VETASSESS has increased its application fees for Professional Skills Assessments, with the new rates now in effect from 9 September 2026. If you’re planning Australian skilled migration and VETASSESS is your relevant assessing authority, this matters because a skills assessment is typically one of the first and most expensive steps before you can even submit an Expression of Interest. VETASSESS says the increase is tied to movements in the Consumer Price Index and has been reviewed in line with Australian Government guidance, rather than being connected to any change in visa policy.
The change covers Professional Skills Assessments along with Priority Processing, Skills Assessment Support, Chinese Qualification Verification, non-migration assessments and administration fees but it does not apply to trade occupation assessments. Applications received before 9 September 2026 were charged at the earlier rates. Planning to lodge a VETASSESS assessment and want to understand how this fits into your broader skilled migration budget? Kangaroo Migration Consultants can help you review your occupation, documentation and pathway before you submit.
What Are the New VETASSESS Fees?
For the standard Full Skills Assessment covering both qualifications and employment, for Australian or overseas credentials the fee is now AUD 1,146 excluding GST, or AUD 1,260.60 for applicants who are Australian residents for tax purposes and therefore pay GST. This is an increase of AUD 50 on the previous AUD 1,096 fee, or roughly 4.5%. Priority Processing, which is an additional fee on top of the full assessment rather than a replacement for it, has risen from AUD 825 to AUD 863 excluding GST (AUD 949.30 including GST).
It’s worth being clear that the GST distinction is based on Australian tax residency, not simply on whether you’re physically in Cyprus, India, the UK or anywhere else an applicant who is an Australian tax resident pays the GST-inclusive figure regardless of where they happen to be sitting when they apply, while someone who isn’t an Australian tax resident sees the lower, GST-excluded rate.
Fees Before vs After September 9, 2026
| Service | Fee before Sept 9, 2026 (excl. GST) | Fee from Sept 9, 2026 (excl. GST) |
| Full Skills Assessment | AUD 1,096 | AUD 1,146 |
| Priority Processing | AUD 825 | AUD 863 |
| Post-485 Assessment | AUD 852 | AUD 891 |
| Review – qualification only | AUD 340 | AUD 356 |
| Review – employment only | AUD 609 | AUD 637 |
| Review – both | AUD 913 | AUD 955 |
| Reassessment (within 12 months) | AUD 745 | AUD 779 |
| Appeal (within 90 days) | AUD 1,082 | AUD 1,132 |
| Renewal (within 3 years) | AUD 473 | AUD 495 |
Every line moved up by a broadly similar 4–5%, consistent with a CPI-linked adjustment rather than a targeted increase on any one service.
Does This Apply to Everyone?
No and this is worth checking carefully before you assume the new figures apply to your situation. The increase covers Professional Skills Assessments and the related services listed above, but VETASSESS has specifically excluded trade occupation assessments from this particular change. If your nominated occupation falls under a trade pathway, a different fee schedule and potentially a different assessing body such as Trades Recognition Australia may apply, so it’s worth confirming the correct authority for your occupation before budgeting off these professional-occupation figures.
Review, Reassessment, Appeal and Renewal Costs
If your assessment comes back unsuccessful, the cost of challenging it has also gone up. A review of the qualification outcome alone now costs AUD 356 (excl. GST), a review of the employment outcome alone is AUD 637, and a combined review of both is AUD 955 all payable within the standard 90-day window from the original decision.
A reassessment within 12 months is now AUD 779, and an appeal, generally lodged within 90 days of a review outcome, is AUD 1,132. If your original suitable assessment is still valid but approaching its expiry, a renewal within the three-year validity period costs AUD 495, while renewing after that three-year window requires a full new assessment at the standard AUD 1,146 fee rather than the cheaper renewal rate.
Should You Apply Before or After the Fee Change?
