AITSL Teacher Skills Assessment Fees Rise From 7 September 2026
At a Glance
- The AITSL skills assessment fee is now AUD $1,198.
- The appeal fee is now AUD $938.
- The Skilled Employment Statement fee is now AUD $265.
- The available partial refund is now AUD $982, where assessments has not yet started.
- AITSL does not charge GST on its migration assessment fees.
- The new fees apply from 7 September 2026.
- AITSL extended Academic IELTS validity from two years to three years on 13 July 2026.
- Most assessment-ready applications finish within 4 weeks, although some take up to 6 weeks or longer during busy periods.
- Early Childhood Teachers now use ACECQA, not AITSL, for new migration skills assessments.
- VETASSESS introduced a separate professional skills assessment fee increase on 9 September 2026.
AITSL Skills Assessment Fees 2026: New Fees from 7 September
These are the new fees that will be introduced from 7th September 2026:
AITSL does not charge GST on its Assessment for Migration fees, so these amounts represent the final fees.
The standard skills assessment increases by $44, while the appeal fee rises by $34 and the SES fee rises by $10.
AITSL Refund Rules After the Fee Increase
AITSL can issue a partial refund of AUD $982 only when it has not started assessing the application.
If the application remains in the Application Submitted table in the Applicant Portal, the assessment has not yet started and the applicant may see a refund-request option.
However, once AITSL begins the assessment, it will not issue a refund, although the applicant may still withdraw the application.
This distinction matters because applicants should not assume they can recover the fee simply by withdrawing later.
Who Does the AITSL Skills Assessment Fee Increase Affect?
AITSL conducts migration skills assessments for teachers who need a teacher skills assessment for an Australian skilled migration pathway. It currently assesses school-teaching occupations, including:
- Primary School Teacher – ANZSCO 241213
- Middle School Teacher – ANZSCO 241311
- Secondary School Teacher – ANZSCO 241411
It also provides assessment pathways for other relevant special education teaching occupations.
Important Update for Early Childhood Teachers
Early Childhood (Pre-Primary School) Teachers should not lodge a new skills assessment with AITSL.
From 7 December 2024, the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) became the assessing authority for the Early Childhood Teacher occupation. AITSL no longer accepts new Early Childhood Teacher skills assessment applications.
This distinction matters because applicants must use the correct assessing authority for their nominated occupation.
What Does AITSL Check in a Teacher Skills Assessment?
AITSL assesses whether an applicant meets the qualification and English language proficiency criteria for the nominated teaching occupation.
AITSL currently requires applicants to satisfy both criteria to receive a suitable assessment. Its qualification framework generally requires at least four years of university-level study, including a relevant initial teacher education qualification.
Therefore, teachers should review their:
- nominated occupation;
- university qualifications;
- initial teacher education;
- supervised teaching practice;
- English language evidence; and
- supporting documents
before submitting an assessment.
AITSL English Requirement Also Changed Recently
The fee announcement follows another recent AITSL migration update.
On 13 July 2026, AITSL extended the validity period for Academic IELTS test results from two years to three years for its English language proficiency requirements.
AITSL introduced the change immediately and aligned the validity period more closely with Australian teacher registration authorities.
Therefore, teachers preparing an AITSL application should check whether an existing IELTS result may still remain valid before arranging another test.
AITSL vs VETASSESS Fee Increase: What Is the Difference?
Teachers may have seen another skills assessment fee change announced in the same week.
However, the AITSL and VETASSESS fee increases are separate changes.
VETASSESS announced that its Professional Skills Assessment fees increased from 9 September 2026 in line with inflation. It also increased fees for Priority Processing, Skills Assessment Support, Chinese Qualification Verification, non-migration assessments and administration services. The increase does not apply to trade assessments.
How Emigrate Lawyers Can Help Teachers Planning Skilled Migration
A positive skills assessment can form an important part of a broader Australian skilled migration strategy, but it does not itself grant a visa.
Teachers may need to consider pathways such as:
- Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa
- Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa
- Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa
- employer-sponsored migration; or
- other skilled migration pathways depending on their circumstances.
At Emigrate Lawyers, our immigration lawyers can assess your broader migration options, review how your nominated occupation fits your visa strategy, and help you understand the requirements that follow a successful skills assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How much does AITSL cost?
A- The AITSL skills assessment currently costs AUD $1,154, increasing to AUD $1,198 from 7 September 2026.
Q2. Which teachers are most in demand in Australia?
A- Teacher shortages vary by location, but primary, secondary and special education teachers remain important shortage areas across Australia.
Q3. How long does an AITSL assessment take?
A- AITSL completes most assessment-ready applications within 4 weeks, although some applications can take up to 6 weeks or longer during busy periods.
Q4. Is AITSL a government body?
A- AITSL is a Commonwealth-owned, not-for-profit company funded by the Australian Government, with the Commonwealth as its sole owner.
Final Thoughts
The upcoming AITSL skills assessment fee increase gives teachers a clear deadline to consider.
If you need help planning what comes after your teacher skills assessment, Emigrate Lawyers can advise you on skilled visa, state nomination, and employer-sponsored migration pathways based on your circumstances.
Need Legal Help or Consultation?
The sooner you seek advice, the more options you have. We are here to help!
Reach out to us today through any of the following:
Shivani Thapaliya
Lawyer - Emigrate Lawyers
Madhab Kharel
Principal Lawyer & Director, Emigrate Lawyers
Madhab Kharel is the Principal Lawyer and Director of Emigrate Lawyers, an Australian law firm assisting clients across Australia and internationally. His migration law practice includes Partner Visas, Protection Visas, visa refusals and cancellations, Administrative Review Tribunal matters, health and character issues, Schedule 3, Section 48, sponsorship limitations and employer-sponsored migration. He regularly advises clients with complex immigration histories and matters requiring detailed legal submissions and evidence strategy.
Reviewed by Madhab Kharel, Principal Lawyer
Date reviewed: 1 September 2026
