NDIS registration cost
The NDIS Commission doesn't charge a fee to apply for registration. The real cost is the audit you pay an approved quality auditor for, plus worker screening, insurance and the time it takes to write your policies. A verification audit for lower-risk supports is the cheaper path; a certification audit for higher-risk supports costs several times more.
What you pay for
| Cost | Who sets it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commission application | NDIS Commission | No fee |
| Verification audit | Approved quality auditor | Desktop review of documents; for lower-risk registration groups |
| Certification audit | Approved quality auditor | Stage 1 documents plus stage 2 on-site review; for higher-risk groups. Priced by scope, sites and staff numbers |
| Mid-term and renewal audits | Approved quality auditor | Certification needs a mid-term audit; registration is renewed with a new audit |
| NDIS Worker Screening Check | Your state or territory | Per worker, valid 5 years |
| Insurance | Insurer | Public liability, professional indemnity and others; see insurance |
| Policies and procedures | You, or a consultant | Incident management, complaints, risk, records |
Auditors quote by the hour and by scope, so get quotes from two or three approved auditors before you choose. The Commission lists them on its website.
What drives the price
- Registration groups. Each group you add can widen the audit. Only register for what you'll actually deliver.
- Audit type. Lower-risk supports such as household tasks, gardening or transport are usually in verification scope. Personal care, behaviour support, high-intensity daily activities and SIL mean certification. The Commission decides from the groups you choose.
- Size. More workers and sites mean more to audit.
- Readiness. Non-conformities found in the audit mean extra work and sometimes a follow-up audit.
Is registration worth it for a sole trader?
For many independent support workers, no. Unregistered workers can serve self-managed and plan-managed participants without any audit. Registration pays off when you want NDIA-managed participants, need to deliver supports that must be registered, or work with organisations that only contract registered providers. See how to become an NDIS provider.
Registered or not, invoices are the same job. ShiftInvoice builds NDIS invoices with the right item numbers and checks every line against the 2026-27 price limit. Pro is A$15 a month.
Create an NDIS invoiceQuestions
Is NDIS registration free?
Applying to the Commission is free. The audit isn't: you pay the auditor directly.
How long does registration take?
Usually a few months from application to decision, depending on your audit type, how quickly you book the auditor and how ready your documents are.
How long does registration last?
Registration is granted for a set period, typically up to three years, after which you renew with a new audit.
Sources: NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, provider registration pages, checked 31 October 2026. Audit prices come from auditors and vary; this page doesn't quote them. General information.