Live next week: free EMDG webinars

Have you signed up for our ‘How to submit your online application’ webinars yet? Register now – the webinars are on next Wednesday and Thursday,

30 and 31 October 2024.

Join us as our EMDG experts walk you through the EMDG online application form. We’ll demonstrate how to complete and submit an application online.

We’ll also share technical tips and you’ll see: 

• how simple it is to use the EMDG online portal
• how to apply for a grant yourself.

Austrade is hosting 4 separate webinars – one for each tier, including representative bodies. Sign up for the webinar relevant to you.

If you've already registered, please disregard this message. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Reminder: Round 4 opens for applications soon

If you plan to apply for an Export Market Development Grant in the next round, you need to get ready now. Remember, EMDG Round 4 opens for applications in November 2024.

Applications will open on the following dates across the different grant categories: 

• Representative bodies, 10am AEDT on 6 November
• Tier 1 – ready to export, 10am AEDT on 12 November
• Tier 2 – exporting within existing markets, 10am AEDT on
  12 November
• Tier 3 – exporting to new key markets, 10am AEDT on
  12 November.

Visit the Austrade website, choose your tier, and find out how to apply for Round 4.

Preparing to apply for EMDG

We recommend you prepare in advance and apply early for EMDG. Most importantly, go to the Austrade website and read the: 

• grant guidelines
• sample application 
• sample plan to market 
• mandatory templates and reading. 

It has everything you need to know, like which tier you may be eligible for. 

EMDG funding is limited, and Austrade treats all applicants the same. Applications are assessed in the order they are received.

For Round 4, we expect to receive a large volume of applications. Tiers will be closed to applications once funding for that tier is fully allocated. Not all applicants will receive funding.

Watch this video for an overview of what to do to get your EMDG application ready.

Have your digital identity ready

Every business and organisation applying for an Export Market Development Grant must submit their application through the EMDG online portal. To log into the EMDG online portal, you need a Government Digital ID, myGovID. Make sure you have this ready. Please note Austrade cannot assist you with setting up your digital identity. This is managed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

You need to link your myGovID to your Australian Business Number (ABN) in the government’s Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM) system. You can do that by following the RAM link, which is on the homepage of the EMDG online portal.

If you haven’t already got your myGovID, please be aware that it can take some time. Our advice is to set up your myGovID well in advance of the portal opening. To get your myGovID go to the homepage of the EMDG online portal and follow the links to the ATO’s registration page.

Please note that myGovID will soon be changing to myID. The app will have a new name and new look, but you’ll continue to use it in the same way. There is nothing you need to do. Find out more at myGovID.gov.au/DiscovermyID.

Export readiness and EMDG

If you’re planning on applying for a Tier 1 Export Market Development Grant, you'll need to prove you're export ready. 

You can either: 

• complete Austrade’s free online Export Readiness Test
  or
• complete an export training course recognised by Austrade. 

You must provide evidence that you have completed at least one of these requirements. If you complete Austrade’s Export Readiness Test, the EMDG online application form will reflect this.

The Export Readiness Test guides you through the critical elements of export readiness, like:

• selecting a market that suits your business
• protecting your intellectual property
• creating an export plan. 

Watch this video to find out how to become export ready before you apply for a Tier 1 grant.

Tips for applying through the EMDG online portal

You must submit your Export Market Development Grant application through the EMDG online portal. Make sure you have your information ready when you apply.

Give yourself plenty of time to set up your portal access and prepare the required information. Then you can lodge your application when the portal opens.

We recommend you use a desktop computer, and not your mobile or a tablet device. Check in advance that you’ve got: 

• an up-to-date Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge internet browser
• a minimum screen resolution of 1280 x 800.

If you don’t have any of those, you should get them before you apply. 

When your technical specifications meet our requirements, and your Digital ID and ABN are linked, you can log in to the EMDG online portal. You’ll be able to log in to the portal before EMDG applications open. However, you cannot start your application in the portal until your tier opens in November 2024.  

Watch this video where we share technical specifications and tips for applying online.

Online application form: things to note

Please note the following requirements for the mandatory attachments to your application. 

Document attachments

As per the sample application form, you’ll need to provide documents to prove your eligibility. These documents vary by tier and include bank statements and balance sheets or business activity statements. 

You’ll need to attach these documents to your online application. When we ask for a specific document, you can only upload it as a single file. Our advice is to scan or join multiple pages into a single PDF, if you need to.

Please note all documents must be: 

• uploaded as PDFs not screenshots
• under 10MB in file size

Plan to market word limits

You must have a high-quality plan to market. You do this by answering a series of questions in the online application form. You cannot upload your plan to market as a separate document.

To be considered high-quality, all mandatory questions must be answered with sufficient detail but within a character limit. The maximum is 3,000 characters per answer – this is about 500 words.

Bank statement evidence

The online application form will ask for: 

• a copy of your most recent bank statement (issued in 2024)
• your bank account transaction history in November 2024.

This shows you have capacity to spend at least $20,000 on your proposed marketing and promotional activities.

Please note: 

• both documents must be uploaded as PDFs not screenshots
• each document must be under 10MB in file size.

Internet Connection

It’s important to have stable Wi-Fi or high-quality data connection when completing your application online to avoid disruptions.

We also recommend you use: 

• a desktop computer, not mobile device
• up-to-date Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge internet browser
• a minimum screen resolution of 1280 x 800.

Export Market Development Grants

Explore our website for all the latest info on the EMDG program.

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