Online
Before any ICT professional can lodge a skilled migration visa application in Australia, they need a positive ACS skills assessment. What most applicants do not realise until they start the process is that the ACS Australia skill assessment fees vary significantly depending on which pathway they qualify for, and paying the wrong fee for the wrong pathway is one of the most common and most avoidable mistakes in the entire migration process.
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is the sole assessing authority for ICT occupations under Australia’s General Skilled Migration framework. For 2026, the charges vary between $625 ex GST for the RPL route, to $1,498 ex GST for the General Skills pathway with additional surcharges for urgent processing, appeal, and additional episodes.
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 (Excl. GST) | Who It Applies To |
General Skills Assessment | AUD $1,498 | Applicants with formal ICT qualifications and 2+ years experience |
RPL Assessment | AUD $625 | Applicants without formal ICT qualifications, 6+ years experience required |
Post Australian Study (PAS) | AUD $550 | Graduates of Australian ICT institutions applying under certain conditions |
Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) | AUD $550 | Applicants applying under the temporary graduate visa student stream |
Priority Processing (add-on) | AUD $150 | Available for all pathways, results in 10–15 business days |
Extra Episode (beyond 8) | AUD $50 per episode | Charged per additional assessment episode above the 8 included |
Appeal Fee | Varies | Payable when requesting review of a not-suitable outcome |
Source: ACS InfoHub (updated November 2025, current as of 2026). Always verify the current fee on the ACS InfoHub before submitting, fees are updated periodically.
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 Skill Assessment Fee (General Skills) | $1,498 excl. GST | Yes |
ACS Skill Assessment Fee (RPL) | $625 excl. GST | Yes |
English Language Test (IELTS / PTE Academic) | $300 – $400 | Yes (most applicants) |
Document Translation (per document) | $100 – $300 | If non-English documents |
$500 – $1,500 | Optional but recommended | |
Registered Migration Agent | $3,000 – $8,000+ | Optional but recommended |
Subclass 189 Visa Application Charge | $4,640 (primary applicant) | At visa stage |
Subclass 190 Visa Application Charge | $4,640 (primary applicant) | At visa stage |
When you add up the mandatory costs alone, ACS fee, English test, and document translation, most ICT professionals are looking at AUD $2,000 to $2,400 before reaching the visa application stage. Planning for the full cost from the outset avoids the common trap of completing the skills assessment and then discovering the remaining migration budget is insufficient to lodge a visa application.
Priority processing is an optional add-on available across all ACS Australia skill assessment pathways. The AUD $150 fee moves your application to the front of the queue with results in 10 to 15 business days rather than the standard 8 to 10 weeks.
Priority processing is worth considering in three specific situations:
Priority processing does not guarantee a positive outcome. If your documents are incomplete or your ANZSCO code is mismatched, priority processing will not prevent a not-suitable result. Getting the application right before paying for priority is always the better investment.
CDR australiaengineer specialises in high-quality CDR, RPL and VETASSESS reports for engineers. We offer low-cost, customized and reliable services in diverse engineering disciplines.
ACS Australia skill assessment fees are non-refundable in most circumstances. This is the most important fact for first-time applicants to understand before submitting.
The single most effective way to protect your investment is to confirm your correct ANZSCO code and assessment pathway before paying. The AUD $873 difference between General Skills and RPL makes pathway selection a consequential decision.
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.
A positive ACS skills assessment is valid for 2 years from the date of issue. This 2-year window must cover the date you lodge your visa application, not just the date you submit your EOI. If your assessment expires before you lodge, you must reapply from scratch, pay the full fee again, and resubmit all supporting documents.
The outcome letter includes a Skill Level Requirement Met Date, separate from the issue date, which determines which employment history counts as skilled for migration purposes. Misreading this date is a common source of errors in SkillSelect EOI submissions.
Reassessment after expiry follows the same process and costs the same full fee as the original application. There is no discounted rate for returning applicants.
The ACS Australia skill assessment fees are non-refundable and the pathway you choose determines not just the cost but the entire outcome of your assessment. Getting the ANZSCO code wrong, selecting the wrong pathway, or submitting a weak RPL report are the three most common and most expensive mistakes ICT professionals make on the way to Australian skilled migration.
CDR Australia Engineer provides complete ACS RPL report preparation and skills assessment support for ICT professionals, covering ANZSCO code confirmation, RPL project report writing, employment reference letter review, and full submission preparation. Get your assessment right the first time and protect your investment.
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.
Start with a free consultation. We assess your profile at no cost and guide you every step of the way.
 Scan to Connect With Our Experts ⤴︎
