Australia raised visa application charges across most major categories from 1 July 2026, and the increases were large — the Temporary Graduate visa jumped 25% on top of an earlier 2026 rise. If you’re budgeting for an Australian visa application, here’s exactly what changed and what you’ll actually pay in 2026.
What changed on 1 July 2026
The Department of Home Affairs increased the base application charge (the visa application charge, or VAC) for most visa subclasses. Because the charge is set on the day you lodge your application (not the day it’s decided), anyone who lodged before 1 July 2026 pays the old fee — these increases only affect new applications from that date onward.
2026 fees by visa type
All figures are the base application charge for the primary applicant in AUD; additional family members are charged separately, so a family application costs more than the numbers below.
| Visa | 2026 fee | Previous fee |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa (subclass 500), standard | $2,500 | $2,000 |
| Student visa (subclass 500), ELICOS/non-award | $2,050 | $2,000 |
| Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) | $2,050 | $2,000 |
| Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) | $5,750 | $4,600 |
| Visitor visa (subclass 600), tourist stream, offshore | $250 | $200 |
| Visitor visa (subclass 600), onshore | $500 | $500 (unchanged) |
| Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) | $4,015 | $3,210 |
| General Skilled Migration (subclasses 189/190/491/494) | $6,135–$6,140 | $4,910 |
| Employer Nomination Scheme / RSMS (subclasses 186/187) | $6,140 | $4,910 |
| Partner visa (subclasses 300, 820/801, 309/100) | $11,710 | $9,365 |
| Bridging Visa B | $575 | $190 |
Because policy and fees change frequently, always confirm the exact current charge for your specific subclass and circumstances using the Department of Home Affairs’ official Visa Pricing Estimator before you apply — it accounts for your specific stream, family composition, and any concessions that might apply.
Why these particular visas jumped so much
The Temporary Graduate (485) and Skilled visa categories saw the steepest percentage increases, which tracks with broader migration-policy settings aimed at moderating net overseas migration by raising the cost of temporary-to-permanent pathways favoured by international graduates and skilled workers. Student visa fees rose more moderately in percentage terms but still add a meaningful upfront cost on top of tuition deposits and living-cost evidence requirements.
What the visa fee does and doesn’t cover
The application charge only covers processing your visa application. It does not include:
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for student visa applicants — typically several hundred to over a thousand AUD per year, purchased separately.
- Health examinations required for many visa types, arranged and paid for separately through a panel physician.
- Police clearance certificates from your home country and any country you’ve lived in for 12+ months.
- English test fees (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL) if required for your visa stream.
- Migration agent or lawyer fees, if you use one — entirely optional and separate from the government charge.
Budget for these alongside the base application charge, not instead of it — for a student visa applicant, OSHC and English test fees alone can add several hundred AUD on top of the $2,500 VAC.
Practical budgeting tips
- Lodge before a known fee increase if you’re already eligible and ready — the charge is locked in at lodgement date, so waiting can cost more once a new schedule takes effect.
- Check whether a family application changes your total. Adding a partner or dependent child to a subclass 500 or 485 application adds a substantial secondary applicant charge on top of the primary fee.
- Factor in the Student visa (500) two-tier structure — ELICOS/non-award applicants pay a lower $2,050 rather than the standard $2,500, so confirm which tier actually applies to your enrolment type before budgeting.
- Don’t confuse the visa application charge with the biometrics, courier, or translation fees some applicants also need to pay — these are separate and vary by country.
FAQ
Is the visa fee refundable if my application is refused? No. Australian visa application charges are non-refundable regardless of the outcome, with very limited exceptions (such as certain processing errors on the Department’s part).
Do these fees apply to visas I already lodged before 1 July 2026? No — the fee is fixed at whatever rate applied on your lodgement date, so applications lodged before the increase are unaffected.
Are there fee waivers or discounts? Some humanitarian, refugee, and specific bilateral-agreement categories carry reduced or waived fees, but the visa types covered in this guide (student, graduate, visitor, skilled, partner) do not have general fee waivers.
This guide is preparation information, not legal or migration advice — always confirm the exact, current fee for your visa subclass on the Department of Home Affairs’ official pricing estimator before lodging. Join the VisaMet waitlist for AI-assisted help budgeting and preparing your Australian visa application.
Sources: Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator, IDP: Australian Visa Fee Increases, RACC: Australia Visa Fee Increase From 1 July 2026