Every approved service pays an annual service fee to its state regulator on or before 1 July each year (National Law s 53; regulation 33). For 2026–27 a centre-based service pays $329 to $828 in Queensland, the NT and WA, $362 to $910 in the ACT, SA and Tasmania, and $1,087 to $9,109 in NSW and Victoria, where the fee also depends on whether the provider is large or small and for-profit or not. One-off fees apply to provider approval ($364, or $1,093 in NSW and Victoria), service approval, transfers, waivers and reassessment. Fees rise each 1 July, and a regulator can suspend a service approval for an unpaid annual fee (s 70(1)(i)).
The fees an approved provider pays under the National Quality Framework in 2026–27: the annual service fee, approval and transaction fees by state, and ACECQA’s own fees.
The National Law sets out which applications attract a fee, for example provider approval (s 11) and service approval (s 44). Section 53 requires an approved provider to pay the prescribed annual fee for every service approval it holds. The amounts are in Schedule 2 (and Schedule 2A for the higher NSW and Victorian fees) of the National Regulations and are indexed each 1 July. Regulation 33 makes the annual fee payable on or before 1 July each year. Not paying it is a ground for suspending the service approval under section 70(1)(i).
Centre-based fees are banded by approved places: small (24 or fewer), medium (25 to 80), large (81 to 100) and extra-large (101 or more). Family day care fees are banded by the number of educators: small (5 or fewer), medium (6 to 20), large (21 to 60) and extra-large (61 or more).
| Centre-based service size | Qld, NT, WA | ACT, SA, Tas |
|---|---|---|
| Small (up to 24 places) | $329 | $362 |
| Medium (25 to 80) | $497 | $547 |
| Large (81 to 100) | $661 | $728 |
| Extra-large (101 or more) | $828 | $910 |
In NSW and Victoria the annual fee also depends on the provider. A large provider is a large child care provider under section 4A of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 (Cth); every other provider is small. A for-profit provider runs the service with a view to profit or for the financial gain of the owner or another individual (other than a child or family member of a child using the service).
| Centre-based service size | Small provider, not-for-profit | Small provider, for-profit | Large provider, not-for-profit | Large provider, for-profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | $1,087 | $1,811 | $2,536 | $3,623 |
| Medium | $1,642 | $2,737 | $3,832 | $5,474 |
| Large | $2,184 | $3,640 | $5,096 | $7,280 |
| Extra-large | $2,732 | $4,554 | $6,376 | $9,109 |
A Victorian stand-alone preschool pays the small not-for-profit rate, whoever the provider is. A stand-alone preschool is a Victorian Government-funded kindergarten program, taught by a qualified early childhood teacher, that is not run within or alongside a long day care service.
| Application | Qld, NT, WA, ACT, SA, Tas | NSW, Vic |
|---|---|---|
| Provider approval (s 11) | $364 | $1,093 |
| Service approval (s 44) | $729 / $1,096 / $1,464 / $1,829 (small to extra-large) | $2,187 / $3,289 / $4,392 / $5,489 |
| Approval in principle for premises (s 107) | $1,096 | Check the ACECQA schedule |
| Amendment of service approval (s 54) | $137 | $412 |
| Notice of intended transfer of service approval (s 59) | $174 | $523 |
| Service waiver (s 88), temporary waiver (s 95) or extension (s 98) | $137 each | $412 each |
| Reassessment and re-rating (s 139) | $573 / $863 / $1,152 / $1,440 | Small service: $1,719 not-for-profit, $5,731 for-profit; up to $4,321 / $14,404 for extra-large |
| Amending a provider approval; voluntary suspension; review of a rating by the regulator (s 141) | Nil | |
Family day care services pay one flat service approval fee whatever their size: $1,096 outside NSW and Victoria, or $3,289 in those states. Their annual fees are banded by the number of educators. For the full family day care tables, check ACECQA’s fee page.
| Application | Fee 2026–27 |
|---|---|
| Second-tier review by a Ratings Review Panel (s 45) | $763 / $1,148 / $1,532 / $1,915 (small to extra-large) |
| Application or re-application for the Excellent rating | Nil |
| Determination of equivalent qualification (regulation 139) | $136. See overseas qualifications |
| Course assessment for the approved list (regulation 138) | $3,844 |
| Migration skills assessment | $1,100 |
For a centre-based service it is $329 to $828 in Queensland, the NT and WA, $362 to $910 in the ACT, SA and Tasmania, and $1,087 to $9,109 in NSW and Victoria, depending on approved places and, in NSW and Victoria, the provider's size and profit status.
On or before 1 July each year (regulation 33). An unpaid annual fee is a ground to suspend the service approval (National Law s 70(1)(i)).
$364 for 2026-27 in Queensland, the NT, WA, the ACT, SA and Tasmania, and $1,093 in NSW and Victoria.
ACECQA charges $763 to $1,915 for a second-tier rating review, nothing to apply for the Excellent rating, $136 to assess an individual's equivalent qualification and $1,100 for a migration skills assessment. Annual and approval fees go to the state regulator, not ACECQA.
Schedule 2A of the National Regulations applies higher fees in those states, with the annual fee scaled by provider size and for-profit status as well as service size.
WIDEN Law answers National Quality Framework questions with inline citations to the National Law, the Regulations and the NQS, so you can check the source provision yourself.
14-day free trial, no card →This page is a research summary, not legal or compliance advice. It is written in our own words from the sources linked on the page; confirm the position with your regulatory authority before relying on it for a compliance decision.