How to Submit Your App to the iOS App Store in Australia

Before You Can Submit: Apple Developer Account

You need an Apple Developer Program membership to submit apps to the App Store. The annual fee is USD 99 for individual accounts and the same for organisations. Apple requires a valid payment method and, for organisation accounts, proof of legal entity.

Organisation accounts are preferable for business apps because they allow multiple team members to be added and the app appears under the company name in the App Store. Individual accounts display the developer's personal name.

Once the account is active, Xcode is the tool used to build and archive your iOS app for submission. The app must be built with a valid Distribution certificate and provisioning profile from your Apple Developer account.

App Store Connect: Setting Up Your Listing

App Store Connect is the web interface where you create and manage your App Store listing. Before submitting a build, you need to complete the listing: app name, subtitle, description, keywords, screenshots for all required device sizes, and support and privacy policy URLs.

Screenshots are one of the most commonly overlooked requirements. Apple requires screenshots in specific dimensions for iPhone and iPad. If your app supports both, you need sets for both. The screenshots must be of your actual app, not marketing renders.

Keywords are limited to 100 characters and are separate from what appears in your description. Choose them carefully as they significantly influence search visibility in the App Store.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Guideline 4.0 (Design) is one of the most frequent rejection reasons. Apps that are too simple, appear unfinished, or duplicate the functionality of a built-in iOS app without adding value are rejected under this guideline.

Privacy-related rejections occur when an app requests permissions that it does not actually need, or when the stated purpose of a permission does not match how the app uses it. Every permission request must be justified.

Broken functionality or crashes during review will cause rejection. Apple reviewers test apps on real devices. If the app crashes during a review scenario or a feature does not work, it will be rejected.

Missing or inadequate privacy policy URLs are a consistent source of rejection. If your app collects any user data, even just analytics, you need a privacy policy at a publicly accessible URL.

The Review Process

App Store review typically takes one to three business days for new submissions. Expedited reviews can be requested for genuine time-sensitive situations but are not guaranteed.

If your app is rejected, Apple provides a message explaining which guideline was not met. You can respond through the Resolution Center with clarifications or submit a revised build. Multiple rounds of review are normal for complex apps.

Once approved, you can choose to release immediately or set a scheduled release date. Updates to existing apps follow the same process but usually move through review faster than initial submissions.

Getting Help With Your Submission

The submission process is manageable once you have been through it, but the first submission for a new developer or business account often surfaces unexpected requirements. Having a team that has navigated it before reduces delays.

ComTeam handles iOS app submissions from initial App Store Connect setup through to approval. We prepare the listing, manage the certificate and provisioning profile setup, submit the build, and handle any rejection responses.

If you are also building the app itself, managing both development and submission through one partner removes the handoff complexity and keeps the timeline moving.