Applying for an Australian visa has always involved more than completing forms and gathering documents.
Before you submit an application, you also need a realistic budget that takes into account government charges and the additional costs that can arise along the way. From 1 July 2026, that planning became even more important after the Australian government increased application charges across several visa categories.
It also helps to remember that the visa application charge is rarely the only cost involved. Health examinations, skills assessments, police clearances, document translations and, in many cases, professional guidance all add to the final bill.
None of that is optional padding. Home Affairs assesses applications against strict requirements, and missing documentation or an incomplete assessment can cost far more in delays than the paperwork itself.
In this post, we’ll explain the most significant Australian visa fee increases in 2026, who they affect, and why it pays to understand the full cost before lodging your application. Feel free to confirm with the government’s own current visa pricing table at any point while reading.
Which Australian Visa Fees Increased the Most?
The scale of the increase depends heavily on which visa you are applying for. A handful of pathways carried most of the weight of this change, and they are worth knowing in detail if you are planning to apply in the next year.
| Visa | Previous fee | New fee |
| Partner visa | $9,365 | $11,710 |
| Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) | $4,910 | $6,135 |
| Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) | $4,910 | $6,140 |
| Student visa (Subclass 500) | $2,000 | $2,500 |
| Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) | $3,210 | $4,015 |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) | $4,910 | $6,140 |
These figures reflect the primary applicant charge published by the Department of Home Affairs from 1 July 2026.
Most of these figures represent an increase of about 25 per cent on the previous charge, applied in one step rather than the usual small annual adjustment tied to inflation. The changes were introduced through the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026, which sets out the updated fee schedule on the Federal Register of Legislation.
For a family applying together, the effect multiplies quickly, since each accompanying partner or child generally attracts an additional charge of their own.
What Do the New Working Holiday and Bridging Visa Fees Mean?
The changes did not stop with skilled, partner and student visas. If you’re planning a working holiday or you’re already in Australia waiting on another visa, there are a couple of increases that affect you as well:
Working Holiday visa applicants should expect higher application charges
Some visa categories moved beyond the general increase seen across skilled and family visas.
If you are applying for a first Working Holiday or Work and Holiday visa, the government application charge is now $840. Anyone applying for a second or third visa under those programs will now pay $1,000.
If you are planning to stay in Australia for longer, it is worth including these higher charges in your budget well before your application is due.
The Bridging Visa B increase is easy to overlook
Another change worth noting is the Bridging Visa B application charge, which increased from $190 to $575. This visa allows eligible applicants to leave Australia and return while a substantive visa application is still being processed.
If overseas travel is likely before a decision is made, it is sensible to account for this expense early instead of discovering it when travel plans are already in place.
How Have the Changes Affected Employers Sponsoring Overseas Workers?
Government application charges are only one part of this year’s changes. For eligible nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, the Core Skills Income Threshold increased to $79,423.
Employers planning to sponsor overseas workers should check that proposed salaries meet the updated threshold before lodging a nomination.
A role prepared using last year’s figures may no longer satisfy the current requirement. This, of course, makes it quite worthwhile to review recruitment plans before submitting an application.
Why Careful Budgeting Matters Before You Apply
Working out the true visa application fees Australia requires for your situation is not always straightforward; therefore, budgeting is always an important part of the equation.
The Department of Home Affairs provides a Visa Pricing Estimator on its website, and it is worth using before you commit to a lodgement date, since the same visa subclass can carry different Australian visa costs depending on your household.
Nonetheless, here are reasons why budgeting always take precedence:
Government fees are only one part of the overall cost
The published government charge is often the first figure applicants consider, but it is rarely the only expense involved.
Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to budget for health examinations, police certificates, English language testing, skills assessments, certified translations and additional government charges for partners or children included in the application.
The government charge is only part of the picture. As soon as additional applicants and supporting requirements are factored in, the overall cost can become very exorbitant.
Unexpected additional fees can spike the total costs of your application
If you are comparing visa application fees in Australia across different visa options, it is worth using the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging your application. The amount payable depends on the visa subclass, the number of applicants included and the date payment is made.
Someone paying the student visa fee in Australia may have a more straightforward government charge than an applicant pursuing a skilled migration pathway, where assessments and additional applicant charges can significantly increase the total cost.
Taking the time to review the complete picture can help you avoid unexpected expenses.
Before You Lodge Your Application
For many people, the visa application fee is the figure that grabs attention first. Once you start preparing your application, though, it quickly becomes clear that it is only one piece of a much bigger process. Documents need to be gathered, timelines need to line up and, depending on the visa, there may be other requirements to complete before you are ready to lodge.
That is why it pays to plan the whole application rather than focusing on the government charge alone. Spending a little time getting everything in order can make the process far smoother, especially if your application involves family members, employer sponsorship or other circumstances that need extra attention.
When you’re unsure about any part of the process, getting advice from a trusted immigration agent in Sydney before you lodge is often far easier than trying to fix an issue after your application has already been submitted.
This article is intended as general information only and should not be relied upon as migration or legal advice.
Meta Title: Australian Visa Fee Increases 2026 – Important Update
Meta Description: Learn about the Australian visa fee increases from 1 July 2026, the biggest changes, and how to budget before lodging your visa application.
Tags: Australian Visa Fees 2026, Australian Australian Immigration, Skilled Migration Australia, Australian Visa Costs
