The 2026 Director ID Crackdown: What Indian Directors Must Know

Date: February 24, 2026

The Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) has announced a new compliance blitz targeting foreign directors who have failed to apply for their Director Identification Number (Director ID).

The Risk for Indian Founders

Many Indian founders of Australian subsidiaries believe they can apply after appointment. Under the new 2026 enforcement rules:

• Civil Penalties: Fines of up to $1.1 million for the company.
• Criminal Charges: Potential jail time for deliberate avoidance.
• Strike-Off: ASIC may move to deregister companies with non-compliant directors.

How to Apply from India

You cannot apply online with myGovID without an Australian tax record. Indian directors must:

1. Fill out the paper form (NAT75329).
2. Crucial Step: Have your identity documents (Passport, Driving License) certified by a Notary Public or the Australian High Commission in India.
3. Mail the original certified copies to the ABRS in Australia.

CorpArray Tip: We offer a document review service to ensure your application isn't rejected due to certification errors.