        "transactionPaymentUrl": "https://..."
    },
    "errors": null,
    "warnings": null
}

If the application is already fully registered, or payment has already been received, the call fails instead of re-issuing a link:

{
    "requestId": 185,
    "status": "finished",
    "errors": [
        { "details": "Registration already complete", "target": null }
    ],
    "warnings": null
}