Submit your work-bid applications to the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA) by 4 pm Tuesday 30 June 2026.
The time zone will be the local time of the NOPTA office you are applying to, either Perth or Melbourne.
NOPTA will not consider incomplete or invalid applications or applications submitted outside of these times.
Preparing your application
Your application must include:
- A completed approved application form (Application for a work-bid petroleum exploration permit) executed by all applicants.
- proof of payment for the application fee
- accompanying documentation required by the form to support your application (electronic copy, searchable file format).
Submitting your application
Submit applications either:
- via the NEATS Secure Portal (preferred method), or
- loaded onto a USB, sealed and enclosed in a plain covering envelope clearly marked as ‘Application for Area [Release Area Number as appropriate] Commercial-in-Confidence’.
Refer to the NEATS secure portal guide.
First-time applicants via the NEATS Secure Portal must contact NOPTA at titles@nopta.gov.au at least 2 weeks before submission. This is to ensure your account is activated and ready for submission.
Any packages must be delivered by hand (couriers accepted) to either the Perth or Melbourne NOPTA office. Contact titles@nopta.gov.au to book a lodgement appointment.
See NOPTA’s website for guidance material to support your application:
Guidelines
- Guideline: Offshore Petroleum Exploration – Work-bid
- Guideline: Applicant Suitability.
Forms
- NOPTA Forms Guidance Petroleum
- Form 8 Natural Person Declaration form – disclosures and experience
- Form 9 Body Corporate (Company) Declaration form – disclosures and experience
- Form 10 Declaration of change of circumstances of a registered titleholder or applicant.
Factsheets
- How to execute NOPTA forms and instruments (Signatures Factsheet)
- Financial resources
- Declaration of experience and disclosures.
Foreign investors
If you are a foreign investor, you should be familiar with Australia’s foreign investment framework. Failure to comply with the law may result in penalties.
You are responsible for obtaining any relevant Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approvals.
You must submit evidence of your FIRB approval with the application to NOPTA. If FIRB approval is pending, you can provide evidence after the submission.
An assessment permit will not be offered until the applicant receives the required FIRB approvals.
See guidance on foreign investment for mining on the Treasury website.
Email general enquiries to foreigninvestmentenquiries@treasury.gov.au.