Australia Visa Fees Increase from 1 July 2026: Complete Guide to Updated Charges

From 1 July 2026, the Department of Home Affairs increased visa application charges across almost every visa category, alongside higher skilled migration income thresholds and steeper review fees at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Past Australia Visa Fees 2026 rose 2–5% annually to keep up with inflation. However, most visas are up 25% and a few subclasses are up over 100% this time.

If you're planning to apply for an Australian visa, sponsor an overseas worker, or lodge a review after a refusal, here's what changed, what it costs now, and what it means for your application.

Who Is Affected?

The updated charges apply to visitor, student, graduate, partner, skilled, employer-sponsored, working holiday, bridging, and permanent visas, as well as citizenship applications and ART review fees. The new fees apply when your visa application is lodged or ART review fee is paid, not when you started preparing your documents. Applications lodged before 1 July 2026 are assessed under the old fee schedule, even if they're still being processed now.

In this guide, you'll learn exactly which visas went up, by how much, what the new skilled migration income thresholds are, how ART review fees changed, and what practical steps to take before you lodge.

Why Have Australia Visa Fees Increased from 1 July 2026?

Visa Application Charges (VACs) are reviewed annually on July 1 and adjusted in line with the Consumer Price Index, usually a low-single-digit increase. This year is different. Most charges have jumped by around 25% in a single step, with some categories rising far more steeply.

Two factors are widely cited as driving the change: raising government revenue, and using visa pricing as a tool to influence net migration levels. Visa charges fall almost entirely on people who don't vote and mostly don't live in Australia, which makes them a comparatively low-friction way for government to increase revenue without raising domestic taxes. The most notable example is the Temporary Graduate visa, whose fee was more than doubled in 2026 and projected to generate over a billion dollars over five years.

Skilled migration income thresholds and ART review fees follow a separate but related pattern: thresholds are indexed annually to wage growth (AWOTE), and ART fees are indexed annually to CPI, so both rise every 1 July regardless of the broader VAC increase.

Whatever the underlying reasoning, the practical outcome for applicants is the same: visas that were already expensive are now substantially more so, and getting your application right the first time matters more than ever, since these charges are non-refundable in most circumstances.

Australia Visa Fees Updated from 1 July 2026

Employer-Sponsored Visa Fees

Employer-sponsored pathways have gone up alongside everything else. The Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) primary applicant charge rose from $3,210 to $4,015. The Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Subclass 494) charges have also increased as part of the same across-the-board adjustment, though the exact base charge depends on the stream and whether the nomination has already been approved.

Even if the application fee is paid correctly, employer-sponsored applicants and their sponsoring businesses can be denied a visa based on salary, so they must watch the related increase to skilled migration income thresholds below.

Graduate & Temporary Visa Fees

Temporary Graduate visas (Subclass 485) have had one of the worst years. After doubling from $2,300 to $4,600 in March 2026, the base charge rose again to $5,750 on July 1, 2026. Some subsequent Post-Higher Education Work applications carry a separate, lower charge of around $2,265, so graduates should check exactly which stream applies to them before budgeting.

Training (Subclass 407), Temporary Activity (Subclass 408), and Short Stay Specialist (Subclass 400) visas have also increased in line with the general adjustment, though the dollar increases are smaller in absolute terms than for the Graduate visa given their lower starting charges.

Family & Partner Visa Fees

One of the biggest dollar increases is partner visas. The Partner visa (Subclass 820/801, plus the offshore Subclass 309/100 equivalent) primary applicant charge increased from $9,365 to $11,710, a $2,345, increase that brought the upfront government charge for a single applicant close to $12,000 before any additional applicant, health, or police check costs.

The Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300) has moved in step with the partner visa increase, with the base application charge now also sitting at $11,710.

Regional & Permanent Visa Fees

Permanent Residence (Subclass 191) and other regional and permanent pathways have risen in line with the broader 25% adjustment. Bridging Visa B rose from $190 to $575, more than triple its previous cost, and Subclass 461 New Zealand citizen family relationship visa rose from $445 to $1,330.

Australia Visa Fees Comparison Table (Before vs After 1 July 2026)

The figures are base Visa Application Charges for the primary applicant only. Additional applicant charges apply for partners and dependent children, and credit card or PayPal surcharges may apply on top of the listed amount. Always confirm your exact charge using the Department's Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging.

New Skilled Migration Income Thresholds from 1 July 2026

Alongside visa application charges, the salary thresholds that underpin employer-sponsored migration have also increased, in line with annual wage indexation (AWOTE).

• Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT): Increased from $76,515 to $79,499. This applies to the Core Skills stream of the Subclass 482 visa and to Subclass 186 nominations.
• Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT): Increased from $141,210 to $146,717. This applies to the Specialist Skills stream of the Subclass 482 visa, which has no occupation list requirement but demands a significantly higher guaranteed salary.
• Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT): The legacy term is still referenced for the Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional) and Subclass 187 pathways, tracking the same figure as CSIT at $79,499.
• Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT): Increased from $183,100 to $190,100. While primarily an employment law figure, it's also relevant to migration, especially for age-exemption provisions under the Temporary Residence Transition stream of the Subclass 186 visa, which allows sponsored workers aged 45+ to qualify for permanent residence if their earnings meet this threshold.

These thresholds matter because they operate independently of the visa application fee. A nomination can be refused for failing to meet CSIT, SSIT, or the Annual Market Salary Rate (whichever is higher), regardless of how strong the rest of the application is. Employers close to the threshold should review salary packages before lodging any new nomination.

Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) Fee Changes

For any application fee paid on or after 1 July 2026, ART fees for reviewing Department of Home Affairs decisions have increased, even if the review application was lodged earlier.

• Reviewable migration decision (most visa refusals and cancellations): Fee increased to $3,727. A 50% reduction may be granted on financial hardship grounds.
• Reviewable protection visa decision: Fee increased to $2,293. This fee is generally only payable if the review is unsuccessful.
• Guidance and Appeals Panel review: Fee increased to $1,195.
• Concessional fee: Remains unchanged at $100 for eligible circumstances.

A fee now applies for the first time to reviews of NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner decisions, at the standard application fee rate.

The higher fee applies based on payment date, not lodgement date, so applicants with a pending review should check if they've paid. If not, the new fee will apply to an application lodged months ago.

What Do These Changes Mean for Visa Applicants?

The immediate impact is straightforward: applying for almost any Australian visa now costs more upfront, and that cost is rarely refundable even if the application is refused or withdrawn. A few practical implications follow from that:

• Budget planning matters more. For a single applicant, the increase might add a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. The government fees for a skilled visa application with a partner and children can exceed $13,000. Additional applicant fees compound the increase.
• A complete, accurate application matters more. Since the charge is non-refundable in most cases, a refusal now wastes a considerably larger sum than it did a year ago. Weak evidence, missed documents, or an incorrect visa subclass choice carry a higher financial cost.
• Timing is fixed by lodgement date, not preparation date. The charge is the one in effect when the Department receives your application, not when you started gathering documents, took an English test, or received a Confirmation of Enrolment.
• Review rights are more expensive too. If a visa is refused, the cost of seeking an ART review has also gone up, which adds another layer of financial risk to getting the original application wrong.

Tips to Avoid Costly Visa Mistakes

• Choose the correct visa subclass from the outset. Applying under the wrong subclass, or a stream that doesn't match your circumstances, risks a refusal and a wasted, non-refundable charge.
• Prepare documents carefully and completely. Gather and check your financial evidence, study history, work experience, and English test results before lodgement, not after submission.
• Check the current fee before lodging. Fees can change with little notice outside the annual 1 July cycle, so confirm the exact charge using the Department's Visa Pricing Estimator immediately before you pay.
• Meet eligibility requirements, including salary thresholds for employer-sponsored nominations, as a technically valid application can fail due to a salary shortfall.
• Seek professional migration advice for complex cases, especially where a previous refusal, character issue, or unusual employment structure is involved. The cost of getting it right the first time is now meaningfully lower than the cost of a second attempt.

Why Trust Visafast?

With Australian visa application charges reaching record highs, submitting a complete and accurate application has never been more important. Even a minor mistake can result in a visa refusal and the loss of thousands of dollars in non-refundable government fees.

Our registered migration agents have assisted thousands of Australian visa applicants and closely monitor every annual visa fee update, skilled migration policy change, and eligibility requirement to help individuals, families, students, and employers avoid costly mistakes.

Whether you're applying for a Skilled Visa, Employer Sponsored Visa, Partner Visa, Student Visa, or Permanent Residency pathway, we provide personalised guidance to help you lodge a strong application the first time.

How Visafast Can Help?

Navigating higher fees and tighter thresholds doesn't have to mean navigating them alone. Visafast supports applicants and employers through every stage of the process, including:

• Visa eligibility assessment
• Document review before lodgement
• Employer-sponsored visa guidance, including CSIT and SSIT compliance
• Skilled migration assistance
• Partner visa support
• Application preparation
• Ongoing case management through to a decision

With fees this high and largely non-refundable, getting expert guidance before you lodge is one of the most cost-effective steps you can take. Contact Visafast to discuss your situation before the next fee cycle affects your plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why did Australia increase visa fees from 1 July 2026? 

Visa fees are reviewed every 1 July and normally rise with inflation. This year's 25% increase across most categories goes beyond indexation and is typically attributed to government revenue-raising and visa pricing to influence net migration.

2. Which Australian visas became more expensive? 

Almost all visa categories increased, including visitor, student, graduate, partner, skilled, employer-sponsored, working holiday, bridging, and permanent visas. The eVisitor (651) and ETA (601) were left largely untouched.

3. Has the Partner Visa fee increased? 

Yes. The primary applicant charge for the Partner visa rose from $9,365 to $11,710, an increase of $2,345.

4. Did the 485 Temporary Graduate Visa fee increase? 

Yes, significantly. After being doubled from $2,300 to $4,600 in March 2026, the base charge rose again to $5,750 from 1 July 2026.

5. What is the new fee for the Skills in Demand (482) Visa? 

The primary applicant charge increased from $3,210 to $4,015.

6. Have employer-sponsored visa fees changed? 

Yes. Application charges for Subclass 482, 186, and 494 have all risen in line with the broader increase, and the income thresholds that underpin these nominations (CSIT, SSIT, and TSMIT) have also increased separately.

7. What are the new income thresholds for skilled migration? 

CSIT and TSMIT increased from $76,515 to $79,499, and SSIT increased from $141,210 to $146,717, effective for nominations lodged on or after 1 July 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Immigration laws may change, so consult a registered migration agent or legal professional before making any application. Visafast Migration Consultancy is not liable for reliance on this information.