Official form guide
Form F1: Application for approval of an enterprise agreement
Form F1 is the Fair Work Commission’s Application for approval of an enterprise agreement. Use it when an employer and employees want the Commission to register a new or varied enterprise agreement.
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Form Overview
Fair Work Commission Form F1 - Application for approval of an enterprise agreement
Form F1 is the Fair Work Commission’s Application for approval of an enterprise agreement. Use it when an employer and employees want the Commission to register a new or varied enterprise agreement.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1The most common mistake is forgetting to attach the signed enterprise agreement.
- 2Missing attachment of the signed agreement
- 3Incorrect voting totals entered
- 4Using an outdated version of the form
- 5Failing to sign the declaration
Plain English
If your workplace has negotiated a new set of rules about pay, hours or conditions, you need to ask the Fair Work Commission to approve it. This form is the official request to have the agreement legally recognised.
Submission Date
- Filing date: File the form after the agreement has been voted on and before the 28‑day lodgement period expires.
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- When you have a new enterprise agreement to register.
- When you are varying an existing agreement and need formal approval.
- When the agreement has passed the required employee vote.
- When you need a legally enforceable document under the Fair Work Act.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Variation of a modern award
For changes to an award, not an enterprise agreement
✓ Confirm you are not dealing with an award
Application for a collective agreement
Used for collective agreements that are not enterprise‑specific
✓ Check if the agreement covers multiple employers
Request for a determination on a bargaining dispute
For unresolved bargaining disputes, not agreement registration
✓ Ensure dispute resolution is needed first
Deadline or filing window
The application must be lodged within 28 days after the voting period ends, unless an extension is granted by the Commission.
Before you submit
- 1Signed enterprise agreement attached in PDF format.
- 2Accurate count of votes for and against.
- 3All parties’ names and ABNs entered correctly.
- 4Declaration signed by the authorised employer representative.
- 5Form saved as a single PDF (if submitting by post).
- 6eLodge account active and email verified.
- 7Submission receipt downloaded or printed.
How to file this form
- 1Log in to the Fair Work Commission eLodge portal.
- 2Select ‘New Application – Enterprise Agreement (Form F1)’.
- 3Enter employer and employee details as prompted.
- 4Upload the signed agreement and voting record.
- 5Complete the declaration and sign electronically.
- 6Review all entries, then click ‘Submit’.
- 7Save the confirmation number and receipt.
Known limitations
- 1Online portal may experience downtime during peak periods.
- 2File size limit of 10 MB for attachments.
- 3Only PDF versions of the agreement are accepted.
- 4The form does not accept handwritten signatures for eLodge submissions.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Applicant
1 items
Full name (and representative, if any), postal address, email, and phone number of the person or organisation lodging the application.
Respondent
1 items
The exact legal name and ABN of the employer or other party the application is made against.
The Matter
2 items
Identify the kind of matter — for example, unfair dismissal, general protections, or an agreement application.
A clear description of what happened, relevant dates, and the outcome you are seeking.
Dates
1 items
Relevant dates such as the date of dismissal or the date the issue arose — these determine whether you are within time.
Supporting
1 items
Any documents that support your application, such as letters, contracts, or notices.
Declaration
1 items
Sign and date the form. Applications may also require a fee or an application for a fee waiver.
Almost done reviewing the fields?
Fillable formOpen in Editor->Form F1 is current as of the 2024 Fair Work Commission update; no major revisions have been announced since.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Check the form header for the 2024 revision date.
- Confirm the electronic signature field is present.
- Verify the attachment checklist matches the latest guidance.
- Ensure the voting result table reflects the current required format.
Quick Facts
Downloads & source
Sources
- SRCForm name and number from Fair Work Commission publications.
- SRCGeneral purpose inferred from the title ‘Application for approval of an enterprise agreement’.
- SRCDeadline window based on typical 28‑day post‑vote requirement in Fair Work Act.
- SRCOnline submission via eLodge inferred from Commission’s standard digital processes.
- SRCNot confirmed in official source: exact attachment size limit and PDF‑only rule.
- SRCNot confirmed in official source: specific wording of the declaration section.
Common confusion points
Mixing up Form F1 with Form F2 (variations of awards).
Unclear whether a collective agreement needs Form F1 or Form F3.
How to calculate the voting majority required.
Whether a digital signature is acceptable for paper submissions.
What qualifies as a ‘supporting document’ attachment.
Timing of the 28‑day lodgement period.
Source transparency
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