Under the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024 (DTC Amendment Act), 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.
Eligibility criteria
There are 5 eligibility criteria for using the licence-free environment.
- 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 an excluded list (e.g. Excluded Technologies List or Australian Military Sales Program).
- Registration: the exporter/supplier is an AUKUS authorised user.
- Pre-notification: Defence has been notified of certain details regarding the export/supply before the activity occurs.
Pre-notification is submitted to Defence via the My Australian Defence Exports (MADE) portal. A Defence Export Controls Client Registration Number (DCRN) is required to apply to become an AUKUS authorised user. There are no ongoing record-keeping requirements when operating under 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 ADF
- maximise value of the collective resources and talent across AUKUS.
Resources
How to register to be a part of the licence-free environment