Australia PR · Skills assessment guide
Planning to migrate to Australia as a Quantity Surveyor? A positive AIQS skills assessment is your first mandatory step toward a Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190), or Skilled Work Regional (491) visa. MovesEdu Immigration helps Indian quantity surveyors choose the correct assessment pathway, prepare accurate documentation, and avoid the common mistakes that lead to delays or refusals.
Please note: MovesEdu Immigration is an Australia & Canada PR specialist consultancy. We are not AIQS and do not issue skills assessment outcomes — we help you prepare a strong, compliant application.
Section 01
The Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) is Australia's peak professional body for quantity surveyors and construction cost professionals, and the sole authority nominated by the Australian Government to assess this occupation for skilled migration.
The assessment exists to verify that an internationally-qualified quantity surveyor's education and experience meet Australian professional standards for the occupation, before it can be relied on for migration purposes.
AIQS assesses cost planners, cost consultants, cost engineers, contract administrators, and other professionals whose qualification and role align with the Quantity Surveyor occupation description.
A positive skills assessment is a mandatory eligibility requirement for most General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa subclasses. Without it, an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect cannot be validly submitted.
A positive migration assessment confirms your qualification and experience meet the occupation standard for migration purposes. Successfully migrating does not guarantee AIQS membership, state/territory registration where applicable, or employment as a Quantity Surveyor in Australia — these follow separate processes.
Assessment criteria, occupation lists and requirements are set by Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and the Australian Government and are subject to change without notice. Always verify current requirements on the official website before applying.
Section 02
AIQS offers several assessment pathways. Which one applies depends entirely on where and how you obtained your qualification.
| Pathway | Details |
|---|---|
| Qualifications Only | For applicants with an AIQS-accredited Australian qualification who only want their degree recognised — professional experience is not assessed, and this route alone is not sufficient for a GSM PR visa application. |
| Pathway 1 | Australian-obtained AIQS-accredited qualification plus a minimum of one year of post-qualification quantity surveying experience. |
| Pathway 2 | Australian-obtained qualification (CRICOS-recognised, not necessarily AIQS-accredited) plus a minimum of two years of post-qualification experience. |
| Pathway 3 | Overseas-obtained approved qualification in Quantity Surveying / Construction Management and Economics, plus a minimum of two years of post-qualification experience — the pathway most Indian applicants use. |
| Pathway 4 | For current financial Voting members of AIQS or a recognised peak body (e.g. RICS), with a minimum of one year of experience since attaining that membership. |
Indicative only. Your eligibility depends on your specific qualification, role and years of experience matched against the current ANZSCO occupation description.
Section 03
AIQS offers several assessment pathways. Which one applies depends entirely on where and how you obtained your qualification.
English Language: Required only for Pathway 3 and Pathway 4 applicants — a Department of Home Affairs-approved test showing at least IELTS band 6 (or equivalent) in each of speaking, reading, listening and writing, taken within the last two years. Combined results from different test sittings are not accepted.
Overseas Qualifications: Your degree must be comparable to an Australian Bachelor’s (AQF Level 7), assessed against the Australia Government Country Education Profile, and be recognised as a Quantity Surveying / Construction Management and Economics qualification.
Work Experience: Assessed only after your qualification is found suitable; only experience gained after completing your qualification counts, and experience older than 10 years before your application is not assessed.
Referee Qualification: Your employment reference letters must come from a direct supervisor who is themselves a practising quantity surveyor holding a minimum Bachelor’s (AQF Level 7) in quantity surveying, or a financial Voting member of AIQS or an equivalent recognised body.
Certified Documents: All supporting documents must be certified colour copies dated no older than 12 months; Australian university transcripts/testamurs must be certified online via My eQuals Australia.
Section 04
Document requirements vary by occupation and individual profile. A personalised checklist is prepared after a professional profile review.
Section 05
How a AIQS application moves from profile review to outcome.
Your qualification, institution, and career trajectory are reviewed to identify the correct AIQS pathway for your profile.
The most suitable of the five AIQS pathways is identified based on where and how you obtained your qualification.
Transcripts, degree certificates, and employment reference letters are compiled — with particular attention to the referee-qualification requirement.
The assessment application is lodged through the AIQS applicant portal, along with the applicable fee.
AIQS reviews your qualification first against its occupation requirements; if the qualification does not meet the pathway criteria, a not-suitable outcome follows regardless of work history.
AIQS may request course structure details or clarification from referees; timely and accurate responses are critical.
A positive or not-suitable outcome is issued, together with a Statement of Recognition for positive outcomes.
Section 06
AIQS Migration Skills Assessments may take up to five (5) months to process in total. An initial documentation review can take up to three (3) months on its own, and complex applications sent for full assessment may take more than two (2) further months. AIQS does not respond to phone calls relating to skilled migration — all queries must be sent by email.
We recommend checking AIQS's current guidance directly and building buffer time into your visa planning rather than relying on fixed timelines.
