Australia visa fee increase 2026 icon showing a rising cost
|

Australia’s Visa Fees Just Jumped Again. Here’s What Changed.

ByRashmi Tharuka

The Australia visa fee increase 2026 landed on 1 July, and it hit almost every visa type. For most subclasses, the rise was 25%. That’s eight times the usual yearly increase, which normally tracks inflation at 2 to 5%.

If you’re planning to apply for a visa this year, here’s what the Australia visa fee increase 2026 actually costs you, and why the government raised fees this much.

Australia Visa Fee Increase 2026: What Changed on 1 July

Under new Home Affairs regulations, most visa application charges rose 25% overnight. A few visas only rose with inflation, around 2.6%. Here’s where the big jumps landed:

  • Partner visa (subclass 820/801 or 309/100): now $11,710, up from $9,365
  • Student visa (subclass 500): now $2,500, up from $2,000
  • Skilled visas (189, 190, 491, 494, 186): now sit between $6,135 and $6,140 for the primary applicant

These fees apply only to applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026. If you lodged earlier, you keep the old fee.

The 485 Visa Got Hit Hardest

If you’re a recent graduate, this is the one to watch. The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) has gone up twice in four months:

  • Before March 2026: $2,300
  • From 1 March 2026: $4,600 (doubled)
  • From 1 July 2026: $5,750

That’s a 150% increase in under a year. If you’re applying with a partner or child, add their charges on top. A family of three now pays over $10,700 in government fees alone, before skills assessments, English tests, medicals, or agent costs.

Why the Government Raised Fees This Much

The Department of Home Affairs gave two reasons: raising revenue, and using price as a tool to reduce how many people apply. Officials have said the 485 visa was increasingly being used to extend a stay in Australia without a clear path to permanent residency, and the fee hike is meant to tighten that up.

This isn’t the first time price has been used this way, but the scale of this particular Australia visa fee increase 2026 is unusual. Most annual adjustments track inflation. This one was designed to change behaviour, not just cover costs.

What This Means for Your Planning

If you’re weighing up when to apply, waiting rarely helps anymore. Fees have risen twice in one year, and there’s no sign that trend is stopping. A few practical steps:

  • Budget for the current fee, not last year’s number
  • Factor in dependants early. Their charges add up fast
  • If you’re eligible now, applying sooner limits your exposure to another increase
  • Keep a copy of the fee schedule for your subclass, since rules on which fee applies depend on your lodgement date, not your decision date

For the exact fee for your visa subclass, always check the Department of Home Affairs fees and charges page before you lodge.

If you’re weighing a 485 against Australia’s Skills in Demand (SID) visa pathway, it’s worth comparing total costs, not just the headline number. And if permanent residency is the end goal, it helps to understand how Australia’s 185,000 PR places for 2026-27 are split across visa streams before you commit to a route. DreamShift’s career support team can help you plan the timing and paperwork around it.

FAQ on the Australia Visa Fee Increase 2026

Does the new fee apply to visas I already lodged?
No. The new fees only apply to applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026. Earlier applications keep the fee that applied when you lodged, regardless of when a decision is made.

Will visa fees rise again?
Nobody can say for certain, but fees have now risen twice in a single year. If you’re eligible to apply, treat the current fee as the best case, not the worst case.

Sources: Australia doubles Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa fee to AU$4,600, Department of Home Affairs: Fees and charges for visas, 485 Visa Fee Increased to $5,750 (July 2026 Update)

Similar Posts