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How the AFS licence application works onscreen: eLicensing

What you'll need to start your applicationSaving and exiting
Questions you'll be askedPrinting
Steps to completing your applicationHelp
Screen layout and functionsFeedback
Application menuTime taken
Browser toolbarMinimum browser requirements
User name, pass-phrase and application reference numberSecurity

What you'll need to start your application
Before starting your application, make sure you have:

For individuals, partnerships and trustees, your licence will be issued using the name appearing in the Australian Business Register (ABR). Check the ABR website before starting this application. Contact the ABR on phone 13 24 78.

Because eLicensing uses PDF files for printing, you will need Adobe Reader. You can download it free of charge from Adobe's website.

Questions you'll be asked in the application
What questions you'll be asked will depend on your answers to certain initial questions about, eg, your entity type, the authorisations you are applying for, and the services and products you are currently providing.

For example, if you don't choose to be authorised to deal in a financial product, you won't be asked questions about dealing.

If you finish answering all questions and then decide to change information in an earlier section, you may be asked additional questions. This depends on what information you have altered.

In the above example, if you had completed your application and then changed your mind and chose to be authorised to deal in a financial product, you will then be asked questions about dealing.

Steps to completing your application
1.Commence your application, selecting a user name and pass-phrase to control access.
2.Prepare your application by completing Parts A, B and (depending on your licence authorisation options) Part C:
  • Part A asks questions about you, the applicant, and the AFS licence you are applying for.
  • Part B asks questions about your competencies eg your responsible managers and compliance arrangements
  • Part C covers more complex products and services that you may be applying for.
During preparation you can view drafts of resultant certifications and proofs, and print statements of personal information for your responsible managers.
3.When you are satisfied that your application is complete and correct, "finalise" the preparation using a "finalise" menu option. You can't change your application after you've used the "finalise" menu option.
4.Print your completed application and have it signed.
5.Submit the electronic application to ASIC using the "submit" menu option.
6.Print your invoice.
7.Pay the statutory fees electronically by BPay, or write a cheque.
8.Assemble and label all necessary proofs, including statements of particulars for responsible officers.
9.Post the signed application form and all proofs to ASIC at the address shown on the application form. If paying by cheque, include the cheque and the payment slip.

ASIC's policy as stated in the Licencing Kit is that 'For security reasons, we will not have access to your application data until you finalise and submit your application'.

Until you complete step 5 "Submit the electronic application to ASIC using the submit menu option", your data will be stored on a secure ASIC server. Access to this server is restricted to a small number of ASIC information technology staff who are responsible for the integrity of the system and resolving technical problems with the operation of the system. The information will not be used in any way for assessment purposes until you formally submit your application.

After you submit your application, your data is transferred to ASIC's assessment systems. ASIC assessment will commence when your signed paper application and attachements is received.

Screen layout and functions
The screen layout is split into three main areas.


The menu
You will typically work through the application pages in sequence, using the "Next" button to submit each page and move on to the next page.

The menu is on the left hand side of the screen and allows you to return to those pages of the application you've already completed. After you complete a page, the relevant menu item turns into a live link. Conversely, if a menu item is not a link, you have not yet completed that page and therefore you cannot access it from the menu. In this way, the menu shows your progress through the application.

The menu initially gives you access to Part A, Part B and (depending on your licence authorisation options) Part C.

When you have completed these Parts, you then "finalise" your application. After you "finalise", you won't be able to make any further changes to your application. The menu will change to a "Submit" menu that will allow you to:

The menu also displays links to other useful information and services. Clicking on these links will open a new browser window.

Browser toolbar

While you are using eLicensing, you will still have use of your standard browser features e.g. you can change the text size by using the view/text size option.

However, you will need to take care if you use the "Back" and "Forward" buttons. If you go "Back" to an earlier eLicensing page, and then press the eLicensing "Next" button to submit the page to be processed a second time, the eLicensing server will:

If you use the "Back" and "Forward" buttons and are not sure if you have correctly returned to the current eLicensing page, simply click on a link on the menu on the left of the screen.

User name, pass-phrase and application reference number

Your application will be allocated a unique application reference number. When you begin you will need to set your own user name and pass-phrase. If you don't complete your application in one session, you can resume by re-entering your user name, pass-phrase, ABN and application reference number.

You must remember and retain your user name, pass-phrase and application reference number. If you don't, you won't be able to resume your application and you'll need to start a new application.

Saving and exiting

You don't need to "save" your application details. This is done automatically each time a page is checked by the eLicensing server.

If for any reason you are unable to complete your application in a single session, you can resume preparation of that application. Remember, you'll need your user name, pass-phrase, ABN and application reference number to do this.

To "exit" or "log off" from the eLicensing service, some browsers will retain and automatically re-present your user name and pass-phrase for the duration of a browser session. Therefore if other users can access your computer, close your browser session after using eLicensing.

Printing

In each case a print button is provided.

When you select (left mouse click) the print button, eLicensing will prepare the print as a PDF file and display it in a new browser window.
Alternatively, you can right mouse click the print button and use the "save target as" option to download the PDF file directly to your local drive. You can then open it using Adobe Reader in the normal way.

You can use the Adobe Reader toolbar to print the document and to save the file for your records.

If you're an Internet Explorer 4 or 5 user , you may need to change a browser setting, refer to our technical frequently asked questions.

Help

For more help on AFS licensing, read our AFS Licensing Kit.

If you have any problems with the information or questions in this application, contact:

If you have any technical problems, refer to our technical frequently asked questions.

Feedback
To help us make this application clearer and more user friendly for you, we welcome your email feedback to infoline@asic.gov.au.

Time taken
When you have completed your application you'll be given the option of stating how long it took you to complete, including any reading and/or preparation time. We are required by the Government to insert this field, to help identify where improvements are needed to reduce the time it takes to complete transactions.

Minimum browser requirements

eLicensing should be accessible using any browser that supports HTML 4 and CSS 2. The page layout may be presented differently by some browser versions.
eLicensing does not use cookies or client side scripting
.
For more information, refer to our technical frequently asked questions.

Security

eLicensing uses an Internet technology called Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) utilising 128 bit encryption to reduce the likelihood of a third party reading your information while it is in transit on the internet. Your browser may choose a lower level of encryption. We suggest you always consider the sensitivity of any information before providing it on the Internet.

More information

Applying for an AFS licence
Visit our Financial Services homepage


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