On 16 April 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) announced the launch of a new digital portal for Australian financial services (AFS) licensees, scheduled to go live on 5 May 2025.
The new AFS licence portal is aimed to streamline the process of applying for, varying, and cancelling licences by offering a more intuitive, efficient, and data-driven interface. ASIC clarified that the eligibility criteria and policy settings under the current Regulatory Guides 1–3 will remain unchanged, although updates to reflect the portal’s functionality will be issued at launch.
ASIC’s increasing reliance on digital infrastructure, a trend relevant for fintech and digital asset service providers seeking AFS licences which aims to reduce application processing times and enhance regulatory interactions through automation and data pre-fill features.
Until the new portal’s activation, the existing AFS Licensing portal will remain operational. ASIC also confirmed that transition resources and support materials will be made available to guide stakeholders through the change.
