Who can apply for EMDG?

Who can apply?

Any Australian individual, partnership, company, association, co-operative, statutory corporation or trust that has carried on export promotion activities during the year for which they wish to apply for an export grant.

To be eligible, the business must have:

• income of not more than $30 million in the grant year
• incurred at least $15,000 of eligible export expenses under the scheme (first-time applicants can combine two years expenses)
• principal status for the export business (some exceptions apply, eg. event promoters)

The business also must have promoted one of the following:

• the export of goods and services
• the delivery of services outside Australia
• certain services in Australia to non-residents
• inbound tourism
• the export of intellectual property and know-how
• conferences and events held in Australia

Under Austrade's Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme, certain organisations and groups, who would not otherwise be eligible to apply for a grant under the general provisions of the EMDG Act can obtain approved status to enable them to apply for a grant in their own right. The three categories of approved status available include approval as an Approved Body, a Joint Venture and a Trading House.

To find out more about EMDG Special Approval status access the EMDG Special Approval status brochures.

Grants entry

First-time applicants are required to satisfy grant entry requirements, which includes providing financial statements and some information that explains your business and your product or service.

Intending first-time applicants are encouraged to register their intention to apply for a grant with Austrade. Once registered, Austrade will send you an application kit and keep you informed on scheme news and EMDG seminars in your area.

What is an eligible product?

To qualify for an EMDG grant, your business must have:

• promoted your product for export

and your product must be one of the following:

• a good made in Australia
• a good made outside Australia where Australia will derive a significant net benefit from its sale overseas
• a service provided outside Australia - except services relating to migration, real estate or family law
• any of the following services provided in Australia - repairs of foreign-owned goods, health, film-making, design and printing, scientific testing, reprocessing of foreign-made primary products, education and training, or legal services (if not related to family law or migration)
• a tourism service (including accommodation, passenger transport or tours)
• promotion of a conference or event held in Australia
• an intellectual property right that mainly resulted from work done in Australia
• a trademark that was owned, assigned or first used in Australia
• know-how that mainly resulted from work done in Australia

Special Approval applicants

Peak industry associations, joint ventures and trading houses are able to seek 'special approval' status from Austrade to enable them to apply for a grant. If you would like further information about how to apply for these special status categories please contact Austrade.