New Australian Visa Fee Changes from 1 July 2026

**Selected new standard base application charges** 

Why the fee changes matter

Visa application charges are often among the largest upfront costs in the migration process. For single applicants, the increase may affect lodgement timing. For families, the impact can be much larger because additional applicant charges may apply for partners and children.

The application charge is also usually not the only cost. Depending on the visa, applicants may need to budget for English tests, health examinations, Australian Federal Police checks, overseas police clearances, skills assessments, translations, health insurance, nomination fees, credit card surcharges and professional assistance.

For this reason, applicants should not only ask whether they are eligible. They should also ask whether they are ready to lodge a complete, well-prepared application. A refused application can be financially costly and may affect future visa strategy.

Student visa applicants

The Subclass 500 Student visa remains one of the most important pathways for international students in Australia. From 1 July 2026, the standard base application charge for the main student visa category is $2,500, while some listed categories are charged differently.

Future students should factor the visa charge into a broader budget that includes tuition fees, Overseas Student Health Cover, living costs, English tests, document preparation and any dependants. Students should also remember that course selection should be connected to genuine study intention, career direction and future migration planning where relevant.

Temporary Graduate visa applicants

The Temporary Graduate visa Subclass 485 is a major pathway for international students who complete eligible study in Australia. It can allow graduates to live, work and study in Australia temporarily after completing their qualification.

From 1 July 2026, the standard main 485 base application charge is $5,750. The regulation also includes separate fee settings for certain categories, including $2,265 for some subsequent Post-Higher Education Work applications and Pacific-regional concessional categories where applicable. Applicants should check the exact stream before budgeting.

Graduates should pay particular attention to the Post-Vocational Education Work stream and Post-Higher Education Work stream, as each stream has different eligibility settings. The application should not be left until the final days before visa expiry. Applicants may need English results, health insurance, an AFP check, academic documents and, in some circumstances, skills assessment evidence.

Skilled migration applicants

Skilled migration applicants are also affected by the fee increases. The main points-tested skilled visa pathways include the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa, Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa and Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa.

From 1 July 2026, the standard base application charge is $6,135 for subclass 189 and $6,140 for subclass 190 and subclass 491. These charges come at a time when invitation rounds, state nomination allocations and occupation demand remain highly competitive.

Applicants should avoid paying a higher application charge unless they are confident that the invitation, points claims and supporting documents are accurate. This includes checking skills assessment validity, English test results, employment evidence, partner points, state nomination conditions and any EOI or ROI claims.

Employer-sponsored applicants and employers

Employer-sponsored pathways have also changed. Key affected visa categories include the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa, Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa and Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa.

From 1 July 2026, the standard base application charge is $6,140 for subclass 186 and subclass 494, and $4,015 for subclass 482. The regulation also inserts a temporary skilled migration income threshold of $79,423 for relevant nomination applications made on or after 1 July 2026.

This means employers and applicants need to review salary settings, market salary evidence, genuine position requirements and nomination timing carefully. Employer sponsorship must be based on a genuine role and a properly prepared nomination.

Visitor, working holiday and temporary activity applicants

The Subclass 600 Visitor visa now has new charges, including $250 for many offshore visitor applications, $630 for many onshore visitor applications and $1,845 for the Frequent Traveller stream. Applicants with previous refusals should not repeatedly lodge the same application without addressing the reasons for refusal.

Working holiday applicants should also budget for higher charges. The Subclass 417 Working Holiday visa and Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa have a $840 base charge in the main category. Temporary activity and short-term work applicants should check the relevant visa page, including the Subclass 407 Training visa, Subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa and Subclass 400 Temporary Work Short Stay Specialist visa.

Partner, prospective marriage and family applicants

The fee increases are significant for family visa applicants. Many onshore partner visa and offshore partner visa applications now carry a standard main base charge of $11,710. The Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa also has a standard base application charge of $11,710.

Given the cost involved, applicants should prepare relationship evidence carefully. A partner visa application should explain the financial, social, household and commitment aspects of the relationship, supported by consistent evidence.

Parent and family visa categories also carry new fees. The Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Temporary visa has a standard base application charge of $1,515. Parent, contributory parent and other family pathways can involve higher charges, long processing times and additional requirements. Applicants should confirm the relevant class and stream before planning their budget.

Pacific-regional fee settings

The regulation defines Pacific-regional countries for certain fee provisions. These include Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Some applicants holding valid passports from these countries may be eligible for lower charges in specific visa categories. This should not be assumed automatically. The applicant must check the visa class, stream and criteria that apply to their situation.

Citizenship application fees also changed

The same regulation also updates a number of citizenship application fees from 1 July 2026. Some categories increase from $370 to $380, $150 to $160, $80 to $85, $575 to $595, $350 to $365, $245 to $255, $310 to $320 and $280 to $290. Permanent residents planning to apply for Australian citizenship should check the current charge before lodging.

What applicants should do before lodging

• Check the current application charge for the exact visa subclass and stream.
• Confirm whether additional applicant charges apply for a partner or children.
• Budget for health checks, police checks, English tests, skills assessments and other associated costs.
• Use the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator as a starting point, but check the relevant visa page before lodgement.
• Avoid lodging a rushed or incomplete application simply to meet a deadline.
• Review visa expiry dates early so you have time to prepare a proper strategy.
• Seek advice before changing visa pathways, applying offshore or reapplying after a refusal.

The 1 July 2026 changes show that the cost of applying for Australian visas continues to rise across many categories. For students, graduates, skilled migrants, employers, families and visitors, visa planning now requires careful attention to both eligibility and affordability.

Applicants should not wait until the last week before visa expiry to understand their options. Early advice can help applicants prepare documents, improve their profile, budget correctly and avoid avoidable mistakes.

At Provisa, we can help you understand the updated visa charges, assess your eligibility and prepare a strategy that fits your circumstances. If you are planning to apply for a student visa, graduate visa, skilled visa, partner visa, visitor visa, parent visa or employer-sponsored visa, now is the time to review your next step.

Book a consultation at provisa.setmore.com or call 02 9007 4409.

Important note

This article is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Visa charges and eligibility requirements can change. Applicants should check the official Home Affairs website and obtain professional advice before lodging any application.