The Reserve Bank of Australia has banned surcharges on debit, prepaid and credit card payments made through the eftpos, Mastercard and Visa networks from 1 October 2026. American Express has also confirmed they will ban credit card surcharges for their customers.
If you have ever paid a visa application charge through ImmiAccount, you will have noticed a small extra amount added at the checkout for paying by card. From 1 October 2026, that surcharge is gone.
Because most people pay their visa application charge by card through ImmiAccount, the Migration Institute of Australia asked the Department of Home Affairs how the ban would affect those payments. The Department has confirmed that it stopped charging the card payment surcharge from 1 October 2026.
What has not changed:
The visa application charges themselves are the same. The Department has confirmed there is no related change to the fees for any visa. The only difference is that you will no longer pay an extra percentage on top for using a card.
What this means for you:
If you are lodging a visa application on or after 1 October 2026 and paying by card through ImmiAccount, the amount you pay should be the visa application charge only, with no card surcharge added.
If you lodged and paid before 1 October 2026, the surcharge that applied at the time will have been charged as normal.
For clients of Rocket & Ash Immigration Law, this does not change anything about how we prepare or lodge your application. It simply means the card payment will cost a little less than it used to. If we have already received your client trust deposit which includes the Department credit card surcharge, we will refund that to you once your matter has been completed
A quick note on costs:
Visa application charges can still change for other reasons, including the Department's usual fee adjustments, this normally takes place on 1 July every year.
However, we have seen certain visa types indexed up without any prior warning, like the Subclass 500 student visa.
If you are working out what an application will cost, it is always worth checking the current charge with us or on the Department's website shortly before you lodge.
About Rocket & Ash Immigration Law
At Rocket & Ash Immigration Law, we specialise in helping families, couples, and businesses navigate the complexities of Australian immigration law. Our expertise in visa applications ensures that you receive tailored advice and support throughout your immigration journey.
Please book a free 15-minute discussion with our team if you have further questions.
Written by Jay Hronsky, Practice Director
This article does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. For up-to-date information, please consult an immigration professional.
