AUSTRALIA — Australia changed visa application charges on July 1, 2026, requiring skilled migrants, partner visa applicants, employer-sponsored workers, visitors and permanent residents to check the current fee before lodging an application.

The increases extend beyond the Student visa subclass 500, which rose from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500, and the Temporary Graduate visa subclass 485, which rose from AUD 4,600 to AUD 5,750. Non-student applicants now face higher charges across several visa categories.

The amount payable depends on the visa subclass, stream, applicant type, family members, surcharges and the date the Department of Home Affairs receives the application. Saving a draft or preparing documents does not lock in an earlier price.

General Skilled Migration and Partner Visas Lead the Increases

Selected fee changes include General Skilled Migration visas, including subclasses 189, 190, 491 and 494, rising from AUD 4,910 to AUD 6,135. Partner visas, including subclasses 300, 820/801 and 309/100, increased from AUD 9,365 to AUD 11,710.

Skilled employer-sponsored visas, including subclass 482/SID, moved from AUD 3,210 to AUD 4,015. Employer Nomination Scheme and RSMS visas, including subclasses 186 and 187, rose from AUD 4,910 to AUD 6,140.

Visitor, Bridging and Resident Return Visas Also Rise

The offshore Visitor visa subclass 600 increased from AUD 200 to AUD 250. Bridging Visa B, subclass 020, rose from AUD 190 to AUD 575, while the Resident Return Visa, subclass 155, increased from AUD 490 to AUD 1,475.

Those figures are selected examples rather than a complete pricing schedule. Applicants must check the current Home Affairs pricing table for the exact subclass, stream, additional applicant charges, concessions, surcharges, nomination fees and any second instalment.

General Skilled Migration: More Than the Main Applicant Fee

General Skilled Migration applicants should account for more than the main applicant charge. The fees for subclasses 189, 190, 491 and 494 now stand at AUD 6,135, compared with AUD 4,910 before July 1, 2026.

A skilled application may include a spouse or partner and dependent children. Other expenses can include skills assessment fees, English testing, state nomination costs, medical examinations, police clearances, translations, biometrics and card surcharges.

Those additional expenses can materially change the amount a family must have available before lodging. The visa charge is one part of the migration budget, not necessarily the full cost of the application process.

Employer-Sponsored Applicants Face Multiple Payment Streams

Employer-sponsored applicants also face several separate payment streams. The subclass 482/SID charge increased to AUD 4,015 from AUD 3,210, while subclasses 186 and 187 increased to AUD 6,140 from AUD 4,910.

An employer-sponsored application can involve visa application charges, additional applicant charges, nomination fees, sponsorship-related costs and the Skilling Australians Fund levy. Skills assessments, medical examinations and police checks can add further expenses.

The employer and applicant should establish payment responsibilities before lodging. A sponsorship or nomination requirement can create costs for the nominator or sponsor that are not included in a visa fee estimate.

Partner Visa Applicants Face One of the Highest Charges

Partner visa applicants face one of the highest upfront charges among the categories covered by the July changes. Subclasses 300, 820/801 and 309/100 now carry a charge of AUD 11,710, compared with AUD 9,365 before the increase.

A pre-lodgement review should cover relationship evidence, identity documents, sponsor eligibility and previous visa history. Applicants should also examine family violence or character issues where relevant, along with health and police requirements.

The application’s onshore or offshore location and the inclusion of dependent children can affect the amount payable. A higher charge also raises the cost of an application submitted with incomplete evidence or an eligibility problem.

Visitor Visa Increases Affect Families and Groups

The offshore Visitor visa subclass 600 remains lower-priced than skilled and partner categories, but its fee increased from AUD 200 to AUD 250. The change affects individual visitors as well as families and groups travelling together.

A family applying for several visitor visas can face a larger total payment even though the increase for one applicant is AUD 50. Applicants should review their purpose of visit, financial documents, ties to their home country and previous travel history before lodging.

