Forms and fees for Commercial Activity Permits
You will need to submit application forms and pay application fees if you wish to conduct activities requiring a Commercial Activity Permit (CAP) in Queensland national parks, conservation parks, recreation areas and state forests.
An activity using multiple tenures (e.g. using a national park and recreation area) only requires 1 application fee.
There are different fees for commercial filming and photography permits.
Applying for a CAP
You need to pay fees and lodge your application through Online services.
Register for Online services or log in to Online services (if already registered).
Fees for CAP applications (effective 1 July 2021)
| Fee | Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| Application fee for national parks, conservation parks, recreation areas and state forests | |
| Application fee (non-refundable) | 365.30 |
| Application fee to renew or reissue | 182.30 |
| Permit fee for national parks, conservation parks, recreation areas and state forests | |
| 3 months or less | 73.10 |
| More than 3 months but not more than 1 year | 291.80 |
| More than 1 year but not more than 2 years | 584.00 |
| More than 2 years but not more than 3 years | 825.00 |
| Other fees for joint Great Barrier Reef Marine Park permits/CAP | |
| For first 3 years of the term | 825.00 |
| For each year after 3 years up to a maximum of 15 years | 287.00 |
| Transfer fee | 182.10 |
| Daily site fees (per person per day) - less than 3 hours | |
| National and conservation parks | 2.15 |
| Recreation areas - Bribie Island, Cooloola, Minjerribah or Moreton Island | 2.15 |
| Recreation areas - Fraser Island, Inskip Peninsula | 4.05 |
| Recreation area - Green Island | 2.95 |
| State forest | 2.15 |
| Daily site fees (per person per day) - more than 3 hours | |
| National and conservation parks | 3.80 |
| Recreation areas - Bribie Island, Cooloola, Minjerribah or Moreton Island | 3.80 |
| Recreation area - Fraser Island, Inskip Peninsula | 8.60 |
| Recreation area - Green Island | 2.95 |
| State forest | 3.80 |
The full application fee applies to a CAP renewal with changes to locations and/or capacity. Fees increase by CPI in July each year.
Refund policy
If your application is refused, your application fee will not be refunded. Your permit fee can be refunded.
Consider making a pre-lodgement enquiry to save time and money.
Complying with CAP conditions
Under conditions of your CAP, you may be required to submit a return of operations or to notify Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) before a visit.
Returns of operations
You must submit a return of operations through Online services within 20 business days of the end of each calendar month or quarterly period, even if you did not conduct any tours.
As part of the Queensland Government's immediate Industry Recovery Package, a fee relief applied to daily site (return) fees from:
- 1 February 2020 to 31 March 2021
- 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
Note that daily site fees remain payable for any operations conducted between 1 April 2021 and 30 June 2021.
To submit returns monthly, select the quarter that your month falls into. Even if no activity occurred during the month or quarter, or if no fees are payable due to the fee relief, you are still required to submit a 'nil' return. Quarterly cycles end on the last day of March, June, September and December each year.
If return fees are due, your return will not be considered to have been submitted until all fees are paid by credit card or invoice. Failure to pay return fees may result in action to suspend or cancel your commercial activity permit or agreement.
Daily site fee exemptions
Commercial tour operators are now exempt from paying daily fees for each person (5 years or older) participating in an educational tour or a camp type approved by the Chief Executive. The number of people, school details and a contact person must be recorded on your return of operations. This exemption includes teachers and supervisors and applies to the following groups:
- Australian registered state or independent primary and secondary schools
- Centres offering the Duke of Edinburgh Award Program
- Scouts and Guides
- Home Education students.
Camping fees and bookings
You must pay camping fees if your commercial activity involves overnight camping.
Commercial tour operators are eligible for a reduced camping fee of $3.75 for each person (5 years or older) participating in an educational tour or camp type approved by the Chief Executive.
To make online camping bookings for educational groups, you must open an educational account in the Queensland National Parks online camping booking service. If you have an existing account for individual use, you will need to register a new account using a different email address. This will allow you to make bookings at the reduced rate for educational groups.
For all other camp bookings as a commercial tour operator, you must open a commercial account through the online camping booking service.
To open a new account, contact the QPWS Camping Support team at qpws@des.qld.gov.au.
Learn more about camping fees and bookings.
Commercial activity notification
You must submit a commercial activity notification if required under your permit. This may apply to operations conducted on a single site or across many CAP areas.
Filming and photography notification
If you have a CAP for filming and photography, you must notify the department 14 days prior to undertaking the filming, by submitting the filming and photography notification form.
Learn more about filming and photography permits and fees.
Changing an existing CAP
You must request changes to your CAP through Online services to QPWS. Making a change to your CAP or agreement will incur a cost.
Selling a business that holds a CAP
You cannot legally transfer ownership of a CAP, even if you sell your business.
Buyers will need to apply for a new CAP. There is no guarantee that a buyer will be granted a CAP, even if the business they are buying already has one.
We recommend that all potential buyers conduct proper due diligence and request a free pre-lodgement meeting with QPWS to discuss eligibility.
Also consider...
- Learn more about Commercial Activity Permits for national parks, recreation areas and state forests.
- Read about commercial filming and photography in national parks, conservation parks, recreation areas and state forests.
- Learn more about marine park permits and permits for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
- Last reviewed: 16 Aug 2021
- Last updated: 10 Sep 2021