Australia Visa Fee Increases July 2026: What You Need to Know

From 1 July 2026, Australia's Department of Home Affairs increased visa application fees across most visa categories. The australia student visa fee increase july 2026 is the headline change: the Student visa (subclass 500) fee for higher education and VET studies rose from AU$2,000 to AU$2,500 for most applicants. Whether you are planning to study, work, migrate, or visit Australia, understanding these new costs is essential for budgeting and planning your application. This guide covers the updated visa fees, which categories are affected, and how to prepare financially.

Visa fees in Australia are set by legislative instrument and can change with little notice. The July 2026 increase was enacted under the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 (F2026L00874). These changes apply to applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026, so timing your application matters if you are close to that date.

Student Visa Fee Increase July 2026: Exact Figures and ASEAN Concession

The Student visa (subclass 500) fee structure from 1 July 2026 is as follows:

  • Higher education and VET (most applicants): AU$2,500
  • Higher education and VET (ASEAN country passport holders): AU$2,050
  • English-language studies (ELICOS): AU$2,050

The ASEAN concession is not automatically visible in the standard fee table. It is applied through the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator based on your passport country. If you are from an ASEAN nation, always use the estimator rather than relying on the headline fee figure.

For students from Pacific-regional countries, a concession of approximately AU$745 may also apply, again calculated through the Visa Pricing Estimator rather than appearing as a separate line item in the published fee schedule.

Beyond the visa fee itself, international students must also budget for:

  • Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC): typically AU$300–600 per year depending on provider and coverage level
  • Health assessment fees: AU$200–400 if required by the Department of Home Affairs
  • Police clearance certificates: AU$50–150 depending on your country of origin
  • English language test fees (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE): AU$300–400

When combined, the total cost of a student visa application can reach AU$3,500 or more before you arrive in Australia.

How Much Has the Student Visa Fee Risen Since 2022?

The July 2026 increase is not a one-off adjustment. The subclass 500 student visa application fee has risen by approximately 285% since 2022, when it stood at a much lower base. This is a significant escalation driven by a deliberate government cost-recovery policy rather than routine CPI indexing.

For context, Canada has not increased its study permit application fee since 2022, and the United States has not increased its F-1/M-1/J-1 visa application fee in that same period. Students choosing between study destinations should factor this long-run fee trajectory into their planning, not just the current figure.

485 Temporary Graduate Visa: It Doubled Twice in One Year

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) has the most dramatic fee history of any visa category in this cycle. Two separate increases occurred within a single year:

  • March 2026: The fee doubled to AU$4,600.
  • 1 July 2026: The fee rose a further 25% to AU$5,750.

Combined, this represents a fee increase of roughly 150% since early 2026. If you graduated in Australia and are currently deciding whether to apply for a 485, this timeline matters. Applications lodged before 1 July 2026 were subject to the AU$4,600 fee; applications from 1 July 2026 onwards incur AU$5,750.

The subclass 485 fee has also risen by approximately 148% since 2022. This trajectory, combined with the policy intent to reduce temporary graduate numbers, makes the 485 one of the most cost-sensitive visa decisions for international graduates currently studying in Australia.

Skilled Migration Visa Fees from July 2026

Skilled migration visas have also increased. These visas include the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), and Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491).

As of 1 July 2026, the primary applicant fee for skilled migration visas is approximately AU$3,715 for the main categories. Dependent family members (spouse and children) each pay around AU$1,860.

The skilled migration pathway also involves additional costs before you submit your visa application:

  • Skills assessment (through your relevant professional body): AU$300–1,000
  • State sponsorship nomination fee (for subclass 190 and 491): AU$300–500 depending on the state
  • Health assessment (if required): AU$200–400
  • Police clearance certificates: AU$50–150
  • English language testing: AU$300–400

For a skilled worker with a spouse and one child, the visa fee alone could exceed AU$7,400. Combined with pre-visa costs, skilled migration can cost AU$8,500–10,000 before visa grant.

Partner Visa and Family Reunion Fees

Partner visas (subclass 801 for permanent, subclass 820 for temporary) have also increased as of 1 July 2026. The partner visa application fee is now approximately AU$3,160 for the primary applicant.

If you are sponsoring a partner to Australia, you will also need to pay a sponsorship fee of around AU$200, separate from the visa application fee itself.

Additional costs for partner visa applications include:

  • Health assessment: AU$200–400
  • Police clearance certificates: AU$50–150
  • Character assessment fees: varies by country
  • Translation of documents: AU$100–500 depending on document volume

Partner visas typically take 12–24 months to process, so budget accordingly. Many couples are surprised by the total cost when sponsorship fees, visa fees, health assessments, and character checks are combined.

Visitor and Tourist Visa Costs

Visitor visas (subclass 600) are used for tourism, visiting family, or short-term business visits. As of 1 July 2026, the Visitor visa fee is approximately AU$190 for a standard application.

