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Liquor licences are due for renewal by 31 December each year irrespective of when the licence is granted. Each licence incurs a separate fee and a number of factors determine how much a licensee is required to pay.
There are several payment options available.
Licensees also have the option to register for eLicence and receive their renewed licence by email once payment is received.
The below 'frequently asked questions' are to help you understand the process for paying your licence fee.
If you have further questions, please submit an enquiry via the contact us page including your licence number and your question.
Payment must be made in full using one of the following methods:
Please note: Payments cannot be made by EFTPOS.
Please submit an enquiry via the contact us page with details of the licence number and postal address, or return email address if an electronic copy is preferred. If the licence number is unknown, the premises and licence number can be located at Liquor licences and applications online.
Licence fees are due 31 December.
If full payment is not made by 31 March, the licensee cannot continue to lawfully supply liquor on the premises until the full amount is paid. If they continue to supply liquor, enforcement action may be taken against them.
The licence fee could still be paid in full at any time after 31 March until 30 June and the licensee could then resume supplying liquor from the date of payment.
A licensee cannot renew the licence after 30 June; only an owner, mortgagee or other affected person can renew the licence (please see question 5 below for more information).
Licensees should continue to display the previous copy of their licence in their premises until it is replaced with a new licence.
There are a number of ways licensees may be able to reduce an annual renewal fee. In some circumstances a licensee can:
The result of making any of the above changes will vary depending on the individual licence category. The licence category appears on the annual renewal invoice and in the top left corner of the liquor licence.
For information about reducing or waiving renewal fees see Reduce or waive renewal fee.
The licensee can renew the liquor licence up to 30 June.
After 1 July, the licensee no longer has the right to renew the licence. Only the following persons can apply to renew the licence or permit between 1 July and 30 September:
When applying to renew the licence the outstanding renewal fee must be paid. The applicant must also provide proof they are entitled to possession of the property.
The Renewal of licence or permit by owner, mortgagee or other affected person application kit is available for download.
If the former licensee is also the owner or currently leasing and entitled to the licensed premises, the only way they can commence supplying liquor again is to lodge an application for a new licence. Liquor cannot be supplied unless a new licence is granted.
After 1 October, any person wishing to supply liquor at the premises must apply for a new liquor licence.
See Surrender licence or permit for more information.
No, licence fees are not refundable.
Renewal notices are issued in early December, with payment due on 31 December each year.
eLicence is available to all licensees. By registering their details via the Liquor Portal and paying the renewal fee, licensees can receive their renewed liquor licence via e-mail following a short processing time.
Licensees who do not register for an eLicence will receive their licence by mail from mid-February onwards.
You must display your existing licence until you receive your new one.
An eLicence is an electronic copy of a renewed liquor licence that is emailed to licencees following fee payment and a short processing time. Registration is required for licensees to receive an eLicence.
Licensees/permitees have the option to receive their renewed licence/permit by email within 5 business days from payment. To complete your registration for ‘eLicence’ go to vcglr.vic.gov.au/liquorportal and follow these 3 simple steps:
Further information about printing requirements can be found at the base of the Liquor signage page of our website.
Find information about how liquor licence fees are calculated in the Liquor licence fees fact sheet.
The star rating system provides incentive for licensees to comply with Victoria's liquor licensing laws. Under this system, responsible licensees will receive a discount on their annual liquor licence renewal fees.
Liquor licensees will receive a discount if their liquor licence was four or five stars from three years ago.
To be eligible for your discount you must not have had a non-compliance incident recorded against your licence in the last three years.
All new liquor licences begin at the three star level.
For more information, see Star rating system.
The following table outlines the important dates for licence and permit renewals each year:
| Date | Renewal milestone |
| 31 December | Renewal fees are due. |
| 31 March (or next working day in the instance where date falls on a Sat/ Sun or Public Holiday) | Licensees who have not paid their fees by this date and continue to supply liquor, will be doing so illegally. |
| 30 June | If the licence or permit has not been renewed by this date, the licensee or permittee has no further right to renew the licence or permit. |
| 30 September | Where a licensee has failed to renew a licence or permit by 30 June, then an owner, mortgagee or other person who is prejudicially affected by the failure may apply by this date for renewal of the licence or permit. |
| Late November - early December | The State Revenue Office issues annual renewal notices to licensees for the following year by this month. |
