Under the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024, Australia has established a licence-free environment to promote strategic collaborations with our Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) partners.
The licence-free environment exempts certain Defence and Strategic Goods List (DSGL) goods technology, services from permit requirements when transferring between Australia, the United States and/or the United Kingdom.
Access
The following 5 criteria must be satisfied to use the licence-free environment to export or supply DSGL goods and technology from Australia without a permit.
- End-user: the supply or provision is to an Australian/UK/US citizen or permanent resident, corporation or government/government authority.
- Location: the supply is to, or the services are received at, a place in Australia/UK/US.
- Goods/technology: the DSGL goods/technology are not on the Excluded Goods & Technologies List or Australian Military Sales Program.
- Registration: the exporter/supplier is registered as an AUKUS authorised user.
- Pre-notification: Defence has been notified of the export/supply before the activity occurs (via the My Australian Defence Exports (MADE) portal).
To use the licence-free environment for the transfer of items governed by US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), it is necessary to obtain additional US certification and comply with ITAR regulations. Trade under the licence-free environment involving ITAR is permitted solely among US-certified Authorized Users located in Australia, the US, and the UK.
Applications to access the licence-free environment under the Australian exemption or US ITAR exemption must be made through the MADE portal, and requires a Defence Export Controls Client Registration Number (DCRN). Once approved, applicants will receive a unique licence-free number to identify their trade activities within the licence-free environment.
Benefits
The intent of the licence-free environment as an AUKUS initiative is to:
- revolutionise the speed and scale of defence collaboration
- unlock unprecedented levels of scientific, technological and industrial cooperation and co-development
- fast-track delivery of high-end capabilities for the Australian Defence Force
- maximise value of the collective resources and talent across AUKUS.
Resources
How to register to be a part of the licence-free environment
AUKUS licence-free environment (PDF, 507.05 KB)