How to enrol with AUSTRAC as a real estate agency

As of today, 31 March 2026, AUSTRAC enrolment is open for real estate agencies. If your agency brokers the purchase, sale, or transfer of real estate in Australia, you are now required to enrol. The deadline is 29 July 2026 — but there is no advantage in waiting.

This guide walks you through exactly what to do.

---

Do you need to enrol?

You must enrol if your agency provides a designated service under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act). For real estate, the designated service is:

Brokering the purchase, sale, or transfer of real estate for other people as part of a business.

This includes residential and commercial sales, buyer's agent services, and auctioneers handling property transactions.

---

Key dates at a glance

AUSTRAC has confirmed it will not extend the 29 July deadline.

---

What to have ready before you start

Enrolment is completed online via AUSTRAC Online — AUSTRAC's business portal. Before you begin, gather the following:

---

How to enrol: step by step

Step 1 — Go to AUSTRAC Online

Visit AUSTRAC Online and select the option to enrol a new business. You will need to create an account if you do not already have one.

Step 2 — Complete the AUSTRAC Business Profile Form

The enrolment form asks for your business details, the designated services you provide, and information about key personnel. Work through each section carefully — the form auto-saves as you go.

Step 3 — Add your compliance officer

You will be asked to provide the details of your AML/CTF Compliance Officer. This is the person at senior management level who is responsible for your AML/CTF program.

As a transitional arrangement for newly regulated Tranche 2 entities, you have until 29 July 2026 to formally notify AUSTRAC of your compliance officer — even if you enrol before that date. However, you should appoint someone as soon as possible: you cannot finalise or operate your AML/CTF program without a compliance officer in place.

Step 4 — Review and submit

Check all details carefully before submitting. Once submitted, AUSTRAC will process your enrolment. Keep a copy of your enrolment confirmation for your records.

---

After enrolment: keep your details current

Enrolment is not a one-time event. The AML/CTF Act requires you to update your AUSTRAC enrolment within 14 days of any change to your details. This includes:

• Change of business name or trading name
• New or closed branch offices
• Change of compliance officer
• Change of contact details

Failure to update promptly is itself a breach of the Act.

---

What enrolment is not

Enrolling with AUSTRAC is the first step — not the final one. By 1 July 2026, your agency must also have:

Enrolment registers your business with AUSTRAC. Compliance requires the full program to be operational.

---

How AML Simple can help

AML Simple helps you prepare the information you will need for enrolment and beyond — including identifying your designated services, building your compliance officer profile, and generating a customised AML/CTF program aligned with the AUSTRAC Program Starter Kit.

AML Simple does not submit your enrolment to AUSTRAC. You complete enrolment directly on AUSTRAC Online. But getting your program documentation in order before you sit down to enrol makes the process much smoother.

---

Where to get help

• AUSTRAC enrolment guidance: Enrol with AUSTRAC
• Transitional rules: AUSTRAC transitional rules update
• AUSTRAC Program Starter Kit for real estate: Download here

---