VETASSESS Fee Increase from 9 September 2026: What Australia PR Applicants Must Know 

If you are preparing an Australia PR application from Gujarat, one deadline now matters more than the rest. VETASSESS the assessing authority for more than 340 professional and general occupations has confirmed a fee increase that takes effect on 9 September 2026. Applications lodged before that date are still charged at today’s rates. 

For a skilled professional in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara or V.V. Nagar who is already collecting reference letters and transcripts, this is a straightforward, actionable window. Below is the full breakdown of the new fees, who is affected, who is not, and what our migration team at Aspire Square is advising clients to do over the next four weeks. 

Key Takeaways 

• New VETASSESS fees apply from 9 September 2026; applications received before this date are charged at current rates. 

• The increase averages roughly 4.5%, in line with the Consumer Price Index. 

• A Full Skills Assessment rises from AUD $1,096 to AUD $1,146 (excluding GST). 

• Trade occupation assessments are not affected by this increase. 

• Priority Processing, Skills Assessment Support, Chinese Qualifications Verification, non-migration assessments and administration fees are all included in the revision. 

Why VETASSESS Is Raising Its Fees 

VETASSESS announced the revision on 7 August 2026. The organisation stated that fees are rising in line with movements in inflation, calculated against the Consumer Price Index and reviewed in accordance with Australian Government guidance. 

This is a routine annual indexation rather than a policy change. Nothing about the eligibility criteria, the documentation standard or the assessment methodology has changed only the price. Applicants who were already eligible remain eligible; they will simply pay a little more if they lodge on or after 9 September 2026. 

Source: VETASSESS, Change in Assessment Fees for Professional Skills Assessments, published 7 August 2026. Fee schedule dated August 2026. 

New VETASSESS Fees from 9 September 2026 (Migration Assessments) 

All amounts are in Australian Dollars and exclude Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST). 

Review of Assessment Outcome (within 90 days) 

The review fee depends on what was negative in your original outcome. 

Post-Vocational Education Work Visa (Subclass 485) 

This last table matters for Gujarat students already in Australia on a Temporary Graduate visa pathway. If a 485 assessment is on your checklist for the coming months, the same 9 September cut-off applies to you. 

Support, Verification and Administration Fees 

The revision also touches services many applicants use alongside the main assessment. 

Notably unchanged. Several services hold at current prices in the new schedule, including the Skills Assessment Support consultation for applicants ($282), the SAS Document Checking Service ($191), the SAS consultation for migration agents and lawyers ($391), CHT Qualifications Assessment ($418) and the Qualification Comparison Service ($305). 

Who Is Not Affected 

Two groups can set this news aside. 

Trade occupation applicants. VETASSESS has confirmed the increase does not apply to assessments for trade occupations. If your nominated occupation is assessed under the trades pathway with its Technical Interview and practical assessment components your fee schedule is separate and unchanged by this announcement. 

Anyone who lodges before 9 September 2026. VETASSESS has stated that any application received before 9 September 2026 will be charged at current rates. The operative word is received, not started or drafted. A part-completed application sitting in your portal on 8 September does not lock in the old price. 

What This Means for Applicants in Gujarat 

In practical terms, the increase is modest – a Full Skills Assessment costs AUD $50 more, and GST plus your bank’s foreign exchange conversion sits on top of that. Multiply the AUD figure by your card’s live conversion rate to see the rupee impact on the day you pay. 

But the fee is rarely the real cost of a delayed assessment. In our experience across 12+ years of Australian skilled migration files, the bigger risk is what a rushed application does to your outcome. A negative assessment triggers a $779 reassessment or a $1,132 appeal under the new schedule far more expensive than the $50 you saved by hurrying. 

Here is how we are advising clients across our four Gujarat branches: 

If your documents are ready or nearly ready. Lodge before 9 September 2026. If your employment references are signed, your transcripts are certified and your occupation is confirmed, there is no reason to wait. You save the increase and start your processing clock earlier. 

If your documents are incomplete. Do not rush. An employment reference letter that fails to establish your duties at the required skill level will produce a negative outcome regardless of when you lodge. Get the evidence right, pay the revised fee, and protect the assessment itself. 

If you are considering Priority Processing. The supplementary fee moves from $825 to $863. Combined with a Full Skills Assessment, that is AUD $2,009 from 9 September against $1,921 today an $88 difference for applicants who need a faster turnaround for a state nomination or invitation round deadline. 

If your assessment is expiring. A Renewal within the three-year window costs $473 now and $495 later. Check your outcome letter date. Skills assessments are generally valid for three years for Department of Home Affairs purposes, and an expired assessment cannot support a visa application. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

When do the new VETASSESS fees start? 

The new fees apply from 9 September 2026. VETASSESS has confirmed that any application received before that date will be charged at the current rates, so applications lodged on or before 8 September 2026 pay the existing fee. 

How much is a VETASSESS skills assessment in 2026? 

A Full Skills Assessment, including DAMA and ILA applications, costs AUD $1,096 until 8 September 2026 and AUD $1,146 from 9 September 2026. These amounts exclude Australian GST and do not include currency conversion or bank charges. 

Does the VETASSESS fee increase apply to trade occupations? 

No. VETASSESS has confirmed the increase does not apply to skills assessments for trade occupations. Only professional and general occupation assessments, along with support, verification, non-migration and administration services, are affected. 

Why are VETASSESS fees increasing? 

VETASSESS has stated that fees are rising in line with inflation, calculated against the Consumer Price Index and reviewed in accordance with Australian Government guidance. It is a routine indexation and does not change eligibility criteria or assessment requirements. 

Will Priority Processing cost more from September 2026? 

Yes. The Priority Processing supplementary fee moves from AUD $825 to AUD $863. Applicants who need an expedited outcome should factor in a combined cost of AUD $2,009 with a Full Skills Assessment from 9 September 2026. 

What happens if my VETASSESS outcome is negative? 

You can apply for a Review within 90 days, a Reassessment within 12 months, or an Appeal within 90 days. Under the new schedule this cost between $356 and $955 for a Review, $779 for a Reassessment and $1,132 for an Appeal which is why getting the initial application right matters more than saving on the lodgement fee. 

Should I rush my application before 9 September 2026? 

Only if your documents are genuinely complete. A weak employment reference or an unverified qualification will produce a negative outcome regardless of the lodgement date, and correcting it costs considerably more than the fee increase. Book a free document review with our team before you decide. 

Get Your VETASSESS Application Reviewed Before the Deadline 

Aspire Square has guided skilled professionals across Gujarat through Australian skills assessments for over a decade. Our migration team reviews your occupation choice, employment evidence and qualification mapping before you lodge – so you pay once, not three times. 

Immigration and visa policies are subject to change by respective government authorities. The information provided is for general guidance only and reflects the VETASSESS fee schedule dated August 2026. All fees are quoted in Australian Dollars and exclude Australian GST. For accurate, up-to-date advice tailored to your profile, book a free consultation with our expert team at Aspire Square.