Transfer your liquor licence

Only an authorised person can apply to transfer the licence or permit. This depends on who is applying.

If you are applying as:

• an individual, you must apply for the transfer yourself (on the form this is called a 'natural person')
• a company, a current director or someone the board has officially authorised to sign documents must apply
• an incorporated association (for example, a club), an executive committee member must apply
• a partnership, all partners must sign a joint application (partnerships can only be made up of individuals).

Do not apply under your personal name unless you personally hold the legal right to occupy the venue or will in the near future.

Owner in possession of the venue

If the current licensee or permit holder is no longer in possession of the venue (for example, if they have been evicted or their lease expired), the owner or mortgagee can apply to transfer the licence.

You must be able to prove that you:

• own the venue (for example, a property title or recent rates notice under their name)
• are in possession of the venue, not the licensee (for example, an eviction notice or lease agreement showing when the lease expired).

You can apply to transfer a licence or permit before you have signed a lease or settled a property sale.

You must declare that the lease or property settlement has occurred or will occur and provide a date.

If we grant your transfer before settlement, you must not start supplying alcohol until you have the legal right to occupy the venue.

Within 24 hours of gaining the right to occupy, you must complete the Notice of right to occupy the premises form and email it to contact@liquor.vic.gov.au.

Before you apply, as the applicant you must complete or be enrolled in:

• new entrant training
• Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training.

Before you start trading, any staff who serve alcohol must have a valid RSA certificate.

Find a list of approved training providers.

Have these details and documents ready:

• business name
• proof of required training – either a certificate of completion or booking confirmation
• ASIC current and historical information extract (if applying as a company). The extract must be dated within the past 90 days. To buy one, search organisations and business names in the ASIC register. Make sure you have the correct document. We cannot process your application without it.
• list of individuals involved – unless you are applying as an individual, you need to provide the name, date of birth and email address for all directors (if applying as a company), executive committee members (if applying as an incorporated association) or partners (if applying as a partnership).
• credit card details – to pay the non-refundable application fee (Visa or Mastercard).