Registered Office Change Australia: Step-by-Step ASIC Checklist for Updating Your Company Address

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified legal or compliance professional.

A registered office change Australia is a routine corporate event — but it carries specific ASIC obligations that must be completed in the right order and within strict timeframes. Every Australian company must have a registered office in Australia, and any change to that address must be notified to ASIC within 28 days using Form 484. Get it wrong, and your company's public register entry will show an incorrect address — creating real problems for service of documents, counterparty due diligence, and regulatory correspondence.

This guide provides a complete step-by-step checklist for changing a company's registered office in Australia, including the resolution requirement, Form 484 process, principal place of business considerations, internal register updates, and document retention obligations.

What Is a Registered Office?

A company's registered office is the official address in Australia to which ASIC, courts, and third parties can send notices and serve legal documents on the company. It is a legal requirement under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and must be:

• A physical address in Australia (not a PO Box)
• Open and accessible to the public during standard business hours — or at a minimum, for at least 3 hours between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm on each business day
• Notified to ASIC at all times

ASIC publishes the current registered office on its public register. Any person can search the ASIC register to find a company's registered address. This makes accuracy critical — an out-of-date address could mean your company misses legally served documents or regulatory notices.

ASIC's requirements for company registered offices are detailed at https://asic.gov.au/for-business-and-companies/companies/company-building-blocks/company-registered-office/.

Registered Office vs. Principal Place of Business

These are two distinct addresses — and both may need to be updated separately.

Many smaller companies use the same address for both. However, if they differ — for example, where the registered office is a law firm or corporate services provider — both must be separately maintained and separately notified to ASIC when changes occur.

Registered Office Change Checklist

Step 1: Confirm the New Address Is Eligible

Before initiating the change process, confirm that the new address:

• Is a physical street address in Australia (not a PO Box or DX address)
• Will be open and accessible during required hours
• Has consent of the occupier if it is not company-owned premises
• Is confirmed and agreed upon with the relevant landlord or service provider (if using a corporate services address)

Step 2: Obtain Consent of Occupier (If Required)

If the new registered office address is not owned or leased by the company itself — for example, if you are using a lawyer's office, accountant's office, or registered office service — you must obtain the consent of the occupier in writing before the change takes effect. This is a requirement under the Corporations Act 2001.

Step 3: Pass a Board Resolution

The company's directors should pass a board resolution formally approving the change of registered office. The resolution should record:

• The new registered office address
• The effective date of the change
• Confirmation that the occupier's consent has been obtained (if applicable)

The resolution must be recorded in the company's minute book.

Step 4: Lodge Form 484 with ASIC

The change must be notified to ASIC by lodging Form 484 ("Change to company details") within 28 days of the change taking effect. This is done through ASIC's online portal (ASIC Connect).

Key fields for a registered office change in Form 484:

A lodgement fee applies — check ASIC's current fee schedule. Keep the ASIC confirmation of lodgement as part of your compliance records.

Step 5: Update Principal Place of Business If Needed

If the principal place of business is also changing — and it is recorded separately with ASIC — this must also be updated via Form 484. The principal place of business change can be lodged at the same time as the registered office change, or separately if the changes do not occur simultaneously.

Step 6: Update Internal Registers

Once ASIC has been notified, update the company's internal records to reflect the new address:

Using entity management software makes this step significantly easier — registered office changes can be reflected instantly across your entire entity database.

Step 7: Update External-Facing Documents and Systems

The registered office address often appears on company documents and correspondence. Audit and update the following:

Step 8: File and Retain All Documents

Retain the following for at least 7 years:

• Board resolution approving the change
• Occupier consent (if applicable)
• ASIC Form 484 lodgement confirmation
• Any supporting correspondence

Full Checklist Summary

Special Considerations for Corporate Groups

In a corporate group, each entity has its own registered office — and they may all change simultaneously if the group relocates. However, each entity must be updated separately with ASIC.

Group Registered Office Change Checklist

Corporate compliance software designed for group management can dramatically streamline this process — generating batch resolutions, tracking lodgement status for each entity, and confirming completion across your entire group.

What Happens If You Don't Notify ASIC in Time?

Failing to notify ASIC of a registered office change within 28 days is an offence under the Corporations Act 2001. Consequences can include:

• Late lodgement penalties — ASIC charges a higher fee for late lodgements
• Incorrect public register entry — Legal documents served at your old address may be deemed validly served on the company, even if you never receive them
• Regulatory risk — ASIC notices, correspondence, and compliance alerts may be directed to the wrong address
• Third-party issues — Lenders, counterparties, and potential investors may view an incorrect register as a red flag during due diligence

The safest approach is to notify ASIC on or before the day the change takes effect — not at the end of the 28-day window.

How EntityFlo Makes Address Changes Simple

EntityFlo is purpose-built ASIC compliance software that helps company secretaries and CFOs manage registered office changes across single entities and large corporate groups. With EntityFlo, you can generate board resolutions, populate Form 484 data, update your internal registers, and track the 28-day notification window — all in one platform.

Book a free EntityFlo demo and see how your team can manage corporate events without chasing spreadsheets or missing ASIC deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a company have to notify ASIC of a registered office change?

A company must notify ASIC of a change of registered office within 28 days of the change taking effect. This is done by lodging Form 484 through ASIC Connect. ASIC's requirements are detailed at https://asic.gov.au/for-business-and-companies/companies/company-building-blocks/company-registered-office/.

Can a PO Box be used as a registered office?

No. A registered office must be a physical street address in Australia. PO Boxes and DX addresses are not acceptable as a registered office. The address must also be open and accessible to the public during business hours.

Does the company need the occupier's permission to use their address as a registered office?

Yes. If the registered office is not premises owned or occupied by the company itself, the company must obtain written consent from the occupier before using that address. This is a requirement under the Corporations Act 2001.

What is the difference between a registered office and a principal place of business?

A registered office is the official address for service of legal documents. The principal place of business is where the company primarily operates. They may be the same address, or they may differ. Both are recorded separately with ASIC and must each be updated separately when they change.

What is Form 484 and how do you lodge it?

Form 484 ("Change to company details") is ASIC's form for notifying changes to company information, including registered office address, officeholders, and other details. It is lodged electronically through ASIC Connect (ASIC's online services portal). A lodgement fee applies.

Do all companies in a group need to lodge separately?

Yes. Each company is a separate legal entity. If multiple group companies share the same registered office and that address changes, each company must separately lodge Form 484 with ASIC.

What documents should be retained after a registered office change?

You should retain the board resolution, any occupier consent documents, and the ASIC lodgement confirmation for at least 7 years from the date of the change.

This article provides general information about registered office changes in Australia. It does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a qualified solicitor or compliance professional for advice specific to your circumstances.