Offshore Infrastructure Registrar

The Offshore Infrastructure Registrar administers the licensing scheme for offshore energy projects in Australia’s Commonwealth waters.

The guidance and forms on this page assist applicants and licence holders to comply with licence conditions under the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021 (OEI Act).

Register of Offshore Infrastructure Licences

The Registrar must keep a Register of Offshore Infrastructure Licences that is made available for public inspection on the internet (section 162 of the OEI Act 2021).

The public Register of Licences is on the National Electronic Application Tracking System (NEATS) website.

NEATS Secure Portal

Licence holders and applicants may register for a Secure Portal account to submit applications and track the progress of applications.

The NEATS Secure Portal can be accessed via https://secure.neats.nopta.gov.au or through the NEATS website.

Reports

Annual reports

Licence holders must provide an annual report to the Registrar under section 33 of the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Regulations 2022 (OEI Regulations).
The following guidance assists licence holders in preparing and submitting annual reports.

Final reports

Licence holders must give a final report if when applying to consent to the surrender of the licence.

Submit an application or notification

Submission methods

Applications and notifications can be submitted online via the National Electronic Approvals Tracking System (NEATS) Secure Portal. This is the preferred method of submission.

Additional approved submission methods are found in the following Approved Manner as applicable to the application type.

Applications for a feasibility licence

Applications for a transmission and infrastructure licence

Applications for a research and demonstration licence

Applications for approval of change in control of licence holder

Applications to transfer a licence

Applications for consent to surrender and notification of surrender

For more information on submitting an application, email offshoreelectricity@nopta.gov.au

For more information on NEATS, please see Register of Offshore Infrastructure Licences section above.

Forms

Application forms

Applications must be made in the form that is approved by the Registrar and published on the Registrar’s website.

Forms

Signed instruments



Other forms

Guidance

Guidance documents provide general information. They do not replace or amend the requirements of the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021 and associated regulations. You should carefully consider the accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance of the information for your individual circumstances.

Applications for a licence are assessed with consideration to the guidance in force at the time the application was made. Once a licence has been granted, licence holders should refer to the Guideline in force at that time in relation to future applications and expectations.

Guideline: Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Licence Administration

The Guideline provides information to applicants and licence holders in relation to licensing requirements and processes under the OEI framework, including merit criteria assessment.

On 23 January 2026, the guideline was updated to include a chapter on Research and Demonstration licences.

Registrar forms guidance (RFG)

The RFG provides guidance about how to submit valid applications and notifications to the Registrar and application content requirements.

On 23 January 2026, the RFG was updated to include guidance material for Research and Demonstration Licences.

Frequently asked questions

Fees and levies

Application fees

To submit a valid application, you must:

  •   use the Registrar–approved form and manner
  •   submit within any given timeframes
  •   correctly sign and execute the form
  •   include all legislatively prescribed documents and information
  •   pay the fees in full (we cannot accept partial or split payments).

Application fees under the OEI framework are detailed in the OEI Regulations.

Offshore Electricity Infrastructure levies

Annual levies imposed on licence holders are set out in the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Regulatory Levies) Regulations 2022.

Relevant excerpts are provided in the Application Fees and Annual Levies document below.
Note: the application fee is exempt from GST.

Payment methods

Available payment methods are described in the following document:

Spatial data

The following link provides access to spatial data for offshore infrastructure licences.

The spatial data provided is based on GDA94 datum.

View the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Licences (Public REST Service Directory)

Compliance

The Registrar monitors licence holder compliance with legislative obligations. The Registrar’s Compliance and Enforcement policy outlines its approach to compliance and possible consequences for non–compliance.

About us

Under the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (OEI) framework, the Offshore Infrastructure Registrar's functions include the following:

  •   receiving and assessing applications for licences
  •   giving advice to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy as the decision-maker on licence applications
  •   maintaining the Register of Offshore Infrastructure Licences
  •   ongoing licence compliance.

On 14 February 2024, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Chris Bowen MP, as the responsible Commonwealth Minister for the OEI Act, issued the Registrar with a statement of expectations. The Registrar responded with a statement of intent on 11 April 2024.

Registrar activities report

After the end of each financial year, the Registrar must prepare a report on the Registrar’s activities under the OEI Act. The following reports have been presented to parliament in accordance with section 159 of the OEI Act:

Contact us

Contact the Registrar at offshoreelectricity@nopta.gov.au or on (08) 6424 5306.