The rules around spent convictions have changed. For more information about how the Business Licensing Authority now treats that information, view the Spent convictions page.
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Apply for permission
To apply for permission to hold a conveyancer's licence, you must use our myCAV online licensing system. You will need to create your own myCAV account using a personal email address to verify your identity and sign in to your account.
If you already have a myCAV account, sign in to your account and select ‘apply for permission’.
For more information on using myCAV, view About myCAV.
After creating your myCAV account (or signing in), you must then complete and lodge a conveyancer’s permission application, including attaching the relevant supplementary permission application form.
Additional supporting documentation will be required, and these are set out in the supplementary permission application form.
Supplementary permission application forms
You must complete the relevant supplementary permission application form and attach it to your application in myCAV along with any other supporting information requested.
Start application
Processing time
The average processing time is eight weeks, but may take longer.
Application fees
The application fees for individuals and companies are set out on Fees and forms.
Reasons for needing permission
Individuals
You will need to apply for permission to hold a conveyancer’s licence if:
- within the last 10 years, you have been convicted or found guilty of any offence involving fraud, dishonesty, drug trafficking or violence which is punishable by imprisonment for three months or more (whether or not a sentence of imprisonment was imposed)
- you have been the subject of a claim against the Victorian Property Fund (VPF) or a corresponding fund.
Companies
A company must apply for permission to hold a conveyancer’s licence if:
- it ceases to have at least one director who is a licensee
- it or one of its directors has had a claim allowed against the VPF
- it has been found guilty of any offence involving fraud, dishonesty, drug trafficking or violence punishable by three months or more imprisonment
- one of its directors has been found guilty of any offence involving fraud, dishonesty, drug trafficking or violence punishable by three months or more imprisonment (whether or not a prison sentence was imposed).
Granting permission
In determining whether or not to grant permission for a licence, the Business Licensing Authority (BLA) will consider factors such as:
- the type of offence or claim
- the events and circumstances that led up to the offence or claim
- whether the BLA can be satisfied it would not be contrary to the public interest to grant permission.
Ineligibility to apply for permission
Individuals and companies cannot seek permission under the following circumstances.
Individuals
You cannot be licensed or continue to be licensed if you are:
- an insolvent under administration (bankrupt) or a director of a company under external administration
- a disqualified person under the Legal Profession Act 2004
- the subject of an order disqualifying you from acting as a conveyancer
- a represented person under the Guardianship and Administration Act 1986 (where a guardian or administrator has been appointed).
Companies
A company cannot be licensed or continue to be licensed if it is:
- under external administration
- the subject of an order disqualifying it from carrying on a conveyancing business.
Exemption - disqualified employees
For a non-licensed disqualified person to be employed to do conveyancing work, the person or their employer must apply to the BLA for an exemption.
An employee is disqualified if they:
- are an insolvent under administration (bankrupt)
- are a disqualified person under the Legal Profession Act 2004
- have been found guilty within the last 10 years of an offence involving fraud, dishonesty, drug trafficking or violence, punishable by three months’ or more imprisonment (whether or not imprisonment was imposed)
- have had a claim allowed against them from the VPF
- are disqualified from holding a conveyancer’s licence (or equivalent), or the subject of an order disqualifying them from acting as a conveyancer or equivalent
- are a represented person under the Guardianship and Administration Act 1986 (where a guardian or administrator has been appointed)
To seek exemption, the employer or the disqualified person must complete and lodge a Conveyancers non-licensed employee eligibility/exemption (Word, 167KB) and a Consent to national criminal history and other record checks (Word, 235KB). Lodgement details are on the forms.
Authorised persons
If you have previously been ‘authorised’ to be a conveyancer under the Legal Profession Act 2004 or its predecessor, you may be able to hold a licence even if you would otherwise be disqualified. You should:
- attach details of the authorisation to your licence application
- provide details to the BLA Registrar.