Apply for a tobacco licence

If you sell tobacco in Victoria — either to the public or to other businesses — you must have a tobacco licence. This applies to both retail and wholesale sales.

You can apply for your licence online through Service Victoria.

Who can apply

You can apply for a tobacco licence if you are:

• an individual sole trader aged 18 or over
• a partnership
• a company
• an incorporated association.

You cannot apply if you or any directors, executive committee members or partners in your business are disqualified under the Tobacco Act 1987.

Licence types

There are 2 types of tobacco licence: retail and wholesale.

If you sell retail and wholesale tobacco, you will need both licence types.

You will need a separate licence for every location where you sell tobacco. You can include multiple locations in one online application.

Retail licence

Retail licences are for businesses that sell tobacco to the public, including from vending machines. This includes:

• supermarkets
• grocery stores
• convenience stores
• liquor licensed premises
• petrol stations
• tobacconists
• online retailers.

Wholesale licence

Wholesale licences are for businesses that sell tobacco to other retail or wholesale businesses.

What you need before you apply

Information about the business

Before you start your application, you will need to know your business structure (for example, are you applying for a licence as a sole trader, partnership, body corporate).

In the application you will need to provide information about the business including:

• type of business
• addresses of the proposed locations to be licensed
• types of products sold
• associated websites or social media accounts.

Personal information

The applicant and any associate(s), partners, directors and executive committee members must provide a range of details. This will include:

• providing personal details
• providing financial, bankruptcy and criminal history
• verifying identities during the application process
• providing National Police Checks through Service Victoria
• providing a director ID (if applicable).

If you are unable to verify your identity online using the Service Victoria portal, you will need to submit a paper-based form. This form should be submitted along with certified copies of your identity documents.

If you are an international applicant, director or someone without an Australian mobile phone number, you may be unable to fully complete the digital application process through the Service Victoria website. You should contact us for advice on how best to complete the application process in your individual circumstances.

Definition of Associates

Anyone who has a financial interest in the business or will be able to exercise relevant power in the business, such as directors, partners or family members who are involved in the business.

Documents you may need to provide

Companies will need to provide a historical and current Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) extract.

Other incorporated bodies, such as an incorporated association, will need to provide proof of incorporation.

Businesses that operate as a Trust will need to provide a Trust Deed.

Licence application fees

*Fees on this page are for the 2025–26 financial year. Fee units are updated each year by the Department of Treasury and Finance.

You must pay the fee when you apply. You can pay by Visa, Mastercard or BPay. Fees are not refundable, even if your application is refused.

Apply online

After you apply

Once we receive your application and payment, we will review it to decide if you’re suitable to hold a tobacco licence. Submitting a licence application does not guarantee that you will be granted a licence.

We may:

• contact you for more information
• check details with Victoria Police or other government agencies, including interstate agencies.

Processing times will vary depending on the complexity of the application and other factors.

We will let you know the outcome of your application via email. We also notify Victoria Police and the relevant local council.

If your application is approved

If your application is approved, you must understand your obligations and follow the conditions of your tobacco licence.

If your application is refused

You can request a review.

Internal review

You can ask for an internal review if you disagree with a decision we have made to:

• refuse a licence application, renewal application, variation application, relocation application, transfer application
• vary a licence
• suspend or cancel a licence
• disqualify a person from holding a licence.

We will review the decision within 28 days and notify you of the outcome.

This decision will either:

• confirm the original decision
• vary the original decision
• make a new decision.

External review

If you’re not satisfied with the internal review result, you can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

You must apply within 28 days of receiving the internal review decision.