Section 07
Published AIQS rates, as at July 2026. Figures exclude visa charges and MovesEdu professional service fees.
| Item | Fee (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Qualifications Only Assessment (ex. GST) | $555 |
| Pathways 1–4 Assessment (ex. GST) | $655 |
| Reassessment (ex. GST) | $350 |
| Appeal (ex. GST) | $400 |
| Withdrawal/refund administration fee | $110 |
Fees are subject to change without notice — always confirm current fees on www.aiqs.com.au before applying.
Section 08
A negative or partial result can significantly affect your points score and visa eligibility — which is why accurate preparation from the outset matters.
Section 09
MovesEdu Immigration is a Chandigarh-headquartered Australia and Canada PR specialist consultancy, supporting skilled Indian quantity surveyors through every stage of their migration journey.
Dedicated Australia PR Specialists — focused expertise in GSM pathways, not a generalist agency
Detailed Profile Review — honest assessment of your occupation fit before you spend on formal applications
Pathway Guidance — careful matching of your qualification and institution to the correct AIQS pathway
Document Review & Preparation Support — structured checklists and reference letter guidance
Employment Evidence Assistance — help organising and presenting your quantity surveying work history clearly
Skills Assessment Application Support — guidance through the AIQS submission process
Dedicated Case Manager — one point of contact throughout your case
Transparent Communication — clear timelines, honest expectations, no overpromising
Online Consultations — speak with us from anywhere in India or abroad
India-Based Support — offices in Chandigarh and Amritsar, with WhatsApp accessibility
MovesEdu Immigration is an independent migration consultancy. We are not Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, the Department of Home Affairs, or any Australian government body, and we do not determine or influence assessment outcomes.
Section 10 · Frequently asked questions
AIQS (Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors) is the official authority nominated by the Australian Government to assess the qualifications and experience of Quantity Surveyors for skilled migration purposes.
Yes, if your nominated occupation is Quantity Surveyor (ANZSCO 233213), a positive assessment is required before you can validly claim points and submit an Expression of Interest for most GSM visas.
AIQS Migration Skills Assessments may take up to five (5) months to process in total, including an initial documentation review of up to three months. Always check AIQS's current published timeframes before planning your visa timeline.
No — AIQS assesses qualifications first; work experience cannot be assessed on its own. If your qualification does not meet the relevant pathway's criteria, the outcome will be not suitable regardless of how strong your work history is.
Most Indian applicants apply through Pathway 3 (overseas-obtained approved qualification plus a minimum of two years of post-qualification experience), since their degree is not from an Australian institution.
Yes, if you disagree with a negative assessment you may lodge a formal review request with AIQS within a specified timeframe; the review examines whether the assessment followed AIQS procedures correctly.
Subclasses 189, 190, and 491 typically require a positive skills assessment for the Quantity Surveyor occupation, along with select employer-sponsored pathways such as subclass 482 and 186.
This depends on your pathway. Degree holders from AIQS-recognised institutions generally need less or no additional experience, while non-accredited degree holders may need two or more years of directly relevant quantity surveying work experience.
Yes, recent graduates of a relevant, recognised qualification can apply, though outcomes depend on how closely the course content matches AIQS's occupation requirements.
Related degrees may still be assessed favourably if the course contains sufficient quantity surveying-specific content, but this is assessed on a case-by-case basis and is generally more difficult than a dedicated quantity surveying degree.
Yes, and AIQS has a specific requirement: your reference letter must come from a direct supervisor who is themselves a practising quantity surveyor and a financial Voting member of AIQS or an equivalent recognised body.
Yes, current voting members of certain recognised international professional bodies, including RICS, may be eligible for a dedicated assessment pathway.
Yes, AIQS assesses qualifications from institutions worldwide, though it directly recognises only a small number of specific overseas institutions — all others are assessed against Country Education Profiles on a case-by-case basis.
No — AIQS is nominated as the assessing authority for the single occupation of Quantity Surveyor (ANZSCO 233213) only.
Reference letters that fail to meet AIQS's specific referee-qualification requirement, and letters that confirm employment dates without describing actual duties, are among the most frequently underprepared documents.
AIQS generally does not offer refunds if an application is unsuccessful; applicants may instead be able to submit updated supporting documents for reconsideration.
No ethical consultancy can guarantee an assessment outcome, as this is determined solely by AIQS based on your qualification and evidence. We focus on helping you present the strongest possible application.
No — a positive AIQS migration assessment does not guarantee AIQS membership, state or territory registration where applicable, or employment as a Quantity Surveyor in Australia.
AIQS generally requires certified colour copies of key documents; for Australian and New Zealand university qualifications, transcripts must be submitted online through My eQuals rather than as scanned copies.
A positive assessment is valid for two years from the date on your outcome letter. Any subsequent assessment letter resets this validity period from its own date.
We assist with pathway selection, document preparation guidance, and application support — while AIQS remains the sole assessing authority.
Keep exploring
Your assessing body is determined by your nominated ANZSCO occupation.
A AIQS skills assessment is a critical foundation for your Australian PR application — and getting it right the first time saves you time, money and uncertainty.
MovesEdu is a private migration advisory firm. We are not a government body; all final decisions rest with Australian and Canadian immigration authorities.