QCase Portal: How to Lodge a QCAT Claim Online Step by Step

You've written your letter of demand, run your ASIC searches and gathered your evidence. Now you need to actually lodge the application. QCAT gives you two paths — the QCase online portal or paper forms at the registry. Here's how each one works.

Filing Through QCase (Online)

QCase is QCAT's digital case management system. It handles the full lifecycle: lodging applications, uploading attachments, paying fees and tracking your case.

Setting Up Your Account

Before you can file, you need a QCase account linked to a Digital ID, such as myID or Queensland Digital Identity (QDI).

Allow time to register and verify your identity with the provider you choose before you lodge.

Lodging Your Application

Once your account is active:

1. Select "Start a new application" and choose the correct minor civil dispute type
2. Complete the application fields — respondent details, claim amount, factual summary
3. Upload your supporting documents as individual files in an approved format (up to 100MB per file)
4. Pay the filing fee by credit card

After you pay, you'll get an immediate receipt. But your application isn't formally "filed" at that point — registry staff review and formally seal it first. You'll receive confirmation once that's done.

Document Upload Tips

• Convert everything to PDF before uploading
• Keep each file within QCase's 100MB per-file limit; compress large image files
• Name files descriptively (e.g. "Contract-2025-06-15.pdf", "Invoice-3847.pdf")
• Arrange documents in chronological order within the upload

Upload supporting documents as individual files rather than as one combined bundle.

Filing by Paper

Paper lodgement works for anyone who can't or prefers not to use QCase.

What You Need

• The correct signed application form (printed from the QCAT website)
• Three complete copies: one for the tribunal, one for you, one for each respondent
• For mail lodgements, enclose a cheque, money order or completed credit-card payment authorisation form. Cash is accepted for in-person lodgements at QCAT or a Magistrates Court outside Brisbane.

Where to Lodge

Brisbane: QCAT Principal Registry, Level 11, 259 Queen Street, Brisbane QLD 4000.

Outside Brisbane: Your nearest Magistrates Court. Magistrates Courts outside Brisbane act as regional QCAT registries — they accept filings, collect fees and deal with minor civil dispute matters.

Lodging by Post

If you can't attend in person, you can post your application. Include a stamped, self-addressed A4 envelope so the registry can return your sealed copies. You'll need those sealed copies to serve on the respondent.

Email Submission Limits

QCAT accepts some documents by email, but there's a strict 30-page limit including all attachments. Applications exceeding 30 pages are rejected without processing. For anything substantial, QCase or in-person lodgement is more reliable.

After You Lodge

Filing is just the first step. Once the registry seals your application, you're responsible for:

• Serving the sealed application within the usual period: 90 days for minor debt, 28 days when another application requires personal service, or 7 days otherwise
• Filing proof of service (Form 9 Affidavit of Service) with the registry
• Waiting for the respondent's response (28 days for minor debt claims)
• Preparing your evidence bundle for the hearing

The QCAT claim guide covers each of these steps with a procedural deadline calendar that tracks the 90-day service window, the 28-day response period and your hearing preparation deadlines.

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