Fees and charges apply to different stages of an approved arrangement (AA).
They apply to:
- new AA applications
- AA management
- AA audits (includes pre and post approval)
Biosecurity fees and charges will increase with yearly indexation.
Tables show the fees and charges for the financial year 2025/2026.
Note: Where assessments span across financial years, different charge rates may apply to services provided at different times. Refer to Biosecurity cost recovery implementation statements
Biosecurity fees include minimum charges. If the assessment of your application or request is expected to take more than twice the time covered by the minimum fee, the department will contact you to see if you wish to proceed.
New applications
Fees and charges for new applications include application assessments.
| Charge / Fee | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Application charge | Cost of establishing a new AA. Cost is incurred for every application lodged by a new legal entity, until an AA is approved for the legal entity. Exemption: The application charge does not apply when the legal entity has a current or suspended AA or a current food import compliance agreement (FICA). | $202 |
| Application assessment fee (in-office) | Fee for the time taken to assess each application for:
Note: There is NO exemption if the applicant has an existing AA or FICA. | $39 per 15 mins, or part thereof Minimum charge $312 (2 hours) |
| Audit if required | See more on audit fees and charges. | |
See more on how to apply for an AA.
Additional charges
These charges MAY be incurred for a new application.
| Charge / Fee | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Application technical assessment fee | Fee for the time taken for a technical assessment of the application. Note: This fee is in addition to the application assessment fee. | $39 per 15 mins, or part thereof Minimum charge $312 (2 hours) |
| Annual charge | Applies only to applications for a new AA or change in legal entity where the legal entity does NOT have a current or suspended AA or FICA. The rate of the annual charge is determined by the application approval date. | Refer to Annual charges – invoiced annually. |
Withdrawn applications
If you withdraw your application, you must still pay the application charge and a withdrawn assessment fee.
| Charge / Fee | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Application charge | Only applies to applications for a new AA or change in legal entity. Exemption: The application charge does NOT apply when the legal entity has a current or suspended AA, or a current food import compliance agreement (FICA). | $202 |
| Withdrawn assessment fee | For the time taken to assess the application up to the request to withdraw the application is received. Note: There are NO exemptions. | $39 per 15 mins, or part thereof Minimum charge $312 (2 hours) |
Management fees and charges
These cover managing AAs and include:
- annual charge
- reapplications
- variations
- suspensions
- revocations
Annual charge
The annual charge is incurred by the legal entity, not by individual AAs and cannot be split across multiple AA sites.
Note: The charge still applies where a legal entity has suspended AAs.
The charge applies if an approved arrangement is active at any time during the financial year (1 July to 30 June), even if only for a single day.
The rate of the annual charge is determined by:
- the first date the legal entity holds an approved arrangement during the financial year, and
- the number of arrangements held under the same legal entity (as defined by ABN).
Invoices are issued annually. Refunds are not available.
Single AA approved under an ABN
| Charge / Fee | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Single AA - full year | If the arrangement was in force on or before 1 January in the financial year | $2,857 |
| Single AA - part year | If the arrangement is first approved after 1 January in the financial year | $1,428.50 |
Multiple AAs approved under an ABN/ACN
| Charge / Fee | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple AAs – full year | If the arrangement was in force on or before 1 January in the financial year | $3,316 |
| Multiple AAs - part year | If the arrangement is first approved after 1 January in the financial year | $1,658 |
| Class 19 AA only – full year | If the class 19 arrangement was in force on or before 1 January in the financial year | $571 |
| Class 19 AA only – part year | If the class 19 arrangement is first approved after 1 January in the financial year | $285.50 |
Upgrade charge
The upgrade charge is a one-off fee that applies when a legal entity moves from holding a single AA or compliance agreement (CA) to holding multiple arrangements and/or agreements within the same financial year (1 July to 30 June).
The rate of the upgrade charge is determined by:
- the type and approval date of the existing AA or CA, and
- the type and approval date of the additional AA or CA.
