AGSVA Security Clearance Fee Increases

At a Glance

The Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) reviews its security clearance fees each financial year. From 1 July 2026, a new fee schedule applies to all Baseline, Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1) and Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) assessments, upgrades, revalidations and cancellations.

The headline points:

• The increases are modest at Baseline level but substantial at NV1 and NV2.
• The same percentage rise applies to both the assessment fee and the cancellation fee at each level — roughly +0.9% for Baseline, +40% for NV1 and +52.5% for NV2.
• AGSVA fees are paid by the sponsoring organisation, not the individual applicant or clearance holder.
• There is still no fee to simply maintain an existing clearance — charges only apply to a new assessment, an upgrade, a revalidation when one falls due, or a cancellation.

Assessment, Upgrade & Revalidation Fees

This fee covers the work AGSVA undertakes to assess a new clearance, to upgrade an existing clearance to a higher level, or to revalidate a clearance when its periodic review falls due. All amounts include GST.

AGSVA typically lists fees exclusive of GST; the figures above are shown GST-inclusive, consistent with how they appear on a client invoice.

Cancellation Fees

A cancellation fee applies where a completed clearance application pack has been submitted and the process is then cancelled before AGSVA finalises it. It reflects the assessment work already undertaken, and is lower than the full assessment fee. All amounts include GST.

What Changed on 1 July 2026

The rise is not applied evenly across the three levels. Baseline barely moves, while the two Negative Vetting levels see significant jumps. Because the same percentage is applied to the assessment and cancellation fees, the proportional impact at each level is identical regardless of which fee you are looking at.

• Baseline — up roughly 0.9%. An $8.00 increase on assessment and $4.00 on cancellation, broadly in line with ordinary indexation.
• NV1 — up 40.0%. The assessment fee rises by $542.01 and the cancellation fee by $271.00.
• NV2 — up 52.5%. The largest movement in the schedule: $1,304.00 more on assessment and $652.00 more on cancellation.

Fees by Clearance Level

The fee you pay reflects the depth of investigation AGSVA must carry out, which in turn depends on the level of classified information the clearance grants access to. The higher the level, the more extensive the vetting — and the larger the increase from 1 July 2026.

Baseline

Entry-level clearance for roles handling information up to PROTECTED. Vetting covers identity, employment history, residency and criminal-history checks. Valid for 15 years before revalidation is required.

Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1)

Grants ongoing access up to SECRET, with temporary TOP SECRET access permitted in limited circumstances. Vetting is more thorough, taking in financial history, foreign associations and a detailed background assessment. Valid for 10 years.

Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2)

The highest level AusClear sponsors, granting access up to TOP SECRET. Vetting is the most intensive of the three, including interviews with close contacts and detailed financial and lifestyle assessment. Revalidation falls due every 5 to 7 years.

What the AGSVA Fee Covers

AGSVA operates a partial cost-recovery model, meaning the fee recovers part of the cost of the vetting assessment itself. It does not cover every cost associated with holding a clearance.

Included

• Background investigation — identity, employment, residential and financial history appropriate to the level.
• Security and suitability assessment against the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF).
• The assessment work for an initial clearance, an upgrade, or a periodic revalidation.

Not included

• Maintaining a clearance. There is no charge simply to keep an active clearance in place between assessments.
• ASIO assessments. Any Australian Security Intelligence Organisation personnel security assessment is billed separately and is not part of the AGSVA fee.
• Sponsorship, application handling and pre-employment screening — these are charged separately by your sponsoring organisation.

Why AGSVA Fees Change

AGSVA's fees are reviewed annually by the AGSVA Governance Board. Because the agency runs on a partial cost-recovery basis, the fees are intended to track the actual cost of delivering vetting services — which is heavily influenced by the volume and complexity of assessments, the depth of investigation each level demands, and broader cost pressures across government.

The sharp rises at NV1 and NV2 reflect the reality that higher-level vetting is far more resource-intensive than a Baseline assessment, involving extensive interviews, financial analysis and corroboration of an applicant's background. The near-flat Baseline fee suggests the lower-level process is already close to cost-recovery, while the higher levels are being brought into closer alignment with what they cost to deliver.

Who Pays, and When

Security clearance fees are charged to the sponsoring organisation — the entity that holds and sponsors the clearance — rather than to the individual applicant or clearance holder. A clearance cannot exist without an active sponsor, which is why the cost sits with the sponsor.

For AusClear-sponsored clients, the AGSVA fee is passed through to you as part of your clearance costs, with any applicable processing fee set out in your sponsorship agreement. The AGSVA charge is triggered when the relevant action is processed — a new assessment, an upgrade, or a revalidation when one becomes due — so the rate that applies is the one in force on the date the action is charged.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will it cost more to keep my existing clearance?

No. There is no fee to simply maintain a clearance. Charges only apply to a new assessment, an upgrade, a revalidation when it falls due, or a cancellation.

My application was started before 1 July — which rate applies?

The fee is set by the date the relevant action is processed and charged, not the date it began. Any action finalised on or after 1 July 2026 attracts the current rate. If you are unsure how this affects an in-progress matter, speak to AusClear.

Why is there a cancellation fee at all?

A reduced fee applies where a completed application pack has been submitted and the process is then cancelled before AGSVA finalises it, reflecting the assessment work already performed.

Do these fees include the ASIO assessment?

No. The AGSVA fee covers the vetting assessment only. Any ASIO personnel security assessment is billed separately.

Are the amounts shown inclusive of GST?

Yes. Every figure in this article includes GST.

Does the increase apply to Positive Vetting or TS-PA?

Those higher-level clearances are outside AusClear's sponsorship scope. AusClear sponsors Baseline, NV1 and NV2 only, and this schedule covers those three levels.

Source & Contact

Website: agsva.gov.au/sponsors/fees

Fees are set and published by AGSVA and reviewed annually by the AGSVA Governance Board. The figures above reflect the schedule effective 1 July 2026.

Email: support@ausclear.com.au

Phone: 1300 027 423

The AusClear team can explain how these changes affect your assessment, upgrade, revalidation or renewal, and help you time an action before the new rates take effect.