Visa application charges: 25 per cent rise on 1 July 2026

What changed

Amendment regulations commencing on 1 July 2026 raised the first instalment of the visa application charge by 25 per cent for most visas listed in Schedule 1 of the Migration Regulations, so most charges from that date are a quarter higher than before. Any increase is rounded to a multiple of five dollars.

• Working Holiday (417) and Work and Holiday (462): a flat AUD 330 is added to the charge for second and third applications instead of the 25 per cent rise.
• Resident Return (155, 157), Bridging B (020) and the New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (461) visa: a 200 per cent increase.
• Student (500) and Student Guardian (590): the base charge for a primary applicant rose from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500.
• Not part of the general rise: refugee and humanitarian, Temporary Protection, Safe Haven Enterprise, Protection, Pacific Engagement and Temporary Work (International Relations) visas.

First instalment for a main applicant

Amounts in AUD from 1 July 2026 for standard passports. Passports from Pacific-regional countries and some other groups pay less.

• Working Holiday (417): AUD 840 for a first-time applicant and AUD 1,000 for any other applicant, such as someone applying for a second or third visa.
• Work and Holiday (462): AUD 690 with a Pacific-regional passport. Otherwise AUD 840 for a first visa and AUD 1,000 for any other applicant.
• Second instalment: an applicant aged 18 or over who is assessed as not having functional English pays AUD 4,885 for the 189 and 190, AUD 4,890 for the 491 and 858 and for family members on the 186, and AUD 9,800 for the 186 main applicant.
• The combined onshore Partner 820/801 application and the offshore 309/100 application have a nil second instalment.

Citizenship application fee

The application fee for citizenship by conferral under the general criteria is AUD 595 for applications made on or after 1 July 2026, or AUD 365 for someone who already sat the test on an earlier application. The concession fee is AUD 85.

Still to come

The Passenger Movement Charge for people leaving Australia by air or sea will rise by AUD 10, from AUD 70 to AUD 80, from 1 January 2027.

Who it affects

Anyone lodging a visa application from 1 July 2026, and citizenship applicants.

What to check

• The exact charge for your passport and visa on the Home Affairs visa pricing page; the table shows standard-passport amounts only.
• Whether a lower row applies to you, for example for Pacific-regional passports or for Post-Higher Education Work holders applying for another 485.