Engineers Australia (EA) charges a fee for every migration skills assessment. The amount depends on your pathway and on any extra services you add. These are the fees EA lists for the 2026 to 2027 period. All prices are in Australian dollars.
Which fees apply to you
Your fee depends on the pathway Engineers Australia assesses you under:
- Australian accredited qualification: your program is accredited by Engineers Australia and you started it during or after the year its accreditation began.
- Washington, Sydney or Dublin Accord: your qualification comes from a country that signed one of these accords.
- Competency Demonstration Report (CDR): neither of the above applies, or you want to be assessed in a different occupation from the one your qualification matches.
Of the three, the CDR pathway costs the most.
CDR pathway fees
If your engineering qualification is not accredited in Australia or recognised under the Washington, Sydney or Dublin Accord, you apply through the Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) pathway.
| Service | Fee excl. GST | Fee incl. GST |
|---|---|---|
| CDR assessment | $940 | $1,034 |
| CDR plus relevant skilled employment assessment | $1,375 | $1,512.50 |
| CDR plus overseas engineering PhD assessment | $1,215 | $1,336.50 |
| CDR plus relevant skilled employment and overseas PhD assessment | $1,650 | $1,815 |
Washington, Sydney and Dublin Accord fees
| Service | Fee excl. GST | Fee incl. GST |
|---|---|---|
| Accord qualification assessment | $505 | $555.50 |
| Plus relevant skilled employment assessment | $940 | $1,034 |
| Plus overseas engineering PhD assessment | $780 | $858 |
| Plus relevant skilled employment and overseas PhD assessment | $1,215 | $1,336.50 |
Australian accredited qualification fees
| Service | Fee excl. GST | Fee incl. GST |
|---|---|---|
| Australian engineering qualification assessment | $315 | $346.50 |
| Plus relevant skilled employment assessment | $750 | $825 |
| Plus overseas engineering PhD assessment | $590 | $649 |
| Plus relevant skilled employment and overseas PhD assessment | $1,025 | $1,127.50 |
Additional services
| Service | Fee excl. GST | Fee incl. GST |
|---|---|---|
| Fast track (added to the assessment fee) | $360 | $396 |
| Separate relevant skilled employment assessment | $485 | $533.50 |
| Separate overseas engineering PhD assessment | $325 | $357.50 |
| Separate relevant skilled employment and overseas PhD assessment | $760 | $836 |
| Review | $335 | $368.50 |
| Appeal | $640 | $704 |
| Updated outcome letter | $165 | $181.50 |
| Standard administration fee | $130 | $143 |
EA updates its fees each financial year. Check the current list on Engineers Australia’s fees page before you pay.
Fast track: what it buys you
A standard application generally takes 15 weeks to be assigned to an assessor. With fast track ($396 incl. GST), Engineers Australia aims to assign it within 20 business days.
Fast track speeds up the start, not the decision. EA says it “doesn’t mean you’ll receive an outcome in this timeframe”. How long the assessment then takes depends on the quality of your documents and on whether EA asks you for more information. The fast track fee is non-refundable.
Relevant skilled employment and PhD assessments
The relevant skilled employment assessment is a review of the evidence of your engineering employment, such as reference letters. It is optional for every occupation except engineering manager, where it is a mandatory part of the CDR assessment.
The overseas PhD assessment checks whether your overseas engineering PhD is equivalent to an Australian engineering PhD. You do not need it if you completed your PhD in Australia.
Review and appeal fees
If you disagree with your outcome, you can ask for a review within three months of your outcome letter ($368.50 incl. GST). If the review does not go your way, you can appeal within six months of the original outcome letter ($704 incl. GST). If the decision is overturned, the fees are refunded. Our guide to rejected CDRs explains when each option makes sense. If your CDR was rejected, contact us to talk through what to do next.
Costs the fee does not cover
- Your English test. Engineers Australia needs results from an accepted test.
- An updated outcome letter ($181.50 incl. GST), which EA typically offers when your outcome was issued more than three years ago.
- Your visa application, which is a separate process with the Department of Home Affairs.
Example totals
| What you apply for | Total incl. GST |
|---|---|
| CDR assessment | $1,034 |
| CDR assessment with fast track | $1,430 |
| CDR plus relevant skilled employment assessment | $1,512.50 |
| CDR plus relevant skilled employment assessment, with fast track | $1,908.50 |
What to have ready before you pay
Engineers Australia asks you to check that you have the correct assessment pathway and account ID before you submit. For the CDR pathway, you also need:
- three career episodes that between them demonstrate all sixteen competency elements at least once
- a summary statement that maps each element to a specific paragraph in your career episodes
- a continuing professional development (CPD) statement
- your English test results
Our guide to the current Engineers Australia requirements covers each document in detail.
Before you pay
If EA does not accept your CDR, you lose time, and a review or appeal costs a further fee. Our free CDR evaluation checks your draft before you submit it. Get your free CDR evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a CDR assessment cost in 2026?
A standard CDR assessment costs $1,034 including GST ($940 excluding GST).
Is the fast track fee refundable?
No. Engineers Australia states that the fast track fee is non-refundable.
How long does Engineers Australia take to assess a CDR?
A standard application generally takes 15 weeks to be assigned to an assessor, or up to 20 business days with fast track. The outcome itself can take longer, depending on your documents.
Do I need the relevant skilled employment assessment?
It is mandatory only for engineering managers applying through the CDR pathway. For other occupations it is optional.
Do I pay again if my CDR is not accepted?
A review ($368.50) or an appeal ($704) has its own fee. A revised CDR submitted as a new application carries the full assessment fee again.
Does the Engineers Australia fee include help with writing my CDR?
No. The fee covers the assessment only. Writing, editing and review services are separate. You can see ours on the prices page.
Are these prices in Australian dollars?
Yes. Engineers Australia lists all fees in Australian dollars, with and without GST.
Sources: Assessment fees and additional services, Migration skills assessment, Assessment reviews and appeals and Prepare your migration skills assessment application (January 2026), all Engineers Australia.
