Forms and fees for Commercial Activity Permits
You will need to submit an application form and pay the relevant application and permit fee 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 and locations (e.g. using a national park and recreation area) only requires 1 application fee. If your application is approved and you wish to make changes after receiving your permit, further fees may apply. Read more about amending an existing CAP.
There are different fees for commercial filming and photography permits.
Applying for a CAP
You need to pay the relevant regulated 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 2024)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee for national parks, conservation parks, recreation areas and state forests | |
| Application fee (non-refundable) | $387.20 |
| Application to renew or reissue with no changes (non-refundable) | $193.20 |
| Application to renew with changes to activities and/or locations and/or capacity (non-refundable) | $387.20 |
| Application for variation (e.g. changes to location and/or capacity and/or nature of activity) (non-refundable) | $387.20 |
| Minor amendment (e.g. update person in charge, change of address, amend term of permit) (non-refundable) | $20.10 |
| Permit fee for national parks, conservation parks, recreation areas and state forests | |
| 3 months or less | $77.50 |
| More than 3 months but not more than 1 year | $309.30 |
| More than 1 year but not more than 2 years | $619.00 |
| More than 2 years but not more than 3 years | $875.00 |
| Other fees for joint marine park permit/CAP | |
| For first 3 years of the term | $875.00 |
| For each year after 3 years up to a maximum of 5 years for a standard CAP or 15 years for a joint marine park permit | $292.90 |
| Transfer fee | $192.80 |
| Daily site fees (per person per day, GST inclusive) – less than 3 hours | |
| National and conservation parks | $2.50 |
| Recreation areas – Bribie Island, Cooloola, Minjerribah or Moreton Island | $2.50 |
| Recreation areas – Fraser Island, Inskip Peninsula | $4.75 |
| Recreation area – Green Island | $3.40 |
| State forest | $2.50 |
| Daily site fees (per person per day, GST inclusive) – more than 3 hours | |
| National and conservation parks | $4.45 |
| Recreation areas – Bribie Island, Cooloola, Minjerribah or Moreton Island | $4.45 |
| Recreation area – Fraser Island, Inskip Peninsula | $10.05 |
| Recreation area – Green Island | $3.40 |
| State forest | $4.45 |
Fees increase by Consumer Price Index (CPI) in July each year.
Refund policy
An application fee is payable for a CAP. A single application fee will apply to activities using multiple tenures such as protected areas, state forests and recreation areas. If an application is refused, permit fees paid other than the application fee may be refunded.
Consider making a pre-lodgement enquiry to save time and money.
Complying with CAP conditions
Under conditions of your CAP, you must submit a return of operations and may be required 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 prescribed period, including a 'Nil' return if no activity occurred during the reporting period.
Quarterly cycles end on the last day of March, June, September and December each year.
If you request an invoice, this will appear in your Online Services account, under 'invoice'. When payments are received, a copy of your receipt will also appear under 'invoice'. Your return of operations will not appear submitted until both the return and payment are complete.
Failure to pay return fees may result in action to suspend or cancel your CAP or agreement.
Learn more about how to submit your return of operations (PDF, 2.1MB).
Daily site fee exemptions
Commercial tour operators are exempt from paying daily fees for each person (5 years or older) participating in an educational tour 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
If your commercial activity involves overnight camping, you will need to book and pay through the Queensland National Parks Booking Service.
Commercial tour operators are eligible for a reduced camping fee of $3.85 for each client (5 years or older) participating in an educational tour.
To make online camping bookings for educational groups, you must open an educational account through the Queensland National Parks 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 Queensland National Park camping booking service – New customer.
For further assistance when opening 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 your CAP conditions requires you to notify QPWS before conducting activities in national parks, conservation parks, resources reserves, recreation areas or state forests.
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.
Amending an existing CAP
You must request changes to your CAP through Online Services to the department. Making an amendment to your CAP or agreement will incur a cost. Changes are either considered a minor amendment or a variation depending on the nature of the request. Variation fees will be equivalent to a full application fee for a new permit of the same type.
For more information on minor amendments, variations and fees, read the operational policy – amendments and variations to permits for QPWS managed areas (PDF, 288KB) and information sheet – fees to conduct commercial and recreational activities on QPWS managed areas (PDF, 326KB).
Selling a business that holds a CAP
If you are planning to sell your business that holds a CAP, the permit may be transferred to another entity.
Buyers will need to apply to transfer a CAP. The buyer will need to meet suitability requirements before they can be granted a CAP and the seller must finalise any outstanding returns and payments prior to handover.
We recommend that all potential buyers conduct proper due diligence and if required, buyers may request a free pre-lodgement meeting with QPWS to discuss the permit transfer process.
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.