If you’re reading this after 9 September 2026, the new rates already apply, and the relevant date that determines your fee is when your application is actually received by VETASSESS not when you started preparing it or created an account. It’s not worth rushing an incomplete application just to try to save the fee difference; a poorly documented assessment is far more likely to come back unsuccessful, which then means paying for a review or reassessment on top of the original fee, easily wiping out any saving. If you’re still gathering your qualification and employment evidence, it’s more sensible to focus on getting the application decision-ready than on timing it around a fee change that has already taken effect.
Where This Fits Into Your Total Migration Budget
It’s worth being clear that the VETASSESS fee is entirely separate from the Department of Home Affairs visa application charge; a higher assessment fee doesn’t mean Australian visa charges have also increased, and the two should be budgeted independently. A realistic skilled migration budget needs to account for the skills assessment, an English test, the eventual visa application charge, medical examinations, police certificates, translations, and for subclass 190 or 491 any state nomination costs on top. Australia PR cost walks through how all of these pieces add up across the main skilled pathways, which is worth reading before you assume the VETASSESS fee is your only major expense.
Who Actually Needs a VETASSESS Assessment?
VETASSESS assesses several hundred professional and general occupations, and a positive outcome can support pathways including subclass 189, 190, 491, and certain employer-sponsored or DAMA arrangements but not every occupation goes through VETASSESS. Some fields have their own dedicated assessing authority instead, so it’s worth confirming which body is relevant to your specific occupation before assuming the fees above apply to you. If you’re weighing which state-nominated pathway might suit your occupation once your assessment is sorted, Australian state nomination is a useful next step, and our broader notes on Australia migration eligibility how the assessment fits into the wider points-tested framework.
What Documents Affect Your Assessment Outcome
Because a poorly evidenced application risks the exact review and reassessment fees described above, it’s worth treating document preparation as seriously as the fee itself. VETASSESS generally expects degree certificates and academic transcripts for qualification evidence, and for employment, a combination of reference letters, contracts, payslips, tax records and bank statements a reference letter alone rarely carries enough weight on its own. Identity documents, and translations for anything not issued in English, round out a typical application. Getting this right the first time is usually far cheaper than paying for a review after an unsuccessful outcome, particularly now that review and reassessment fees have risen alongside the main assessment charge.
FAQs
What is the new VETASSESS Skills Assessment fee in 2026?
From 9 September 2026, the standard VETASSESS Full Skills Assessment fee increased to AUD 1,146 excluding GST. For Australian tax residents who are subject to GST, the fee is AUD 1,260.60.
When did the VETASSESS Skills Assessment fees increase in 2026?
The new VETASSESS fees took effect from 9 September 2026. Applications received by VETASSESS before this date were charged according to the previous fee schedule.
Does the VETASSESS fee increase apply to trade occupations?
No. The 2026 fee increase described in the article applies to Professional Skills Assessments and related services, while trade occupation assessments are excluded from this particular fee change. Applicants should confirm the correct assessing authority and fee schedule for their occupation.
How much does VETASSESS Priority Processing cost after September 9, 2026?
From 9 September 2026, VETASSESS Priority Processing costs AUD 863 excluding GST, or AUD 949.30 including GST for applicants who are Australian tax residents. Priority Processing is an additional service fee and does not replace the standard Full Skills Assessment fee.
What other costs should I budget for besides the VETASSESS Skills Assessment?
VETASSESS fees are separate from other Australian skilled migration expenses. Depending on your pathway, you may also need to budget for an English language test, visa application charges, medical examinations, police certificates, document translations and state nomination costs for relevant subclass 190 or 491 applications.
Final Thoughts and Your Next Step
Whether you’re preparing your first VETASSESS application or reviewing an unsuccessful outcome under the new fee schedule, Kangaroo Migration Consultants can help you confirm the right assessing authority, prepare decision-ready documentation, and understand how the assessment fits into your overall skilled migration pathway and budget. Contact Kangaroo Migration Consultants today to get your VETASSESS assessment and skilled migration plan reviewed.