Export Market Development Grant (EMDG)

Approximately 70% of EMDG applicants engage a third party, such as an EMDG consultant/advisor, to process their claim (Source: Export Market Development Grant Independent Review 2026, p.44)

The main reasons for engaging an advisor are to assist with determining eligibility, ensure all eligible expenditure is claimed to maximise the grant amount, ensure sufficient documented evidence in case of an audit, audit support, variation requests and application submission.

Although the EMDG scheme is an entitlement program, there is an annual set budget and Austrade, the department which administers the scheme, will close the application window when it anticipates the funding has been fully allocated. In 2024, applications for EMDG’s most popular tier, Tier 2, shut within three and a half hours (Source: Export Market Development Grant Independent Review 2026, p.13).

An EMDG advisor will submit your claim on your behalf, and take care of all milestone reporting requirements, taking away the pressure and stress of self-applying.

Yes, however the EMDG scheme is subject to strict legislative requirements and is highly audited. If your claim is audited and you are found to have incorrectly claimed the EMDG, or do not have sufficient supporting evidence to support your claim, you may be required to pay back any grant funding received and have any future grant funding terminated.

An EMDG advisor can keep you abreast of any legislative changes and what it means for your claim, as well as ensure you are claiming correctly and support you in case of an audit.

EMDG is open to Australian manufacturers and service providers, which are exporting or planning to export their products and services into international markets. Businesses with an ABN, including sole traders, trusts, companies, and representative bodies are eligible to apply.

Your business must have operated under the same ABN for at least two years and meet minimum turnover thresholds depending on which tier you are applying for to apply. However annual turnover must be under $20 million to apply.

Avant Group offers no-obligation EMDG eligibility checks and can advise you on your eligibility, which tier you fall into and what expenses you can claim.

Book in an obligation-free EMDG eligibility check here.

Yes, 90% of EMDG claims are reviewed by Austrade and one in 10 are fully audited, i.e. in-depth compliance reviews such as site visits or comprehensive desk audits (Source: Australian National Audit Office).

Failing an audit can lead to being required to pay back any ineligible funding and result in any upcoming grant funding agreements being terminated.

Avant Group derisks this process by advising on eligible expenditure and ensuring all claims have sufficiently documented evidence in case of an audit. Avant Group also offers audit support at no extra charge.

The amount of funding you can receive through the grant will depend on your business’ annual turnover, the tier you fall into and what eligible expenditure you can claim.

The maximum a business can receive under the scheme is $770,000 over eight financial years.

Yes. Grants are generally considered taxable income, however the corresponding expense is also a 100% tax deduction.

EMDG legislation is subject to change, therefore changes to eligibility criteria, eligible expenditure and the application process can occur. The scheme is also required to be independently reviewed every five years.

The last independent review of the EMDG occurred in 2025 and the recommended changes to the scheme were released on July 2nd, 2026.

The recommend changes that will affect EMDG applicants the most, if Austrade implements them include:

• Removing the first-in, best dressed model and transition to a merit-based application process
• Replacing the three-tier structure with a two-tier structure, one for export-ready businesses and one for established or growing exporters
• Returning to annual application rounds and annual application agreements
• Reviewing international air travel caps and per diem rates to determine whether they are at an appropriate level for business-related travel.

The Export Chamber of Australia Incorporated (ECAI), the peak industry body representing EMDG applicants and consultants, have released a media statement detailing whether it endorses the 29 recommendations in the 2025 review. These can be read here.