How Australian Visa Application Fees Work (2026

The tool above pulls current pricing by visa type. For a full walkthrough of a specific visa's costs and payment stages, see the dedicated cost page for that visa — for example the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (494) visa cost or the Skills in Demand (482) visa cost and fees page.

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What Is the Visa Application Charge?

The Visa Application Charge is the fee you pay to have the Department assess your visa application. It is not a payment for the visa itself, and paying it does not guarantee approval.

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The VAC is made up of several possible components:

• Base application charge. The main fee, paid once per application by the primary applicant. If this charge is nil, every other component is also nil.

• Additional applicant charge. A separate fee for each extra person included in a combined application, such as a partner or dependent child.

• Non-internet application charge. Applies once per application if you lodge on paper or by post instead of through ImmiAccount, for visas that offer online lodgement.

• Subsequent temporary application charge. Applies to some temporary visas based on how much time you have already spent in Australia on temporary visas.

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You pay the VAC in up to two instalments. The first instalment is due when you lodge your application. A second instalment, where one applies, is due after your application is approved in principle but before the visa is granted. If your application is refused or withdrawn before that point, you do not pay the second instalment.

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What Else Do You Pay Beyond the VAC?

The government fee is rarely the only cost. Depending on the visa, you may also need to budget for:

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Employer costs, for sponsored visas

Employers sponsoring a worker on a Skills in Demand (482) or Employer Nomination Scheme (186) visa pay their own sponsorship application fee, a nomination fee, and the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy. The SAF levy is charged per year of the nomination for 482 visas, and as a one-off amount for 186 and 494 nominations. It is unlawful for an employer to pass any of these costs on to the sponsored worker.

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Skills assessments

Most skilled migration visas require an assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation, paid directly to that body, not to the Department.

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English language tests

Providers such as IELTS or PTE set and collect their own test fees separately from your visa application.

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Health examinations and police checks

Panel doctors and police agencies charge their own fees for the checks required to meet visa health and character criteria.

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Migration agent fees

If you engage a registered migration agent, their professional fees are separate from every government charge listed above.

None of these third-party costs appear in the Visa Pricing Estimator or in most fee checker tools, since they are set independently and vary by provider and country.

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Do You Pay a Card Surcharge?

A surcharge applies when you pay a visa application charge, sponsorship fee, or nomination fee by credit card or PayPal through ImmiAccount. The rate depends on the card type used. Paying by BPAY or a linked bank account, where offered, avoids the surcharge. Check your daily card limit before you pay — a large combined application can exceed standard daily limits.

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Are There Fee Concessions?

Some visa applicants pay a lower VAC. Citizens of Pacific Island countries, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN member countries may qualify for a reduced application charge on certain visas, including the Student (500) visa. The concession applies automatically at payment if your passport details meet the eligibility settings — you do not need to apply for it separately.

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Can You Get a Refund?

Visa application charges are generally not refundable, even if your application is refused or you decide to withdraw it. This is because the fee pays for the Department to assess your application, not for a successful outcome.

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Refunds are only granted in narrow, defined circumstances — for example, if you were charged twice for the same application, paid more than the correct amount, or the applicant died before a decision was made. Full detail on eligible circumstances sits on the Department's getting a refund page.

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If your visa requires a second instalment and your application is refused or withdrawn before that instalment falls due, you simply do not pay it — there is nothing to refund.

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When Do Visa Fees Change?

The Department typically reviews and increases visa fees each year, usually effective 1 July. Your fee is locked in based on the date your application is received, not the date you started preparing it — so a fee increase between when you begin gathering documents and when you lodge will apply to you if your application arrives after the change takes effect.

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If you are planning to lodge close to 1 July, check the current pricing before you pay, and budget for the possibility of an increase if your timeline slips past that date.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is my visa fee based on when I apply or when Home Affairs receives it?

Your fee is based on the date the Department receives your application, not the date you complete or submit your paperwork internally. If a price increase takes effect between those two dates, the new charge applies.

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Do family members pay separate visa fees?

Most visas that allow combined applications charge an additional applicant charge for each extra person included, on top of the base application charge paid by the primary applicant. The exact additional charge varies by visa and by the applicant's age.

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Can my employer pay my visa application fee?

Yes, an employer can choose to cover a sponsored employee's visa application charge as part of the sponsorship arrangement, though this is a private arrangement between employer and employee, not a government requirement. Sponsorship, nomination, and SAF levy costs must legally be paid by the employer and cannot be passed to the worker.

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Do all Australian visas have an application charge?

No. Some visas, including the eVisitor (651) and certain ETA (601) applications, have a nil application charge. Bridging visas generally do not attract a fee either.

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What happens if the visa fee increases after I lodge my application?

Once your application is validly lodged and the first instalment is paid in full at the rate current on that date, a later fee increase does not apply retroactively to your application.

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Sources:

• Department of Home Affairs — Fees and charges for visas

• Department of Home Affairs — Base application charge

• Department of Home Affairs — Getting a refund

• Department of Home Affairs — Refunds — visa application charge

• Department of Employment and Workplace Relations — Skilling Australians Fund levy

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This page explains how visa fees are calculated. It is general information, not migration advice. Confirm the current charge for your specific circumstances using the fee checker above or by speaking with a registered migration agent.