The upgrade charge does not apply if the legal entity already holds multiple AAs at the beginning of the financial year (1 July).
| Annual charge type already applied to the legal entity for the financial year | Upgrade charge type to be applied to the legal entity for the financial year | When the upgrade charge will be applied to the legal entity for the financial year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single AA – full year | Full-year upgrade charge | Legal entity holds a single AA only, they are then approved to hold at least one additional AA or CA before 1 January in the same financial year. | $459 |
| Part-year upgrade charge | Legal entity holds a single AA only, they are then approved to hold at least one additional AA or CA after 1 January in the same financial year. | $229 | |
| Single AA – part year | Part-year upgrade charge | Legal entity holds a single AA only (approved after January 1). The legal entity is then approved to hold at least one additional AA or CA after 1 January in the same financial year. | $229 |
| Class 19 AA only – full year | Full-year upgrade charge – class 19 | Legal entity holds a class 19 AA only. The legal entity is then approved for at least one additional AA (of a different class) or a CA before 1 January in the same financial year. | $2,744 |
| Part-year upgrade charge – class 19 | Legal entity holds a class 19 AA only. The legal entity is then approved for at least one additional AA (of a different class) or a CA after 1 January in the same financial year. | $1,086 | |
| Class 19 AA only – part year | Part-year upgrade charge – class 19 | Legal entity holds a class 19 AA only, after 1 January. The legal entity is then approved to hold at least one additional AA (of a different class) or a CA after 1 January in the same financial year. | $1,372 |
Reapplications
See more on how to reapply when an AA expires.
| Charge / Fee | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Reapplication assessment fee | For the time taken to assess each reapplication for an expiring AA. Note: There is NO exemption if the applicant has an existing AA or FICA. | $39 per 15 mins, or part thereof Minimum charge $312 (2 hours) |
| Audit if required | See more on our audit fees and charges. | |
If you withdraw a reapplication, an assessment fee will still apply. This covers the time taken to assess the reapplication up until the point of withdrawal.
Variations
Find out more about what is considered a variation under s412 of the Biosecurity Act 2015.
Fees apply when you vary an approved arrangement.
| Charge / Fee | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Application assessment fee | For the time taken to assess each application to vary an existing AA. Note: There is NO exemption if the applicant has an existing AA or FICA. | $39 per 15 mins, or part thereof Minimum charge $312 (2 hours) |
| Application technical assessment fee | For the time taken for a technical assessment of the application to vary an existing AA. Note: This fee is in addition to the application assessment fee. | $39 per 15 mins, or part thereof Minimum charge $312 (2 hours) |
| Out of office fee for service | For arrangement management activities performed out-of-office (e.g. at your site), at the request of the AA manager or site contact. | $65 per 15 mins, or part thereof Minimum charge $520 (2 hours) |
| Audit if required | See more on our audit fees and charges. | |
Changes
Some changes do NOT require an application to vary an existing AA after approval.
However, fees will still apply.
| Charge / Fee | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| In office assessment fee | For time taken to assess AA management activities at the request of the AA manager or site contact. These activities include, but not limited to the assessment of:
Or changes to:
| $39 per 15 mins, or part thereof Minimum charge is 2 hours |
| Out of office fee for service | For arrangement management activities performed out-of-office (e.g. at your site), at the request of the AA manager or site contact. | $65 per 15 mins, or part thereof Minimum charge $520 (2 hours) |
| Audit if required | See more on our audit fees and charges. | |
Suspension
If you withdraw a suspension request, a fee will still apply. This covers the time taken to assess your request up to the point of withdrawal.
| Charge / Fee | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension assessment fee | For the time taken to assess and action requests for:
Each individual AA listed within the request is subject to the fees. | $39 per 15 mins, or part thereof Minimum charge is 2 hours |
| Audit if required | See more on our audit fees and charges. | |
Revocation
If you withdraw a revocation request, a fee will still apply. This covers the time taken to assess your request up to the point of withdrawal.
| Charge / Fee | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Revocation assessment fee | For the time taken to assess and action requests for revocation. Each individual AA listed within the request is subject to the fees. | $39 per 15 mins, or part thereof Minimum charge is 2 hours |
| Audit if required | See more on our audit fees and charges. | |
We will invoice you
Once we have made a decision on an application or a request for a change, suspension or revocation, we will issue an invoice. A separate invoice will be issued when an audit is completed.
How to pay
AA invoices are issued under an account number. An account is established for each legal entity (defined by ABN). Fees or charges paid to the department cannot be transferred to another legal entity.
Payment is due 28 calendar days from the invoice date.
You can make a secure payment online. To do so, or to check your payment status you will need your:
- invoice number to check the status of a specific tax invoice
- account number to check whether there are any outstanding amounts on your account.
If you need to update your account details, email AR.helpdesk@aff.gov.au.
See more information on other ways to pay.
Outstanding invoices are a debt to the Commonwealth.
See more
- Our biosecurity fees and charges.
- Biosecurity and imported food regulatory activity charging guidelines 2025-2026.
- Biosecurity cost recovery implementation statements.
Contact us
For more information about AA fees and charges, email aa.canberra@aff.gov.au.