From today, visa application charges for most visa subclasses have risen by around 25 per cent, alongside more moderate CPI-linked increases to Australian citizenship fees and to Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) and Federal Circuit and Family Court fees.
The increases follow the registration of the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 (F2026L00874) on the Federal Register of Legislation on 30 June 2026, commencing 1 July 2026. The same instrument introduces, for the first time, a lower concessional base application charge for applicants holding a passport from one of 13 Pacific-regional countries, and fixes the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) directly in the Migration Regulations 1994 rather than by a separate Ministerial instrument.
1. Visa application charges: most categories rise by around 25 per cent
The table below compares the standard base application charge immediately before 1 July 2026 with the new charge from 1 July 2026, for a selection of commonly used visa subclasses. Most have increased by close to 25 per cent; Bridging Visa B and the Resident Return Visa have increased by a much larger margin, and the student visa has increased only by CPI (2.5 per cent).
•Partner (Subclass 820/309): $9,365 → $11,710 (+25.0%)
•Prospective Marriage (Subclass 300): $9,365 → $11,710 (+25.0%)
•Child (Subclass 802): $3,235 → $4,040 (+24.9%)
•Employer Nomination PR (Subclass 186): $4,910 → $6,140 (+25.1%)
•Skilled Independent (Subclass 189): $4,910 → $6,135 (+24.9%)
•Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190): $4,910 → $6,140 (+25.1%)
•Skills in Demand (Subclass 482): $3,210 → $4,015 (+25.1%)
•Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485): $4,600 → $5,750 (+25.0%)
•Student (Subclass 500): $2,000 → $2,050 (+2.5%)
• Visitor (Subclass 600), applicant outside Australia: $200 → $250 (+25.0%)
•Working Holiday (Subclass 417): $670 → $840 (+25.4%)
•Work and Holiday (Subclass 462): $670 → $840 (+25.4%)
•Short Stay Specialist Work (Subclass 400): $430 → $535 (+24.4%)
•Training (Subclass 407): $430 → $535 (+24.4%)
•Temporary Activity (Subclass 408): $430 → $535 (+24.4%)
•Medical Treatment (Subclass 602): $380 → $480 (+26.3%)
•Resident Return Visa (Subclass 155): $490 → $1,475 (+201.0%)
•Bridging Visa B (Subclass 020): $190 → $575 (+202.6%)
2. New concessional rate for Pacific-region country passport holders
Alongside the general increase, the regulations introduce a reduced base application charge for applicants who hold a valid passport issued by a "Pacific-regional country", partly offsetting the increase described above for those applicants. The regulations define this term to cover:
•Federated States of Micronesia
•Fiji
•Kiribati
•Nauru
•Palau
•Papua New Guinea
•Republic of the Marshall Islands
•Samoa
•Solomon Islands
•Timor-Leste
•Tonga
•Tuvalu
•Vanuatu
This concession is built into a very wide range of visa subclasses, including partner, parent, child and other family visas, employer-sponsored and business/investor visas, skilled and regional visas, retirement and medical treatment visas, training visas, bridging visas, and the Skills in Demand visa. The list below shows the new base application charge for a sample of subclasses, comparing the Pacific-regional country rate with the standard rate (i.e. the "new fee" already shown above) that applies to all other applicants.
•Partner (Subclass 820/309): $9,600 (Pacific-regional) vs $11,710 (standard)
•Employer Nomination PR (Subclass 186): $5,035 (Pacific-regional) vs $6,140 (standard)
•Skilled Independent (Subclass 189): $5,030 (Pacific-regional) vs $6,135 (standard)
•Skills in Demand (Subclass 482): $3,290 (Pacific-regional) vs $4,015 (standard)
•Visitor (Subclass 600), applicant outside Australia: $205 (Pacific-regional) vs $250 (standard)
3. Australian citizenship application fees
Schedule 1 of the amending regulations increases a number of fees under the Australian Citizenship Regulation 2016, effective for applications made on or after 1 July 2026. These increases are much more modest than the visa application charge increases above, broadly tracking CPI.
•By conferral - standard application, test required: $575 → $595 (+3.5%)
4. Administrative Review Tribunal and Federal Circuit and Family Court fees
•ART - review of a migration decision: $3,580 → $3,727 (+4.1%)
•Federal Circuit Court - migration application, full fee: $4,015 → $4,180 (+4.1%)
5. Income thresholds: TSMIT and FWHIT
Two income thresholds relevant to sponsored skilled visas have also changed. These are not application fees, but they affect visa eligibility and cost considerations for sponsoring employers and skilled visa applicants.
• Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT): $76,515 → $79,423 (+3.8%)
•Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT): $183,100 → $190,100 (+3.8%)
6. What this means in practice
•Budget for a higher fee than you might be expecting. Most visa charges are rising by around 25 per cent, so if you are planning to apply for a partner, family, skilled or employer-sponsored visa, the government fee will be noticeably more than it was last year.
•Timing matters. The fee you pay is generally the one that applies on the day you actually lodge your application, not the day you started preparing it.
•Pacific passport holders may pay less. If you or a family member included in your application holds a passport from one of the 13 Pacific-regional countries listed above, you could be eligible for a lower fee – it is worth checking before you lodge.
•This is a summary, not the full picture. There are many more visa types and fee categories than we have covered here, and fees can change again. Before you apply, get in touch with our team so we can confirm the exact cost for your situation and help you avoid any surprises.
About Rocket & Ash Immigration Law
At Rocket & Ash Immigration Law, we specialise in helping partners, graduates, and professionals navigate the complexities of Australian immigration law. Our expertise in visa applications ensures that you receive tailored advice and support throughout your immigration journey.
If you require assistance or have any other immigration-related queries, our experienced team can help.
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Written for Ines Jusufspahic, LPN: 5511366
This article does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. For up-to-date information, please consult an immigration professional.