VETASSESS Fees Increasing from 9 September 2026: What Australian Skilled Migration Applicants Need to Know

Last updated: 17 August 2026

VETASSESS has officially announced an increase in fees for Professional Skills Assessments, with the new pricing taking effect from 9 September 2026. For applicants considering Australian skilled migration, including pathways such as the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa, Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa and Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa, this change may be relevant if a VETASSESS skills assessment forms part of your migration pathway.

According to VETASSESS, applications received before 9 September 2026 will be charged at the current rates.

The fee increase applies to Professional Skills Assessments and a number of related services. It does not apply to assessments for trade occupations.

Quick Answer: How Much Are VETASSESS Fees Increasing?

From 9 September 2026, the standard Full Skills Assessment fee will increase from AUD $1,096 to AUD $1,146, excluding GST.

The Priority Processing supplementary fee will increase from AUD $825 to AUD $863.

Below are some of the key fee changes announced by VETASSESS.

VETASSESS Service	Current Fee	Fee from 9 September 2026	Increase
Full Skills Assessment	$1,096	$1,146	$50
Priority Processing	$825	$863	$38
Points Test Advice – non-VETASSESS occupations	$311	$325	$14
Post-Vocational Education Work Visa (Subclass 485) Assessment	$416	$436	$20
Review – Post-Vocational Education Work Visa	$265	$277	$12
Reassessment – Post-Vocational Education Work Visa	$379	$396	$17
Post-485 Assessment under the same occupation	$852	$891	$39
Reassessment within 12 months	$745	$779	$34
Appeal within 90 days	$1,082	$1,132	$50
Renewal of Skills Assessment within 3 years	$473	$495	$22

Important: The VETASSESS fee schedule states that these figures do not include Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST). The amount payable may therefore differ depending on whether GST applies to the applicant.

When Do the New VETASSESS Fees Start?

The new fees apply from: 9 September 2026

VETASSESS has stated that applications received before 9 September 2026 will continue to be charged at the current rates.

This means that applicants who are already preparing a VETASSESS application may want to review whether they are ready to lodge before the new fees take effect. However, applicants should not rush to submit an incomplete or poorly prepared skills assessment simply to save the difference in the application fee.

A skills assessment can be an important part of a broader Australian migration strategy, and the nominated occupation, qualification relevance and employment evidence should be considered carefully before an application is submitted.

Which VETASSESS Assessments Are Affected?

VETASSESS has advised that the fee changes relate to Professional Skills Assessments and also cover a number of associated services, including:

• Priority Processing

• Chinese Qualification Verification

• Non-migration Skills Assessments

• Administration fees

• Certain review, reassessment, appeal and renewal applications

The official VETASSESS announcement also refers to Skills Assessment Support services. However, applicants should check the individual service in the latest official fee schedule rather than assuming that every VETASSESS service has increased by the same amount. Some listed services remain unchanged in the August 2026 schedule.

Do the Fee Increases Apply to VETASSESS Trade Occupations?

No.

VETASSESS specifically states that this particular fee increase does not apply to assessments for trade occupations.

This distinction is important because VETASSESS assesses both professional and trade-related occupations through different assessment arrangements.

Applicants should first confirm which assessing authority and assessment pathway applies to their nominated occupation.

Why Is VETASSESS Increasing Its Fees?

VETASSESS states that the new fees are being adjusted in line with movements in inflation and the Consumer Price Index (CPI), with the fees reviewed in accordance with Australian Government guidance.

The increase to the standard Full Skills Assessment is relatively modest in percentage terms, but applicants preparing multiple migration-related applications may still want to account for the change when budgeting for their migration process.

Should You Lodge Your VETASSESS Skills Assessment Before 9 September 2026?

If you already know that you require a VETASSESS skills assessment and your application is ready, lodging before the new fees take effect may allow you to access the current fee.

But the more important question is not simply:

“Can I lodge before the price increase?”

It is: “Am I applying under the correct occupation, and is my evidence likely to meet the relevant VETASSESS assessment criteria?”

Depending on the occupation, VETASSESS may assess factors including:

• the level of your qualification

• whether your field of study is sufficiently relevant to your nominated occupation

• the relevance of your employment

• the duration and timing of your employment

• the skill level of your work

• supporting employment documentation

A positive skills assessment can also interact with other elements of your migration strategy, including points, state nomination requirements and visa eligibility.

For this reason, applicants should consider their overall migration pathway, rather than treating the skills assessment as an isolated application.

What Does This Mean for 189, 190 and 491 Visa Applicants?

For many points-tested skilled migration applicants, obtaining a suitable skills assessment is one of the key requirements before progressing to an Expression of Interest or certain state nomination processes.

Depending on your occupation and circumstances, your skills assessment may affect:

• whether you can nominate a particular occupation

• whether your qualifications meet the assessment requirements

• how much employment VETASSESS recognizes

• how many years of skilled employment may potentially be relevant for points purposes

• your overall timing for an EOI or state nomination strategy

This is why choosing an occupation based only on the occupation title can sometimes create problems.

Two applicants with similar job titles may receive different assessment outcomes because their qualifications, employment duties and career histories are different.

What If You Are Not Sure Which Occupation to Assess?

Before paying for a skills assessment, it can be worthwhile to consider:

1. Which occupation best matches your actual work?

The title printed on your employment contract is not always the only consideration. Your actual duties and responsibilities can be important.

2. Is your qualification sufficiently relevant?

Different VETASSESS occupations can have different qualification and employment requirements.

3. How much employment may be recognised?

Not all work experience necessarily becomes recognised skilled employment from the same date.

4. Does the occupation support your intended migration pathway?

A successful skills assessment does not automatically mean that you will qualify for a 189, 190 or 491 visa.

The occupation also needs to be considered within the context of the relevant migration program and your broader eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is VETASSESS increasing its fees in 2026?

Yes. VETASSESS has officially announced that fees for Professional Skills Assessments will increase from 9 September 2026.

What is the new VETASSESS Full Skills Assessment fee?

The fee will increase from AUD $1,096 to AUD $1,146, excluding GST.

How much will VETASSESS Priority Processing cost?

The Priority Processing supplementary fee will increase from AUD $825 to AUD $863, excluding GST.

Can I still pay the old VETASSESS fee?

According to VETASSESS, applications received before 9 September 2026 will be charged at the current rates.

Does the September 2026 VETASSESS fee increase apply to trade occupations?

No. VETASSESS has stated that this fee increase does not apply to trade occupation assessments.

Do I need a VETASSESS skills assessment for Australian skilled migration?

It depends on your nominated occupation. Different occupations have different designated assessing authorities. VETASSESS is the relevant assessing authority for many professional occupations, but not all skilled occupations.

Does a positive VETASSESS assessment guarantee a 189, 190 or 491 visa?

No. A positive skills assessment is only one component of the migration process. Visa eligibility may also depend on factors such as age, English ability, points, occupation requirements, state or territory nomination criteria and other applicable migration requirements.

Planning a VETASSESS Skills Assessment?

If you are considering Australian skilled migration and are unsure:

• which occupation you should nominate

• whether your degree is sufficiently relevant

• whether your work experience may meet VETASSESS requirements

• how your skills assessment may affect your migration points

• whether you should consider a 189, 190, 491 or another migration pathway

it may be worthwhile to assess the broader strategy before lodging your skills assessment.

At Australia Migration Services (AMS), we can review your individual background and discuss how your qualifications, employment history, nominated occupation and migration goals may fit together.

Contact AMS to book a consultation and discuss your Australian skilled migration options before you lodge.