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ACS Australia skill assessment fees range from AUD $625 to AUD $1,498, depending on the pathway you apply under. Qualification Only and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) cost $625 each, Post Australian Study costs $1,136, and General Skills cost $1,498. These ACS skills assessment fees come from the official ACS fees page and were last verified in November 2026. Your ACS skill assessment fee is set by the pathway you choose, not by preference. Appeals are charged separately, at $516 for a Level 1 appeal and $620 for a Level 2 appeal.
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) charges a different fee for each pathway because the evidence it reviews is different. Your qualification and years of experience decide which pathway applies, so confirm yours before you pay your ACS skill assessment fee. You pay the ACS skill assessment fee at the start, when you select your pathway in the ACS portal, and a suitable outcome stays valid for 2 years. Payment unlocks the portal, and you then have 90 days to complete your submission.
ACS Australia skill assessment fees are set by the Australian Computer Society and published in its InfoHub. The fee you pay depends entirely on the assessment pathway you select, determined by your qualifications and work experience profile, not by preference.
Assessment Pathway | Fee (AUD) | Who It Applies To |
Qualification Only | $625 | Applicants with an Australian diploma or associate degree |
Post Australian Study | $1,136 | Applicants with an Australian bachelor’s degree or higher, plus at least 1 year of experience or the ACS Professional Year (or both) |
General Skills | $1,498 | Applicants with overseas or Australian qualifications and at least 2 years of experience |
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) | $625 | Applicants with at least 6 years of experience, 2 RPL projects, and professional currency evidence |
Level 1 Appeal | $516 | Applicants requesting a first-level review of an assessment outcome |
Level 2 Appeal | $620 | Applicants requesting a second-level review of an appeal |
Last updated: November 2026. Our team compares this table with the ACS InfoHub and updates it when ACS changes its fees. For the most current amount, always confirm on the official ACS site before you pay.
Each ACS assessment pathway carries a different fee because the assessment work involved differs significantly. Understanding what each fee actually covers helps you budget correctly and avoid unexpected charges.
This process is the default entry route for ICT professionals who have a relevant tertiary qualification plus 2+ years post qualification ICT work experience. The assessment of your qualifications (benchmarked to ACS accreditation or Seoul Accord mutual recognition), work experience and nominated ANZSCO code is covered by this fee. Up to 8 assessment episodes (qualifications and employment documents combined) are included in the base fee.
You can use the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway if you’re an ICT professional with: No ICT qualifications Minimum 6 years ICT related work experience Latest ICT activity no more than 2 years from the date of your application At least two RPL project reports that show your practical experience of using technology Vendor certifications required for some ANZSCO codes (DevOps, Cybersecurity, etc).
Both pathways are priced at AUD $550. The Post Australian Study (PAS) pathway is for graduates of Australian ICT institutions who completed a diploma, associate degree, or higher with an ICT major. The Temporary Graduate pathway is specifically for applicants on a Subclass 485 visa applying under the Australian study stream.
The ACS fee is only one part of your total migration cost. ICT professionals who budget only for the assessment fee often find themselves caught short when additional mandatory and optional expenses arrive.
Cost Item | Approx. Cost (AUD) | Mandatory? |
ACS Qualification Only | $625 | Yes, if this is your pathway |
ACS Post-Australian Study | $1,136 | Yes, if this is your pathway |
ACS General Skills | $1,498 | Yes, if this is your pathway |
ACS Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) | $625 | Yes, if this is your pathway |
English language test (IELTS or PTE Academic) | Varies by country and provider | Yes, for most applicants |
Document translation | Varies by language and provider | Only if documents are not in English |
Report writing service | See our pricing page. | Optional |
Registered migration agent | Set by the agent | Optional |
Subclass 189 visa (primary applicant) | $6,135 | At the visa stage |
Subclass 190 visa (primary applicant) | $6,140 | At the visa stage |
ACS offers priority processing as a courtesy service, and there is no fee for it, so it adds nothing to your ACS skill assessment fee. It is only available when your Australian visa deadline is less than 12 weeks from the date you apply, and you need to allow at least 2 weeks’ notice of that deadline. If your visa is due to expire, ACS checks this automatically when you submit, and your application is accepted for priority processing.
For applications that need no extra documents or information, ACS says to allow 4 to 6 weeks for the standard assessment. Priority processing makes the most sense in this situation:
A state nomination round or an employer’s sponsorship deadline is not listed as a reason for priority, so ask ACS before you rely on it.
Priority processing does not guarantee a positive outcome. If your documents are incomplete, ACS will ask for more information, and that will delay your result, whatever the priority status. A not-suitable result also means a new application and a second ACS skill assessment fee. Submit a complete, decision-ready application, with every document your pathway checklist requires, before you worry about speed. That protects the ACS skill assessment fee you have already paid.
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ACS Australia skill assessment fees are paid up front, before you can open the application, and refunds are limited. ACS decides each case, so read the rules before you pay.
ACS doesn’t promise a refund if you choose the wrong pathway or send incomplete documents, so treat your pathway choice as final. ACS also can’t tell you in advance whether your qualifications or experience will be suitable, so check the pathway requirements carefully before you pay. The $873 gap between General Skills and RPL makes that choice an expensive one to get wrong.
Payment of ACS Australia skill assessment fees is made at the start of the application process through the ACS Migration Skills Assessment portal. Payment unlocks the full portal, you cannot upload documents or proceed until payment is confirmed.
Have your documents organised and ready before entering the portal. Once you pay, the portal opens and a processing clock starts. Uploading incomplete documents after payment does not pause your timeline, it results in a hold that delays your outcome without refunding any of the fee.
You pay at the start of the application, when you choose your assessment pathway in the ACS Migration Skills Assessment portal. Payment unlocks the rest of the portal, and only then can you upload your documents and submit.
Gather your documents before you pay. ACS expects all required evidence to be provided before it begins the assessment, and a “decision-ready” application, with everything your pathway checklist requires, avoids requests for more information. A request for further information delays your outcome, and ACS says standard applications that need no extra documents take 4 to 6 weeks.
Your pathway decides what you pay and what evidence ACS reviews, so it pays to choose carefully before you start. Check the ACS Australia skill assessment fees against your qualifications and experience, because refunds are limited and ACS can’t tell you in advance whether you’ll be suitable. A wrong ANZSCO code, a mismatched pathway, or a weak RPL report can mean a not-suitable outcome, a new application, and a second fee.
CDR Australia Engineer provides ACS RPL report preparation and document support for ICT professionals. That includes ANZSCO code checking, RPL project report writing, employment reference letter review, and submission preparation. Have your documents ready so your application is decision-ready, and check the ACS skills assessment fees for your pathway before you pay.
The General Skills pathway fee is AUD $1,498 excluding GST as of 2026. Onshore Australian applicants pay GST on top. Offshore applicants pay the ex-GST rate only. Always verify on the ACS InfoHub before submitting as fees update periodically.
The RPL pathway fee is AUD $625 excluding GST. This pathway is for ICT professionals without a formal ICT qualification who have at least 6 years of relevant work experience. Two detailed RPL project reports are required.
No, ACS fees are non-refundable once assessment processing begins. A partial refund may be available only if you withdraw before a case officer is assigned. No refund is issued for wrong pathway selection or incorrect documents.
A positive ACS skills assessment is valid for 2 years from the date of issue. If your assessment expires before lodging your visa application, you must reapply and pay the full fee again.
Priority processing costs AUD $150 as an add-on to any pathway fee. Results are delivered in 10–15 business days compared to the standard 8–10 weeks. It is worth considering if you have a visa expiry or state nomination deadline approaching.
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