However, the actual cost depends on your nationality and the type of visitor visa you need:

  • Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) for eligible countries: AU$20
  • Visitor visa (subclass 600) standard processing: AU$190
  • Visitor visa expedited processing: AU$1,000+ (if you need faster processing)

Many visitors from countries like the UK, USA, Canada, and New Zealand can apply for an ETA, which is significantly cheaper than a full Visitor visa. Check the Department of Home Affairs website to see if your country is eligible.

Temporary visitors are not eligible for Medicare and must have private travel insurance or Overseas Visitor Health Cover.

Why Are Fees Increasing? The Policy and Budget Context

The fee increases are not purely inflation adjustments. The May federal budget indicated that earlier fee restructurings were expected to generate approximately AU$1.2 billion in additional revenue over five years. The government's stated rationale combines cost recovery with a policy intent to manage the volume of temporary visa applications, particularly in the student and temporary graduate streams.

The July 2026 changes were enacted under a specific legislative instrument: the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 (F2026L00874). If you need to verify the fee change for an employer, institution, or legal purpose, this is the reference to cite. It is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation at legislation.gov.au.

Understanding the policy context matters for students deciding between Australia and other destinations. If Australia's fees continue to rise while competitor countries hold theirs steady, total cost of study over a four-year degree plus post-study work visa becomes a meaningful differentiator.

How to Prepare for Visa Fee Increases

If you are planning to apply for an Australian visa, here are practical steps to manage the increased costs:

  1. Check the official Department of Home Affairs website for the most current fees before submitting your application
  2. Use the Visa Pricing Estimator rather than the published fee table if you hold a passport from an ASEAN or Pacific country, as concessions are applied through that tool only
  3. Calculate the total cost including visa fee, health assessments, character checks, and any sponsorship fees
  4. Budget for currency exchange if you are paying in a currency other than AUD
  5. Consider timing your application before fee increases if you are close to a deadline
  6. Gather all required documents before applying to avoid delays and additional costs
  7. Save receipts and payment confirmations for your records

Many visa applicants pay their fees through credit card or bank transfer. Check with your bank about international transaction fees, as these can add 2–3% to your total cost.

Payment Methods and Processing Times

The Department of Home Affairs accepts payment through credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and bank transfer. Payment must be made in Australian dollars.

Processing times vary by visa type:

  • Student visas: typically 1–3 months
  • Skilled migration visas: 8–12 months or longer
  • Partner visas: 12–24 months
  • Visitor visas: 1–14 days for standard processing

Paying your visa fee does not guarantee faster processing. Processing times depend on the complexity of your application, completeness of your documentation, and current departmental workload.

Refunds and Fee Disputes

Visa fees are generally non-refundable once your application has been lodged. However, there are limited circumstances where you may be eligible for a refund:

  • If your application is withdrawn before a decision is made
  • If you paid the wrong amount due to a system error
  • If your visa is refused and you paid for a multi-year visa

If you believe you have been charged incorrectly, contact the Department of Home Affairs within 28 days of payment. Keep all payment receipts and correspondence for your records.

Sources

For the most current visa fee information, visit these official Australian government sources:

Once you know the current fees, the next step is the application itself — see our guide to lodging a visa application in Sydney, and if you are applying on a student visa, our cost breakdown and budget planning guide covers what else to budget for beyond the visa fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Australia student visa fee from 1 July 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the Student visa (subclass 500) fee for higher education and VET studies is AU$2,500 for most applicants. Students from ASEAN countries pay AU$2,050, as do students enrolling in English-language (ELICOS) courses.

How much has the Australia student visa fee increased since 2022?

The subclass 500 student visa fee has risen by approximately 285% since 2022. This reflects a deliberate government cost-recovery and migration management policy, not routine inflation indexing.

What is the 485 Temporary Graduate visa fee from July 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa fee is AU$5,750. The fee had already doubled to AU$4,600 in March 2026, meaning it rose roughly 150% within a single year.

Do ASEAN students get a concession on the July 2026 student visa fee?

Yes. Students holding passports from ASEAN countries pay AU$2,050 instead of the standard AU$2,500. This concession is applied through the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator based on passport country, not in the published fee table.

What legislative instrument introduced the July 2026 visa fee increases?

The July 2026 fee increases were enacted under the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026, registered as F2026L00874 on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Why is Australia increasing visa fees so much?

The federal government's May budget indicated that visa fee restructurings were projected to generate approximately AU$1.2 billion in additional revenue over five years. The policy also aims to manage the volume of temporary visa applications, particularly in the student and graduate streams.

Are Australia visa fees higher than Canada or the US?

As of mid-2026, Australia's student and temporary graduate visa fees are substantially higher than comparable fees in Canada and the United States. Canada has not increased its study permit fee since 2022, and the US has not increased its F-1/M-1/J-1 fee in that period.

Are visa fees refundable if my Australia visa application is refused?

Visa fees are generally non-refundable once an application is lodged, including in cases of refusal. Refunds may apply only in limited circumstances such as a departmental payment error or withdrawal before a decision is made.

This is general information only. It is not legal, migration, financial, tax, medical, or professional advice. Always check official sources before acting.