Apple updates App Store age ratings in Australia and Vietnam
Apple picked the same date to make two very different changes to how apps get classified. Starting June 18, 2026, App Store age ratings will shift in both Australia and Vietnam, each driven by entirely separate reasons. Developers with apps live in either market have a limited window to review their settings before the changes kick in.
Australia Is Retiring a Rating Tier
According to Apple's developer notice, the 15+ rating will no longer exist on the Australian App Store. Apps carrying that rating won't just lose a label — they'll be automatically moved to 16+, but only if they include at least one of three specific content descriptors.
Those descriptors are: unrestricted web access, frequent medical or treatment information, and loot boxes. A 15+ app that includes none of those stays where it is. The updated Australia app ratings will appear on affected product pages from June 18 onward.
Apple's ask is simple: open App Store Connect and confirm the age rating questionnaire still accurately reflects the app's content.
Vietnam Gets a Legal Compliance Framework
The Vietnam update carries more weight. Apple says the new system aligns with Article 38 of Vietnam Decree 147, making it a regulatory requirement rather than a discretionary storefront adjustment.
Every app distributed in Vietnam will receive one of four region-specific Vietnam app ratings: 00+ for all ages, 12+, 16+, or 18+. Apple assigns the rating automatically based on each app's existing responses in App Store Connect. No separate submission is needed.
The assigned label appears on the Vietnamese product page once the system goes live. Full rating definitions and values will be published in App Store Connect Help on June 18 alongside the rollout.
What Developers Need to Do Before June 18
No new paperwork is required for either market. Stale or inaccurate questionnaire responses in App Store Connect, however, could produce the wrong rating after the changes go live.
Apps that include browser access, health-related content, or loot box mechanics are the most likely candidates for reclassification in Australia. For Vietnam, every app in that market gets a label regardless of content type. Worth reviewing now rather than chasing a correction after June 18.
Apps not distributed in Australia or Vietnam are unaffected. Full details are in the official Apple Developer announcement.