Australian Visa Fee Increases from 1 July 2026: Full Breakdown

What Changed on 1 July 2026?

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Each financial year, the Department of Home Affairs reviews and adjusts visa application charges. In most years, these adjustments are modest, incremental increases tied to movements in the Consumer Price Index. The increases that took effect on 1 July 2026 are different compared to other years. Across almost every major visa category, fees have risen by approximately 25%, and in some categories the increases exceed 200%. These are not routine administrative adjustments. For many applicants, the combined effect of these changes will materially alter the financial planning required to pursue an Australian visa.

This article works through the key increases category by category, explains what they mean for applicants currently in the system, and highlights the income threshold changes that affect employer-sponsored workers — a change that receives less attention than the headline visa fees but is equally consequential.

Partner Visas (Subclass 309/100 and Subclass 820/80)

One of the most popular Australian permanent resident pathways is the partner visa, and it has seen one of the largest single increases in the year 2026 adjustment. The base application charge for both the offshore Partner (Provisional and Migrant) visa (Subclass 309/100) and the onshore Partner visa (Subclass 820/801) have increased from $9,365 to $11,710 for the primary applicant. For families applying together, the costs extend further still.
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It is important to understand that this fee is non-refundable. A refused partner visa application does not entitle the applicant to a refund of the application charge, regardless of the circumstances. At a primary applicant fee of $11,710, the financial consequences of a poorly prepared application are now substantially higher than they were in 2025-26.

Onshore partner and other visa applicants who need to travel outside Australia while their application is being processed may require a Bridging Visa B (BVB). That fee has increased from $190 to $575, an increase of more than 200%, making it one of the steepest rises this financial year. The BVB is not a minor administrative formality. It is the only lawful mechanism by which an applicant on a Bridging Visa A can depart and re-enter Australia during the processing period. For applicants with family overseas, work commitments involving international travel, or a genuine need to leave Australia during what can be a multi-year processing period, this cost is now a meaningful budget item that cannot be overlooked.

Skilled and Employer-Sponsored Visas

Points-Tested Skilled Visas

For points-tested skilled migrants, both the Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) and the Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) have seen substantial increases. The Subclass 189 has risen from $4,910 to $6,135 for the primary applicant, and the Subclass 190 from $4,910 to $6,140. The difference between the two is negligible at the primary applicant level, but both represent an increase of more than $1,200 compared to the previous year.
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Employer-Sponsored Visas

For employer-sponsored applicants, the Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) has increased from $3,210 to $4,015 across all three streams. One feature of the Subclass 482 fee structure worth noting is that the additional applicant charge for those aged 18 and over matches the primary applicant charge. The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (Subclass 186) has increased from $4,910 to $6,140, again across all three streams.
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Income Thresholds: The Change Applicants Often Miss

Beyond visa application charges, the income thresholds that govern employer-sponsored nominations have also increased from 1 July 2026. These thresholds determine whether a sponsoring employer's offered salary meets the minimum required for a valid nomination. A nomination that falls below the applicable threshold cannot be approved, regardless of how strong the rest of the application may be.

The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), which applies to nominations under the Subclass 482 Core Skills stream and the Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream, has increased from $76,515 to $79,423 per annum. The Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT), which applies to the Specialist Skills stream of the Subclass 482, has increased from $141,210 to $146,576 per annum.

For applicants and sponsors who are currently mid-process or who have an employment contract negotiated against the previous thresholds, these increases require immediate attention. A nomination lodged on or after 1 July 2026 is assessed against the new figures, not the figures that applied when the offer of employment was made. If the offered salary has not been reviewed against the updated thresholds, the nomination may be invalid at the time of lodgement.

Student Visas (Subclass 500)

The student visa (Subclass 500) application charge has increased from $2,000 to $2,500 for primary applicants in the general and postgraduate research sectors. The increase is more modest for students enrolled in English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) and non-award courses, where the primary applicant charge has risen to $2,050.
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Alongside the fee change, there is a significant procedural development that student visa applicants and education providers should be aware of. Under the Administrative Review Tribunal Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Rules 2026, which came into effect on 18 May 2026, the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) now has the power to decide student visa refusal reviews without holding an oral hearing, resolving matters entirely on the written submissions and documentary evidence before it. Previously, a student visa refusal review would ordinarily proceed to a hearing where the applicant could present their case in person. That is no longer guaranteed. The quality and completeness of written material provided to the ART has, as a result, become more important than ever in student visa refusal reviews.

Working Holiday Makers (Subclass 417 and Subclass 462)

For working holiday makers, the fee increases apply across all grant years, but the impact is most pronounced for those extending to a second or third year. The first Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462) have both increased from $670 to $840 for a first grant. Second and third year extensions have increased more sharply, from $670 to $1,000 per grant.
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Neither the Subclass 417 nor the Subclass 462 carries additional applicant charges, as these are individual visas with no dependant pathway. For a working holiday maker who completes the full three-year journey under the Subclass 417, the total visa fee outlay is now $2,840, comprising $840 for the first year and $1,000 for each of the second and third years. This is a meaningful cost that should be factored into any working holiday budget from the outset, particularly given that the regional work requirements for second and third year eligibility carry their own compliance obligations.

New Zealand Citizens and Family Members (Subclass 461)

The New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa (Subclass 461) has seen one of the sharpest proportional increases in the July 2026 adjustment, rising from $445 to $1,330 for the primary applicant. That represents an increase of approximately 199%, nearly tripling the cost in a single year. For New Zealand citizens in Australia with partners, children, or other eligible family members, the cumulative cost across multiple applicants in the same family unit can be substantial.
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Appeals: Administrative Review Tribunal Fees

For applicants whose visa applications are refused and who have review rights, the cost of lodging a review with the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) has also increased from 1 July 2026. These are not visa application charges; they are the fees payable to the ART itself when challenging a decision made by the Department of Home Affairs.
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The migration review fee of $3,727 is paid upfront at the time of lodgement. A 50% reduction may be granted on financial hardship grounds, and a 50% refund is generally available where the outcome is favourable. The protection review fee operates differently. In most circumstances it is payable only if the review is unsuccessful, which reflects the particular vulnerability of protection visa applicants. The concessional fee of $100 remains unchanged.

It is also important to note that the new fees apply to any application fee paid on or after 1 July 2026, regardless of when the review application was lodged. The payment date, not the lodgement date, is what determines which fee schedule applies.

These figures mean that an applicant who is refused a partner visa and chooses to appeal faces a combined outlay of $11,710 for the original application and $3,727 for the ART review, totalling $15,437 before any legal representation costs. The financial case for ensuring an application is as strong as possible before lodgement has never been more compelling.

How Australian Migration Lawyers Can Help

The increases that took effect on 1 July 2026 change the calculus of Australian visa applications is significant. When a refused application results in a non-refundable loss of $11,710 for a partner visa, or $6,135 for a Subclass 189, the cost of an error is no longer abstract. At Australian Migration Lawyers, our team works with applicants to prepare decision-ready applications that address the legal criteria, meet documentation requirements, and give each matter the best possible foundation from the outset.

Whether you are preparing a partner visa application, navigating the employer-sponsored pathway, assessing your eligibility for a skilled visa, or considering an ART review following a refusal, we can provide you with clear and personalised advice that is specific to your circumstances. We offer expert consultation seven days a week. Reach out to our team today to discuss your situation.