It is your responsibility to understand and abide by all requirements under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cth) and the Victorian Estate Agents Act 1980 and associated regulations as an estate agent conducting work in Victoria.
For more information view Obligations for estate agents practicing in Victoria under mutual recognition or automatic mutual recognition.
On this page:
Before starting your application
Individuals with an equivalent licence or registration in an Australian state or territory that is participating in Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) may be able to practice as an estate agent in Victoria by submitting an AMR notification. You will not be granted a Victorian estate agent licence. For more information, view Automatic mutual recognition.
Eligibility
To apply under mutual recognition to work as an estate agent in Victoria, you must hold a current equivalent interstate or New Zealand estate agent’s licence.
Mutual recognition is only available for individuals, not companies. If you intend to operate through a company, it must also be licensed in Victoria. For more information, view Apply for an estate agent's licence - company.
If you wish to apply for mutual recognition as an agent's representative (salesperson), view Agents’ representatives for the eligibility requirements.
You may also be eligible to apply for a licence if you previously held an equivalent licence or registration in another part of Australia and can demonstrate that you have adequate knowledge of Victorian estate agency law, practice and procedure. For more information about this application pathway, view Apply for recognition of an overseas estate agent’s licence.
Ineligibility
You are automatically ineligible to be licensed if you are:
- under 18 years of age; or
- a represented person under the Guardianship and Administration Act 1986 (where a guardian or administrator has been appointed); or
- as an individual or as a director or officer of a company, currently disqualified from holding an estate agent's licence (or equivalent) anywhere in Australia or elsewhere, or the subject of an order by any regulatory body disqualifying you or the company from acting as an estate agent or equivalent.
You may also be ineligible if:
- you are currently insolvent under administration (bankrupt, debt agreements under Part IX or Part X)
- within the last 10 years, you have been convicted or found guilty of a disqualifying offence involving fraud, dishonesty, drug trafficking or violence punishable by 3 months or more in prison. For information about spent convictions, view Spent convictions
- you have ever had a claim admitted against you from the Victorian Property Fund or Estate Agents' Guarantee Fund.
Permission
For bankruptcy, disqualifying criminal offences and claims against the Victorian Property Fund or Estate Agents' Guarantee Fund you may still be granted a licence if you apply for permission.
For more information, view:
Fees
The application fee for 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 is $415.10.
The application fee must be paid at the time of application. The fee is non-refundable.
How to apply
You must use our online myCAV system to apply for an estate agent’s individual licence.
To start using myCAV, you will need to create your own myCAV account, using a personal email address to verify your identity and sign in to your account.
Complete and lodge your application in myCAV:
Start application
For more information, view About myCAV.
Additional documents required with the application
You must attach the following additional documents to your application in myCAV:
- Copies of one of the following identification documents (does not need to be certified):
- Birth certificate
- Drivers licence
- Current passport, or passport that expired in the past two years.
- A copy of your current real estate licence certificate issued by the relevant interstate or New Zealand licensing body.
- A completed Notice verified by Statutory Declaration (Word, 48KB) that meets the requirements of section 19 of the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cth) or section 18 of the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 (Cth), as applicable.
After you lodge your application
The Business Licensing Authority (BLA) will contact the interstate or New Zealand licensing body you are registered with to verify the information provided in your application.
When you lodge a valid mutual recognition application, you are deemed to be registered as an estate agent in Victoria. You can work as an estate agent until the BLA makes its decision. While you are deemed to be registered, you are bound by the laws and disciplinary provisions of the relevant Victorian legislation.
Processing time
To avoid delays, please complete the application correctly in myCAV and attach all necessary documents.
The average processing time is approximately 30 days.
Additional information
When considering your application, the BLA may require you to provide further information. Communications such as requests for further information will be sent to you in myCAV. Please check the Notifications in your myCAV account.
The BLA may refuse your application if you do not provide this within a reasonable timeframe.
Change of information
If any change occurs in the information you have provided in your licence application, you must notify the BLA in writing using the BLA enquiry form within 14 days of becoming aware of the change.
Sharing your information
The BLA gives your information to:
- Consumer Affairs Victoria
- other law enforcement and regulatory bodies.
These organisations may report any relevant information to the BLA.
For privacy information, view Information and privacy - BLA.
Withdrawing your application
You can withdraw your application in writing using the BLA enquiry form at any time before it has been determined by the BLA. Please note that the fee is non-refundable.
Refusal of your application
The BLA may postpone or refuse your registration if:
- any statements or information in your application are materially false or misleading
- your interstate or New Zealand licence certificate is not provided, or is materially false or misleading
- the occupation you seek recognition for in Victoria is not equivalent to your interstate or New Zealand licence
- your circumstances have materially changed since lodging the application.
If the BLA refuses your application or you disagree with the conditions or restrictions, you can apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) for a review of the decision.
Successful application
You will be notified of the BLA's decision via myCAV. If your registration is granted, you can view and print a copy of your licence certificate in your myCAV account, which may include conditions or restrictions to achieve equivalency with your recognised licence.
Once your licence is recognised, the Estate Agents Act 1980 and its Regulations govern your conduct as an estate agent and your ongoing eligibility to work in the Victorian real estate industry. You should familiarise yourself with your ongoing obligations and licensing requirements in Victoria.
Conditions on a licence
The BLA may impose conditions:
- which must be complied with before the BLA grants a licence
- on granting a licence
- at any time after a licence is granted.
The BLA may also vary or revoke any conditions or restrictions imposed on a licence at any time.
Restrictions
Restrictions are imposed on Victorian licences for some applications made under mutual recognition. The following information lists restrictions that apply to holders of the most common interstate licences and registrations. If your licence or registration is not listed, contact the BLA to confirm the restrictions that may apply.
Australian Capital Territory
Real estate agent’s licence:
- Cannot conduct auctions for rural real estate or a business
New South Wales
Real estate agent’s licence:
- Cannot conduct auctions
- No estate agent activity involving the sale or purchase of a business
Real estate agent’s licence with an accreditation as auctioneer:
- No estate agent activity involving the sale or purchase of a business
- Cannot conduct auctions of a business
Business agent’s licence
- Can only conduct estate agent activity involving the auction, sale or purchase of a business
Northern Territory
Real estate agent’s licence:
- Cannot conduct auctions
- No estate agent activity involving the sale or purchase of a business
Queensland
Real estate agent's licence:
Auctioneer's licence:
- No equivalent licence; however, if you hold this auctioneer's licence together with the real estate licence listed above, then you will be entitled to an unrestricted Victorian licence.
South Australia
Land agent registration:
Land agent registration with auctioneer condition:
Tasmania
Registration as real estate agent:
Western Australia
Real estate and business licence:
If your licence or registration does not appear in the table above, view Licence Recognition. If you need further help to confirm that restrictions apply, contact the BLA.
Once your licence is recognised, the Estate Agents Act 1980 and its Regulations govern your conduct as an estate agent in Victoria.