Australian Visa Fees Increased from 1 July 2026: What Applicants Need to Know

Date: 01 July 2026

The Australian Government has increased visa application charges from 1 July 2026, affecting a wide range of visa subclasses including visitor visas, student visas, skilled visas, partner visas, employer-sponsored visas and temporary graduate visas.

What is a Visa Application Charge?

A Visa Application Charge, often referred to as a VAC, is the government fee paid to the Department of Home Affairs when lodging a visa application. This is separate from professional fees you pay for assistance on your application from a Registered Migration Agent or Lawyer, medical checks, police checks, skills assessments, translations, sponsorship or nomination fees, and payment surcharges.

Key Australian Visa Fee Increases from 1 July 2026

Visa / Application Type	Before 1 July 2026	From 1 July 2026
SC 600 Visitor visa — Onshore	$500	$630
SC 600 Visitor visa — Offshore	$200	$250
SC 500 Student visa	$2,000	$2,500
SC 485 Temporary Graduate visa	$4,600	$5,750
SC 189 Skilled Independent visa	$4,910	$6,135
SC 190 Skilled Nominated visa	$4,910	$6,140
SC 491 Skilled Regional visa	$4,910	$6,140
SC 407 Training visa	$430	$535
SC 482 Skills in Demand visa	$3,210	$4,015
SC 186 Employer Nomination visa	$4,910	$6,140
SC 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa	$4,910	$6,140
SC 300 Prospective Marriage visa	$9,365	$11,710
SC 820/801 Onshore Partner visa	$9,365	$11,710
SC 309/100 Offshore Partner visa	$9,365	$11,710
Child visa — Offshore & Onshore	$3,235	$4,040
Resident Return visa — SC 155/157	$490	$1,475

Where you can check

Before lodging your visa application, you can use the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator to get an estimate of the government visa application charge that may apply to your situation.

The estimator can help you check the likely base application charge and other possible visa charges based on the information you enter. However, the Department notes that the estimator provides a basic estimate only, and the final amount may depend on your individual circumstances at the time of lodgement.

It is also important to remember that the Visa Pricing Estimator generally does not include every cost associated with a visa application. Depending on the visa subclass, you may also need to budget for:

health examinations
police checks
biometrics
skills assessments
English tests
translations
nomination or sponsorship fees
payment surcharges
professional fees, if you choose to use a migration professional

For some applicants, additional charges may also apply, such as charges for secondary applicants, second instalment charges or the Subsequent Temporary Application Charge for certain temporary visa applications lodged in Australia.

Because visa costs can vary depending on the visa subclass, location of application, family members included, and previous visa history, it is always best to check the latest fee before lodging.