CIDB registration fees
How the fee is structured, and why a single figure would mislead you.
4 min read
CIDB registration carries an application fee and a periodic renewal fee. Both scale with the grade you are applying for, so a grade 1 contractor and a grade 8 contractor are not paying the same thing.
We deliberately do not quote a rand figure here. The fee schedule is set by the CIDB and revised, and a stale number in an article is exactly how a contractor budgets wrong.
What the fee depends on
The two variables are the grade applied for and the number of classes you register in. Registering in three classes costs more than registering in one, and upgrading a grade carries its own fee.
Confirm the current schedule with the CIDB directly before budgeting, and note that the fee is separate from any cost of assembling the financial and works evidence the application requires.
Renewal is the part people miss
Registration lapses if it is not renewed, and a lapsed registration disqualifies a bid just as firmly as never having registered. Because the check happens at evaluation, a registration that expires between submission and award can cost you a tender you had already won on merit.
Track the expiry date alongside your tax compliance and B-BBEE dates rather than treating it as a separate administrative task.
Common questions
- How much does CIDB registration cost?
- It depends on the grade and the number of classes you register in, and the schedule is revised periodically. Confirm the current amounts with the CIDB rather than relying on a figure quoted in an article, which may be out of date.
- What happens if my CIDB registration lapses?
- A lapsed registration disqualifies your bid. Compliance is checked at evaluation, so a registration that expires while your bid is being assessed can cost you the award even though it was valid at submission.