FAQs

We are partnering with Microsoft to manage the user identification process, which is why you'll see a Microsoft URL when you register or log in to the exportonline portal. This allows us to take advantage of the very latest online security systems and ensures the information that you provide to us is as secure as it can be. 

Yes – you can phone us on 1800 740 557 or email exportonline@exportfinance.gov.au after your application has been submitted if you notice changes are required. One of our employees will assist you with your application.

Before we make a decision on your application, we need to check the information you provided and undertake a credit assessment of your company. An upfront application fee of $100 is payable by credit card at the time of application. If the loan is approved, a further $1,000 will be deducted at settlement to cover the cost of a detailed credit assessment of your business.

The Small Business Export Loan does not currently support the verification and financial requirements for sole traders or partnerships. Eligible businesses must be structured as a company or a company acting as a trustee, and have an ACN, to apply for our export loan.

Rather than taking security, we are backing your company’s ability to deliver on the export transaction[s] and service the loan. That’s why we consider the business' management track record when assessing each application, and so are unable to help companies just starting out.

Rather than taking security, we are backing the business' ability to deliver on the export transaction (s) and service the loan. A good way to confirm this is to talk to the business' customers and/or potential buyers about their experience with the company, to check its historical performance and qualifications.

Yes, unless you're a Director, you must have the Letter of Authority signed by the Director(s) of the company. This will provide Export Finance Australia the assurance that you have the authority to apply for and make arrangements for repayments on behalf of the business.  

All commercial lenders are required by law to collect this information when assessing a loan application. We will be undergoing checks on the key individuals influencing or benefiting from the business' operations as part of our assessment.

If the individual does not have any form of Australian identification, you must provide certified copies of ID which are translated to English by a qualified translator if necessary.

Equifax is a data analytics business that provides credit reports and other information relating to individuals and businesses. We have partnered with Equifax to complete the identity checks and credit assessment for each application. They also act as a credit reporting agency to whom Export Finance Australia may report information relating to loan defaults from time to time.

An export contract/purchase order from your overseas buyer must be provided. If your business is supplying tourism services to international visitors or an online business selling direct to customers outside Australia, you can instead provide supplier invoices or other third party documentation to prove the use of the funds requested.

The export purchase order(s)/contract(s) need to contain the following to be sufficient for your loan application:

• issued to the same legal entity applying for the loan
• clearly identifies the buyer and the destination of the goods
• is on the buyer’s letterhead or otherwise clearly identifiable as having originated from the overseas buyer
• is not an invoice
• is signed by the overseas buyer
• includes payment terms
• includes a clear description of and total value of goods
• includes shipping date
• includes delivery terms and port of departure.

A purchase order or contract is not required for online or tourism exporters.

An email order from your overseas buyer could be sufficient providing it contains the following:

• buyer's email signature includes address and company details which are clearly identifiable as having originated from the buyer
• issued to the same legal entity applying for the loan
• confirmation it is an order
• includes payment terms
• includes a clear description and total value of goods
• includes shipping date
• includes delivery terms including port of departure and destination of goods

A purchase order or contract is not required for online or tourism exporters.

We support Australian exports of goods and services and overseas infrastructure development in our region with our financial solutions.

Prior to providing our financial support, we must confirm that there is benefit flowing to Australia in connection with the transaction.

An important source of Australian benefit is the economic activity stimulated in Australia by the presence of Australian content associated with a project or transaction. Australian content constitutes all inputs to a project or transaction that do not originate overseas.

We also take into account other benefits to Australia. These other benefits can include, but are not limited to:

• Australian content (goods or services) in a project
• greater Australian participation in international supply chains
• access to new markets or export opportunities for Australian businesses
• more Australian jobs
• payment of dividends or other financial proceeds from overseas to Australia
• new research and development expenditure in Australia
• Australian access to new products, intellectual property or technology

For more information, please contact us.

Collecting this information is a regulatory requirement and forms part of our assessment of your export strategy.

We are only gathering this information for research purposes. It will not in any way affect our credit assessment of your loan application.

You may apply for conditional approval* when all export details have not yet been confirmed. It provides conditional approval of the loan based on the information provided at the time of application, subject to further assessment and final approval once full documentation is provided. This includes a valid export purchase order/contract, full business financials and up to date business details. 

*Not available for tourism operators or online businesses without an export contract or purchase order.

Yes, we work with banks and other financial institutions to provide financing support to export businesses, and only provide finance when your bank is unable to do so. We simply need to check with your bank that this is the case as part of our approval process. This check has no connection with your credit rating.

We charge a margin higher than what you may be used to with your bank due to the associated risks of providing an unsecured loan. We are backing the business' performance to deliver on the export transaction and service the loan. As Australia’s export credit agency, we’re not allowed to compete with the banks and so can only approve a loan if your company’s bank is unable to do so.

To repay your loan, you’ll need to make monthly payments which include interest and principal via direct debit. We will send you an SMS reminder a couple of days before each monthly repayment is due.

You have the ability to pay your loan out in full with no early repayment charges. However, you cannot make multiple early repayments.

The business' revenue is a key component in its ability to service the loan. Rather than taking security, we are backing the business' performance to deliver on the export transaction and service the loan. In order to be approved for this loan our credit team look for sufficient sales revenue which has been set at $250,000 in the last financial year.

The amount of other loan debts you have to repay will affect your ability to service the loan that we may provide. The information you provide will be one of the many inputs we review as part of our credit assessment process.

The bank account the loan is credited to must be the business' daily transaction account, which is in the same name as the business applying for the loan.

We deal with all information that you provide to us in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable laws. While we don’t routinely share customer information with other government departments or agencies, in certain circumstances we may be required by law to comply when requested to do so.

SMEs spend a lot of time working on developing their markets, building the right relationships and building their product portfolio. But one of the key issues many SMEs often overlook is protecting their Intellectual Property (IP).

We know that protecting your IP in the domestic market is a serious undertaking, opening that up to international markets adds layers of complexity. Understanding the risks and knowing what solutions are available for your IP can help you develop an IP strategy that will put you on the best path possible for your business.

Download now. link to intellectual property eBook landing