Skilled migration applicants relying on a professional skills assessment now face a genuine, time-limited cost decision. VETASSESS, the assessing authority used for most professional occupations in Australia’s skilled migration program, has confirmed that fees are rising for applications received on or after 9 September 2026. If your skills assessment is ready, or close to ready, the timing of your lodgement now has a real financial consequence attached to it.
This is not a reason to rush a weak application out the door. It is a reason to understand exactly what is changing, what it costs you either way, and how to make a clear-eyed decision rather than a panicked one.
What is actually changing
The new VETASSESS fee schedule applies to applications received on or after 9 September 2026. Anything lodged before that date is charged at the current, lower rates. The increases cover Full Skills Assessments, Priority Processing, Skills Assessment Support, Chinese Qualification Verification, non-migration assessments, and administrative fees.
Under the new schedule, a Full Skills Assessment lodged online will cost AU$1,205.60 (including GST) for applicants inside Australia, or AU$1,096.00 (excluding GST) for applicants applying from outside the country. The optional Priority Processing add-on will cost AU$907.50 within Australia or AU$825.00 offshore.
One detail worth noting: trade occupations are excluded from this round of increases. If your skilled visa pathway relies on a trade-based skills assessment, this particular deadline does not apply to you in the same way.
Why the timing matters for your application
A skills assessment is usually a prerequisite step before you can lodge a state nomination, a skilled independent visa, or an employer-sponsored pathway. For applicants who already have their documentation ready, evidence gathered, and occupation correctly identified, lodging before 9 September simply means paying the current rate instead of the increased one.
That said, the fee difference should never be the deciding factor in when you submit a skills assessment. A rushed, incomplete, or poorly evidenced application can lead to a request for further information, a delay, or in the worst case, a negative outcome that costs far more in time and money than the fee increase itself.
Should you rush to beat the deadline?
Only if your application is genuinely ready. The purpose of a skills assessment is to demonstrate, with evidence, that your qualifications and work experience meet the requirements of your nominated occupation. If your employment references are incomplete, your qualification documents need translation or certification, or your occupation choice itself needs review, submitting under time pressure is unlikely to save you money in the long run.
If you are close to ready, this is a reasonable moment to prioritise finishing your documentation over the next few days. If you are not close, it is more sensible to prepare properly and accept the new fee than to lodge a weak application to save a few hundred dollars.
What to do next
Start by confirming which authority assesses your occupation, since not every skilled occupation goes through VETASSESS. From there, review your evidence against the specific assessment criteria for your occupation, rather than assuming a general work history is sufficient. If you are also weighing an employer-sponsored pathway against a points-tested skilled visa, the right skills assessment strategy can differ between the two.
Kingsbridge Australia monitors changes like this as part of daily policy tracking, so clients are not left finding out about fee changes, processing shifts, or occupation list updates after the fact.
Frequently asked questions
When exactly do the new VETASSESS fees take effect?
The new rates apply to applications received by VETASSESS on or after 9 September 2026. Applications received before that date are charged at the current rate, regardless of when they are finalised.
Are trade occupations affected by this fee increase?
No. Trade occupations are specifically excluded from this round of VETASSESS fee increases.
Will paying the current, lower fee guarantee a faster or better outcome?
No. The fee amount has no bearing on assessment outcome. A well-prepared application with strong, relevant evidence is what determines the result, regardless of which fee schedule applies.
What happens if my skills assessment is refused?
Refusal reasons vary, but they typically relate to insufficient evidence that your qualifications or experience meet the occupation’s specific requirements. Reviewing the assessment outcome carefully before deciding whether to reapply or seek a review is an important next step.
