Lodging liquor licence forms, fees and timeframes
You must pay a fee each time you submit a new application. This is different to your annual licence fees.
Fees are set in revenue units and change every year in line with the consumer price index (CPI).
The below fees are current from Monday 1 July 2024.
Lodging and making payment
You can lodge your application:
- in person at a Territory Business Centre, or
- by emailing liquorlicensing@nt.gov.au.
If you need to pay a fee:
- pay in person at the time of lodgement, or
- by calling a Territory Business Centre.
If you paid the fee over the phone and are lodging your application by email, include your payment receipt.
Application fees
Check the fee for the licence or registration you're applying for.
| Description | Revenue units | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application for a new liquor licence and special event or major event authority | 17 | $23 |
| Application for a new liquor licence and one or more authorities, other than a special event or major event authority | 166 | $234 |
| Application to add one or more authorities to an existing liquor licence, other than a special event authority | 166 | $234 |
| Application to vary a liquor licence | 83 | $117 |
| Application to substitute a premises for a licensed premises | 83 | $117 |
| Application for approval of a material alteration to a licensed premises | 83 | $117 |
| Application to transfer a liquor licence | 83 | $117 |
| Registration type | Duration | Revenue units | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration as a wholesaler of liquor | 1 year | 17 | $23 |
| Registration as a wholesaler of liquor | 3 years | 50 | $70 |
| Registration as a wholesaler of liquor | 5 years | 83 | $117 |
| Small community group | 3 years | Not applicable | Free |
| BYO server of liquor | 3 years | Not applicable | Free |
| Complimentary server of liquor | 1, 5 or 10 years | Not applicable | Free |
Processing times
The processing time of your application will depend on what you're requesting and the complexity.
General guide
- Special event licence – usually processed within 4 weeks.
- Other licences can take up to 4 months.
Break down of timeframes
You should allow:
- 4 weeks for assessment – can take longer if supporting documents are not attached
- 8 weeks for advertising and objection – time will be reduced if there are no objections to the application
- 4 weeks for Liquor Commission determination – an independent decision-maker for liquor licence applications.
Quicker outcomes or late applications
You must pay a fast track fee if:
- you need a quicker outcome, or
- you are requesting a licence to be issued within 30 days.
Fast tracking
You can pay a fee to have your application reviewed quicker.
- Fast-tracking increases the likelihood of a decision being made within 30 days.
- It does not guarantee approval. Your application may still be denied.
- If your application requires advertising or receives an objection, fast-tracking won’t speed up those processes.
- The timeframe may also be affected by the complexity of your application.
Late applications
If you submit your application within 30 days of when your liquor licence is needed, you must pay the fast track fee.
Cost to fast track
The fee is $585.