If you work in Victoria under mutual recognition or automatic mutual recognition, it is your responsibility to understand and abide by all requirements under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cth) and the Victorian legislation that applies to your occupation.
Automatic mutual recognition (AMR) enables individuals licensed or registered for an occupation in participating Australian states or territories to work in another state or territory using their home state licence.
Interstate workers in the following occupations must notify the Business Licensing Authority (BLA) before carrying on activities in Victoria under AMR:
- conveyancers
- estate agents
- motor car traders
- owners corporation managers
- pawnbrokers
- professional engineers
- rooming house operators
- second-hand dealers.
You must provide documents as evidence as part of the notification process. You will need to upload copies of the original documents with your submission. You will not be able to complete the notification unless all the correct documents are included.
Please read through the required documents carefully. Some occupations need to supply extra information, such as evidence of professional indemnity insurance, or business plans and projections.
How to lodge your notification
Estate agents and professional engineers
Interstate estate agents and professional engineers use our online myCAV system to submit their AMR notifications.
To start using myCAV, you will need to create your own myCAV account, using a personal email address and date of birth to verify your identity.
Your email address and date of birth will only be used to verify your identity to establish your myCAV account and to communicate with you and will not be used for any other purpose or disclosed to a third party. While you are not required by law to provide your personal email address and date of birth to us, if you choose not to, we will not be able to establish your own myCAV account and you will be required to submit your AMR notification manually. Please contact the BLA for more information.
Start myCAV notification
Other occupations
Holders of interstate licences and registrations in the other listed occupations use the notification form to submit their AMR notification.
Open notification form
Required documents for all occupations
Everyone submitting a notification must attach both of the following:
- a copy of your current occupational licence or registration issued by your home state/territory
- evidence of your principal place of residence.
Please note that:
- your home state is defined as your principal place of residence or work
- your principal place of residence is the home you primarily occupy, on an ongoing and permanent basis, as your settled or usual home.
Acceptable evidence of your principal place of residence includes:
- a current Australian driver’s licence or other such equivalent current photo identification card
- a copy of one recent bill issued to you at your address
- utility bill (telephone, gas or electricity)
- council, water rates or land valuation notice
- registration or driver licence renewal notice
- a current residential tenancy agreement (up to 1 year old)
- a recent official letter from a government service provider, for example Centrelink or the Department of Human Services
- a recent passbook or account statement from a bank, building society or credit union (a mortgage account statement is acceptable)
- a recent taxation notice of assessment
- evidence of your electoral enrolment
- an insurance policy notice.
Additional requirements for professional engineers
Professional engineers cannot conduct activities in an area of engineering for which they do not have an equivalent licence or registration in their home state. Ensure that the copy of the home state licence or registration that is attached to the notification covers those activities.
Professional engineers who wish to work in the Victorian building industry must provide evidence of being covered by professional indemnity insurance as specified in section 135 of the Building Act 1993 and in the current Ministerial Order on required insurance.
The BLA will provide your insurance details to the Victorian Building Authority for assessment under the Building Act 1993.
You can contact the Victorian Building Authority for help with your required professional indemnity insurance obligations in Victoria.
If you are operating as a sole trader
Attach a copy of your own professional indemnity insurance policy or certificate of insurance.
If you are covered by your employer
Attach:
- a copy of your employer’s professional indemnity insurance, and
- a letter from your employer confirming your employment.
Additional documents for conveyancers
Conveyancers must provide evidence of professional indemnity insurance with a minimum cover of $2 million for all work carried out in Victoria. The policy must be arranged under the Master Policy managed by Austbrokers Countrywide and the Australian Institute of Conveyancers (Vic Div).
If you are operating as a sole trader
Attach a copy of your own professional indemnity insurance policy or certificate of insurance.
If you are covered by your employer
Attach:
- a copy of your employer’s professional indemnity insurance, and
- a letter from the employer confirming your employment.
For more information, visit the Austbrokers Countrywide website or call 03 9835 1300.
Additional documents for owners corporation managers
Owners corporation managers must provide evidence of professional indemnity insurance with a minimum cover of $2 million for all work carried out in Victoria.
If you are operating as a sole trader
Attach a copy of your own professional indemnity insurance policy or certificate of insurance.
View owners corporation managers professional indemnity insurance for more information.
Additional documents for motor car traders
Motor car traders must provide evidence that they have sufficient financial resources to conduct activities in Victoria.
Attach a copy of each of the following:
- a current bank statement confirming availability of funds for each of your bank accounts. The statement must show the account holder's name.
- a current bank statement for any credit card and loan you have including mortgages, or a loan approval letter from the credit provider
- the most recent council rates notice for any property owned by you
You must also complete and attach two documents outlining your business plans.
1. a Motor car traders estimated cash flow projection for the first 12 months of trading template.
Please complete either the:
2. a Motor car traders proposed business plan, including the declaration of personal finances template (Word, 186KB).
After you lodge your notification
Once you submit the notification to the BLA you are treated as though you are registered or licensed in Victoria and can commence working in Victoria. This is known as ‘automatic deemed registration’.
On notification, if you have provided your email address, you will receive:
- a copy of the information submitted with your notification, and
- information about your obligations while operating under AMR in Victoria.
The BLA will contact you should it require further details or there is an issue with you working under AMR in Victoria. You will not be issued with a second registration or licence certificate by the BLA.
Once you notify the BLA of your intent to work in Victoria, some of the details provided may appear in the list of AMR notifications.
Note: interstate estate agents and professional engineers operating under AMR in Victoria are displayed in the occupational scheme public registers. If you fail to notify the BLA of key information prior to carrying out an activity in Victoria, you will not be authorised to carry out the activity in Victoria. Significant penalties apply for unlicensed or unregistered work in Victoria.
You must also notify the BLA if your home state or territory changes. A worker’s home state is their primary place of residence or work.