A refusal does not automatically create a right to a refund. Applicants should not treat the lower charge as a reason to submit before checking eligibility and supporting documents.

Bridging Visa B Sees a Sharp Increase

Bridging Visa B applicants face a particularly sharp increase. The subclass 020 fee rose from AUD 190 to AUD 575 for people in Australia who need permission to travel while a substantive visa application remains pending.

Before applying, applicants should review the reason for travel, proposed travel dates, pending visa status, intended return date and bridging visa conditions. They should also consider the risk of remaining outside Australia if the substantive visa is decided during the trip.

The fee is part of the decision, but it does not determine whether the proposed travel is permitted or practical. Applicants close to a visa expiry date or travel deadline should allow time for payment and processing issues.

Resident Return Visa Also Rises Sharply

Permanent residents who need a Resident Return Visa also face a sharp increase. The subclass 155 charge moved from AUD 490 to AUD 1,475 on July 1, 2026.

A permanent resident outside Australia, or one whose travel facility has expired, may need an RRV before returning as a permanent resident. The travel facility should be checked before flights are booked.

Timing is especially important for permanent residents who have spent long periods outside Australia. Permanent residence does not by itself remove the need to check whether the travel facility remains valid.

Home Affairs Determines Fee by Receipt Date

Home Affairs determines the visa application charge by the date it receives the application. If the price rises between lodgement and receipt, the applicant must pay the new charge.

The rule is particularly important around fee-change dates. Opening an ImmiAccount form, saving a draft or assembling documents does not reserve the earlier fee. Applicants should confirm the amount at lodgement and payment.

A failed or delayed payment can create problems for someone facing a visa expiry date, invitation expiry, travel deadline or course or work commencement date. The application timeline should include time to resolve payment failures.

Surcharges Can Add to the Cost

The amount deducted can also exceed the listed visa charge. Home Affairs says a surcharge may apply when applicants pay visa application charges, sponsorship fees or nomination fees by credit card or PayPal.

Applicants should budget above the base fee, particularly for partner, skilled and employer-sponsored applications. A surcharge on a large payment can add a further cost at the time of lodgement.

Daily card limits and available funds require separate checks. A person can have enough money in an account but still face a failed transaction because of a daily limit, foreign transaction restriction, currency conversion issue or bank fraud block.

International card users should also confirm that the card allows the transaction and that the available balance covers both the application charge and any surcharge. Payment evidence should be retained after submission.

Visa Pricing Estimator Not a Replacement for Official Table

The Visa Pricing Estimator can help applicants estimate a cost, but it does not replace checking the current pricing table and the exact subclass page. Applicants must review additional applicants, concessions, sponsorship costs and any second instalment separately.

Some visa categories require a first instalment at lodgement and a second instalment before grant. Parent and contributory parent categories can involve later payments, meaning payment of the initial charge does not necessarily complete the visa cost.

A full budget may also need to include medical checks, police clearances, biometrics, translations and professional advice. Family members can change the total, with additional charges potentially differing between adults and children.

Refund Rules Limit Protection After Payment

Refund rules also limit the protection available after payment. Application charges, sponsorship fees and nomination fees are governed by legal and administrative rules, and refusal, an unsuccessful application or a change of mind does not automatically produce a refund.

Applicants should not lodge first and check eligibility later. If a payment is reversed or cancelled through a bank, the application may become invalid and the applicant may incur a debt to the Commonwealth, while future visa options may also be affected.

The safest payment response is to follow the official refund or correction process rather than initiate an informal chargeback. Applicants lodging close to a deadline should verify the subclass, stream, family charges, sponsor or nomination costs, surcharge, travel position and payment receipt before submitting.

Old Fee Information Is Now the Most Immediate Source of Error

Old fee information is now the most immediate source of error. The July 1, 2026 changes affect skilled, partner, employer-sponsored, visitor, bridging and Resident Return Visa applicants, while the final charge depends on the application details and receipt date.

A current fee check, a realistic family budget and a successful payment are now essential parts of preparing an Australian visa application.