The Australian government has revised its visa fees and they will be effective from July 1, 2026. These new fees will impact thousands of potential visitors, students, workers and settlers.
The new fee structure for Australian visas applies to several major visa categories, which costs more to immigrate and temporarily enter. This year’s update is part of the Australian Government’s continued work to ensure visa charges reflect the costs of administration and processing.
With fees going up, it’s more important than ever for prospective applicants to plan their finances carefully.
Australia has higher visa charges
From July 1, 2026, Australia will increase visa application fees for more than 150 visa subclasses for those who want to immigrate to Australia for work, study, business or permanent residency.
Below, we highlight the 10 major visa categories, along with updated fees, to help applicants understand the latest cost changes.
| Visa Type | Visa Fees (Pre-July) | Visa Fees (From 1 July 2026) |
| Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) | $4,910 | $6,140 |
| Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) | $4910 | $6,135 |
| Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) | $4910 | $6,135 |
| Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491) | $4910 | $6,135 |
| Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) | $2300 | $5,750 |
| Business Migration (Subclass 188A, 188B) | $10,000 | N/A |
| Significant Investor Visa (SIV) (188C) | $14,670 | N/A |
| Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) – applying onshore | $500 | $500 |
| Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) – applying offshore | $200 | $250 |
| Student and Guardian (Subclass 500 & 590) | $2,000 | $2,500 |
What does this mean for visa applicants?
If you are an applicant planning to apply for Australia PR, expect to pay higher upfront immigration costs as the revised Visa Application Charges (VACs) will be effective from 1st July 2026.
VACs are reviewed annually and normally increased in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), so similar fee increases may continue. But visa application fees are only a part of the overall cost of migration.
Applicants should also budget for costs such as English language testing, skills assessments, health examinations, police clearance certificates, biometrics and translations of documents, depending on the visa category.
It is also important for those looking to migrate under a skilled category to be aware of selection systems such as the Canberra Matrix that can have an impact on chances of being nominated for the ACT in Australia.
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