Transfer your licence or permit to another person or entity.
Apply at least 8 weeks before you want the change to take effect.
You must not supply alcohol until:
Significant penalties apply if you trade without a licence or do not comply with your licence conditions.
You can apply to transfer a liquor licence or permit into your name. This usually happens if you:
The person or entity taking over the licence or permit normally applies for the transfer.
It may be better to have your name endorsed on the licence instead of transferring it if you are an:
You need to pay a non-refundable application fee when you apply to transfer a licence or permit.
The fee is $252.20.
Read about liquor licence annual renewal fees.
Complete these steps before you start your application.
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Only an authorised person can apply to transfer the licence or permit. This depends on who is applying.
If you are applying as:
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:
In the form, you must tell us the date you gained the legal right to occupy the premises. For example, when you signed the lease or settled the property sale.
You can still apply if this hasn’t happened yet.
In that case, tell us the date when you expect to sign the lease or settle the property sale.
If we grant your transfer before settlement, you must not start supplying alcohol until you have the legal right to occupy the venue.
Read more under after you apply.
Before you apply, as the applicant you must complete or be enrolled in:
Find a list of approved training providers.
Have these details and documents ready:
Complete the application form on the Liquor Portal.
It takes about 45 minutes to complete.
We will email to acknowledge your application, including a receipt for your application fee.
We then review your application and email if we need more information. This may take a few weeks.
We send your application to Victoria Police. They have a month to object to the transfer if they have concerns. Victoria Police may contact you about your application.
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If you did not have the right to occupy premises when you applied, and you have it now, you need to tell us using one of these 2 forms.
If we have not yet granted your transfer, use the Declaration of right to occupy the premises form:
Declaration – right to occupy PDF 151.75 KB (opens in a new window)
If we have already granted your transfer, use the Notice of right to occupy the premises form:
Notice of right to occupy the premises PDF 167.52 KB (opens in a new window)
In both situations, you must tell us within 24 hours of settling the lease agreement or property sale.
Email the relevant form to contact@liquor.vic.gov.au.
If the licence you are transferring has a demerit point, you need to declare relevant relationships.
This helps us assess if the current and new licensees have a relationship.
To do this:
Declaration of relevant relationships PDF 232.74 KB (opens in a new window)
It can take about 5 to 7 weeks to get your decision.
It may take longer if Victoria Police objected to the transfer or we needed to ask for more information.
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We email to advise that we are granting the transfer. It will be either a:
It’s important that you register. It’s where you can:
Be aware of your obligations under the law and as a licensee or permit holder.
There are serious penalties if you do not comply.
Find out how to stay compliant.
If we do not grant the transfer, you can appeal the decision.
You can appeal the:
You must appeal within 28 days of receiving the decision.
Internal review application PDF 1.53 MB (opens in a new window)
Updated 15 December 2025