VETASSESS New Fees from September 2026 for Skills Assessments

VETASSESS new fees from September 2026: who is affected?

VETASSESS has confirmed a fee increase from 9 September 2026 for Professional Skills Assessments, with flow-on changes to priority and support services. This matters for skilled visa pathways linked to VETASSESS-assessed occupations, including many professional and general roles such as Marketing Specialist, Management Consultant, Cafe or Restaurant Manager and Internal Auditor.

High-level summary of the September 2026 VETASSESS fee update

For many applicants, VETASSESS is the assessing authority for non‑trade occupations that lead into subclass 189, 190, 491, employer sponsored options, DAMA and other skilled visas. A skills assessment is often one of the first major steps, well before points-tested EOI planning or visa lodgement.

Detailed VETASSESS fee amounts and pathways impacted

Full Skills Assessment fees for professional occupations

The Full Skills Assessment is the main application type for many professional and general occupations. It usually assesses both qualifications and employment experience against the nominated occupation, which may later feed into skilled visas such as subclass 189, 190 and 491 or employer sponsorship.

Our analysis of ImmiIQ data suggests that fee layering like this can materially change budget planning for skilled visa strategies. Priority Processing may be most relevant where timing is genuinely critical, such as aligning a skills assessment with expiring English tests, points thresholds or state nomination windows.

Post‑485 assessment under the same occupation

Some applicants complete an initial 485‑related assessment and later require an assessment of employment for a final Skills Assessment under the same occupation. This often appears where a pathway starts with Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) planning and then moves into permanent or provisional skilled visas.

Renewal, reassessment, reissue and appeal fees

VETASSESS also charges fees for renewals, reassessments, reissues and appeals. These scenarios come up when an assessment is close to expiry, the occupation strategy shifts or an applicant receives a Not Suitable outcome and needs to decide on next steps.

The appeal fee is significant, so applicants should not lodge an appeal without understanding whether there are strong grounds.

The source notes that in some situations a reassessment or new application may be more practical than an appeal, while in others an appeal may be appropriate if the issue relates clearly to the assessment outcome. The right option depends on the reason for the result and the supporting documents.

DAMA skills assessment fees for professional occupations

VETASSESS also lists a fee schedule for Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) skills assessments covering professional and general occupations. These pathways are employer‑led and region‑specific, so the skills assessment fee is only one part of a broader DAMA strategy.

Next steps before the VETASSESS September 2026 fee increase

The 12 August 2026 update highlights that many applicants wait until the last minute to lodge skills assessments. Lowest since September 2025. If documents are not ready before 9 September 2026, applications may fall under the new fee structure instead of current rates.

1. 01Confirm whether the nominated occupation is assessed by VETASSESS and identify the correct assessment type (Full Skills Assessment, post‑485 employment assessment, DAMA, or other).
2. 02Check current VETASSESS fee levels for the relevant category and whether the applicant is treated as in Australia (includes GST) or not resident for tax purposes (excludes GST).
3. 03Review document readiness early, including qualifications, employment references and any required Chinese Qualification Verification, to understand if a pre‑9 September lodgement is realistic.
4. 04Consider how the timing of the skills assessment outcome connects to planned subclass 189, 190, 491, 485, employer sponsored or DAMA applications.
5. 05Assess whether appeal, reassessment, renewal or a fresh application aligns best with the applicant’s circumstances where a previous outcome already exists.

Why does this matter so much for migration agents, applicants and education providers? Because a VETASSESS outcome can shape eligibility, timing and competitiveness across multiple skilled migration routes, while rushed or incomplete lodgements risk higher costs, delays or unsuitable results (and those are much harder to fix later).

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute migration advice. Always consult a Registered Migration Agent (RMA) for advice specific to your circumstances.

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