EMDG is changing
The information on this page was relevant for Rounds 1, 2 and 3. Changes are coming for Round 4. We will communicate this information when details, including guidelines, are finalised and released. To get regular updates, subscribe to the EMDG Update newsletter.
There are documents you need to prepare before you apply for an Export Market Development Grant (EMDG).
You must read the EMDG grant guidelines before applying.
The EMDG Online Portal is currently closed to new applications. Applications for Round 4 grants are likely to open in late 2024 or early 2025.
You can access the portal for a record of your application form and updates on your application status.
When applying you will need to have:
You need to include a plan to market with your application. Representative bodies seeking funding to provide training are exempt from this requirement.
Your plan to market could be:
It should explain:
You may choose to use the plan to market template in the Resources and templates section below. If your plan is not specific to your business (i.e. a generic plan or a copy of other businesses’ plans) or contains no detail within a single page, then it will be deemed insufficient for the purposes of determining eligibility.
Choose the grant tier which works best and most strategically for your business based on your export journey. This must be within the requirements of the EMDG rules on legislation.gov.au.
Check Section 3.4 of the EMDG guidelines to help you decide which tier to apply for.
To apply you must:
The Australian Government’s Digital Identity app is myGovID. You can use it to access a range of government online services. It saves you from having to prove who you are over and over.
Set up your myGovID with at least a ‘standard’ identity strength. You need to do this to access the EMDG portal.
The principal authority, person responsible for the business, will need a ‘strong’ identity strength. They need this to set up the initial link to the business online in RAM.
Find out how to set up your myGovID.
Once you’ve set up your Digital Identity, link it to your business in Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM).
RAM is an Australian Government authorisation service for business. It allows you to act on behalf of a business online when linked with your Digital Identity, like myGovID. How you link this depends on your role.
The principal authority is a person responsible for the entity. As a principal authority you need to link the business in RAM first.
Before you link your business, check your Australian Business Register details are up to date. This is so RAM identifies the correct information.
With a strong myGovID, you can link your business online. You can then authorise others to access government online services on the business's behalf. This includes services like the EMDG portal.
Read more information about how to link as the principal authority on info.authorisationmanager.gov.au.
An authorised user or administrator or user is someone who acts on behalf of a business. A principal authority or authorised administrator needs to authorise you before you can access the EMDG portal.
You will use your myGovID to log in to RAM to accept the authorisation request.
If you’re an authorised administrator, you can also set up and manage authorisations in RAM on behalf of the business.
Read more information about how to link as an authorised user or administrator on info.authorisationmanager.gov.au.
You can refer to the sample application form when preparing to apply. You must make declarations and attach certain documents with your online grant application. Use the templates below to prepare those documents.
If you are eligible for a grant, we will offer you a grant agreement. Sample grant agreements for each tier are available on our grant agreements page.
We understand some SME exporters have complex business models. They may have had to adapt to a changing trading environment. The following examples may help you understand if you are eligible to apply: