Apple is changing App Store age ratings in Australia and Vietnam: what to check before June 18
Apple says the 15+ rating is being removed in Australia (some 15+ apps will be bumped to 16+), and Vietnam will require a region-specific age rating (00+, 12+, 16+, 18+) based on your questionnaire. It’s a small storefront signal that can create surprise compliance work.
Original post (source): Apple Developer News - “Upcoming changes to age ratings in Australia and Vietnam” (May 21, 2026)
What’s changing
Apple says age ratings will be updated starting June 18, 2026 in:
Australia
- the 15+ age rating will no longer be available
- apps currently rated 15+ with certain content descriptors will be updated to 16+
- unrestricted web access
- frequent medical or treatment information
- loot boxes
Vietnam
- apps in Vietnam will require a region-specific age rating to align with Vietnam’s Decree 147
- Apple says the rating shown will be one of:
- 00+ (all ages)
- 12+
- 16+
- 18+
- the rating is based on your age rating questionnaire responses in App Store Connect
Why this matters (beyond “compliance”)
Age rating is a quiet storefront trust signal.
If it changes unexpectedly, you can get:
- internal escalation (“why did our rating jump?”)
- partner friction (ads, creators, or distribution partners with eligibility rules)
- extra review scrutiny if your questionnaire and in-app content look mismatched
Tiny win
Before you ship your next update:
- re-open the age rating questionnaire in App Store Connect and confirm it still matches the app’s real behavior
- if you have webviews, medical content, or loot boxes, double-check you are not accidentally triggering descriptors you did not plan for
- ask support to tag any tickets mentioning “age rating” or “restricted” for the next two weeks
Small change, but it can become loud fast.
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