Australian Visa Fees 2026-27: Increases Across Almost Every Category
From 1 July 2026, the Department of Home Affairs has raised visa application charges across almost every visa category for the new financial year: most major categories are up around 25%, far above the usual ~3% annual indexation, while a few — such as the Resident Return visa (RRV) and Bridging visa B — have risen by more than 200%. This page collects the latest official charges by category.
The changes were made by federal legislative amendment (Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026) and took effect on 1 July 2026.
Visa application charges are set by the date of lodgement: applications lodged before 1 July 2026 pay the previous rates, and applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026 pay the new rates — regardless of when you started preparing.
This Round of Increases at a Glance
Notes:
① The charges below apply to holders of a mainland Chinese passport.
② They apply from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, unless otherwise announced.
The Student visa (500) charge has gone from $1,600 to $2,000 to $2,500 over the last three financial years — nearly doubling; multi-step pathways (Student → 485 → skilled migration) now cost significantly more in official charges than in previous years.
Official Charges by Category (Primary Applicant, Base Application Charge)
The tables below show the base application charge for the primary applicant. “2025-26” is the previous financial year’s rate (shown only where verifiable); “2026-27” is the official rate effective from 1 July 2026. Charges for secondary applicants (18+ and under 18) have increased in step.
Students & Graduates
| Visa category | 2025-26 | 2026-27 (current) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student visa 500 (all other students) | $2,000 | $2,500 | +25% |
| Student visa 500 (ELICOS / Non-Award sector) | $2,000 | $2,050 | +2.5% |
| Student Guardian visa 590 | — | $2,500 | — |
| Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate | $2,300 ($4,600 from 1 Mar 2026) | $5,750 | Two rises in one year — details → |
Skilled Migration
| Visa category | 2025-26 | 2026-27 (current) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 189 Skilled Independent | $4,910 | $6,135 | +25% |
| 190 Skilled Nominated / 491 Skilled Work Regional | $4,910 | $6,140 | +25% |
| 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) | $505 | $630 | +25% |
| 858 National Innovation visa (NIV) | — | $6,235 | — |
Employer Sponsored
| Visa category | 2025-26 | 2026-27 (current) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 482 Skills in Demand (SID, all three streams) | $3,210 | $4,015 | +25% |
| 186 Employer Nomination Scheme | $4,910 | $6,140 | +25% |
| 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional | $4,910 | $6,140 | +25% |
| 407 Training visa | — | $535 | — |
| 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) | — | $535 | — |
Family
| Visa category | 2025-26 | 2026-27 (current) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner / Prospective Marriage (820/801 · 309/100 · 300) | $9,365 | $11,710 | +25% |
| Child visas 101 / 802 / 445 | — | $4,040 | — |
| Parent 103 / Aged Parent 804 (first instalment) | — | $6,600 | — |
| 143 / 864 Contributory Parent (first instalment, by stage) | $445–$5,040 | $555–$6,300 (second-instalment contribution separate) | — |
| 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) | — | $1,515 | — |
| 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship | — | $1,330 | — |
Visitor · Working Holiday · Other
| Visa category | 2025-26 | 2026-27 (current) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 600 Visitor (lodged offshore / onshore) | $200 / $500 | $250 / $630 | +25% / +26% |
| 417 / 462 Working Holiday (first) | — | $840 | — |
| 417 / 462 Working Holiday (second / third) | — | $1,000 | — |
| 155 / 157 Resident Return visa (RRV) | $490 | $1,475 | +201% |
| 020 Bridging visa B (BVB) | $190 | $575 | +203% |
| Citizenship application (general, not a visa charge) | $575 | $595 | +3.5% |
Official Department of Home Affairs visa application charges effective 1 July 2026 (base charge, primary applicant, AUD; data as at 7 July 2026). Figures are current as at the build date — always confirm against the Department’s fees page and Visa Pricing Estimator.
The Three Steepest Increases
Resident Return visa: +201%
The 155/157 charge has risen from $490 to $1,475. Permanent residents who need to renew their travel facility should factor the new charge into their travel and residency planning.
Bridging visa B: +203%
The 020 Bridging visa B has risen from $190 to $575. Applicants waiting onshore for a substantive visa who need to travel and return will face noticeably higher costs.
Subclass 485: two rises in one year
Doubled from $2,300 to $4,600 on 1 March 2026, then raised again to $5,750 on 1 July — a 150% cumulative increase in four months. Read the 485 fee guide →
What This Round of Increases Means for Applicants
Re-budget at the new rates
Applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026 pay the new charges; secondary applicant charges (18+ and under 18) have risen in step. Budgets built on the old figures need a full refresh.
The lodgement date sets the rate
You pay the official charge that applies on the day you lodge: applications lodged before 1 July 2026 do not owe a top-up, and applications lodged after cannot pay the old rate.
Complete documents save money
Visa application charges are generally non-refundable once lodged. A refusal or withdrawal caused by incomplete documents means paying the full charge again — preparing thoroughly beats rushing.
Want a complete budget for your application at the new rates?
Two Fee Deep-Dives
Subclass 485 Fee Guide
The full timeline of two increases in one year, the latest charges by stream, second 485 and family member charges. Read the 485 fee guide →
Partner Visa Fee Guide
New charges for 820/801, 309/100 and 300, the two-stage payment structure, and common questions. Read the partner visa fee guide →
Related service pages: Student visa (500) · Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate · 189 Skilled Independent · 482 Employer Sponsored · Partner Migration · Resident Return visa (RRV)
How Newstars Can Help
Newstars Education & Migration provides Australian study and migration consulting for students and families; migration advice is provided by a registered migration agent (MARN 1572947).
We can help you: cost out a complete application budget at the latest official rates (including secondary applicants and third-party costs such as health examinations and English tests); map the official charges at every step of your pathway; and prepare a complete application before lodgement to reduce the risk of extra costs caused by missing documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did visa fees rise so much in 2026?
This is the 2026-27 financial-year adjustment, made by federal legislative amendment. Major categories rose about 25% — well above the usual ~3% indexation — and some categories (RRV, Bridging visa B, subclass 485) rose much more for policy reasons. Visa application charges are set by the government; no agency can reduce or waive them.
I lodged before 1 July 2026 — do I owe the difference?
No. Visa application charges are set by the lodgement date: applications lodged before 1 July 2026 pay the rate that applied on that day, with no top-up afterwards.
Do the figures include service fees?
No. All figures on this page are official Department of Home Affairs application charges (base charge, primary applicant). Third-party costs — health examinations, English tests, skills assessments, translation and notarisation — and any consulting fees are separate.
Did charges for secondary applicants rise too?
Yes. Charges for secondary applicants aged 18+ and under 18 rose alongside the primary charge; the exact amounts differ by category — check the official schedule.
Where can I check the official rates?
The Department of Home Affairs fees-and-charges page and its Visa Pricing Estimator (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au). Figures on this page follow the official 1 July 2026 schedule, with the data date noted.
Will fees rise again?
Charges are normally adjusted each year on 1 July, but mid-year changes also happen — subclass 485 rose mid-year in March 2026. Future changes cannot be predicted; rely on the official rate on the day you lodge.
Plan Your Application Budget at the New Rates
Official charges change every year. Newstars helps you budget at the latest rates, plan your pathway and prepare complete documents.
