Visa Fees Australia From 1 July 2026: Every Change Explained

If you are an international student, a recent graduate, or someone planning a visa application in Australia, you need to know that every major visa fee increased on 1 July 2026.

These are not the usual 3 percent adjustments. Most visa fees in the student, graduate, partner, and visitor categories went up by 25 percent or more. For some applicants, the total cost of their migration pathway has increased by thousands of dollars overnight.

Here is a complete breakdown of what changed and what it means for you.

What Changed on 1 July 2026

The Department of Home Affairs adjusts visa application charges at the start of each financial year. In most years, increases follow CPI indexation and sit around 2 to 5 percent.

This year is different. The increases are targeted and significant, particularly for student and graduate pathways.

The fee that applies to your application is the one in effect on the date the Department receives it. Starting an application before 1 July is not the same as lodging it before 1 July.

Student and Graduate Visa Fees

The student and graduate visa categories saw the sharpest increases.

The Student Visa (500) has now gone from $710 to $2,500 since July 2024. That is a 252 percent increase in two years.

The 485 Temporary Graduate Visa was $2,300 in February 2026. It doubled to $4,600 on 1 March 2026 with no consultation or warning. Four months later, it has jumped again to $5,750. That is a 150 percent increase within a single financial year.

A student who completes a two year masters degree now pays $2,500 for the student visa and $5,750 for the graduate visa. That is $8,250 in government fees alone, before health cover, skills assessments, police checks, or professional advice. Two years ago, the same pathway cost roughly $2,400 in visa fees.

A new pricing tier has also been introduced for ELICOS and Non-Award students. Despite industry groups lobbying for a reduction below $2,000, the government set the ELICOS rate at $2,050. This is the first time ELICOS has had a separate fee structure.

Partner and Family Visa Fees

Partner and family visa fees also increased significantly.

The partner visa increase is one of the most impactful. At $11,710, Australia now has one of the most expensive partner visa fees in the world. For couples who have been preparing their application and budgeting based on the previous fee, this is an extra $2,345 they did not plan for.

The partner visa fee has risen from approximately $2,060 in 2010 to $11,710 today. That is more than a fivefold increase in 16 years.

Visitor and Training Visa Fees

Visitor and training visas also saw above-CPI increases.

The visitor visa offshore increase from $200 to $250 may seem modest, but for families visiting Australia or businesses that regularly bring staff over for short trips, the costs add up quickly.

The onshore visitor visa increase from $500 to $630 affects people already in Australia who need to extend their stay.

Skilled and Employer Sponsored Changes

Beyond visa application charges, the salary thresholds for employer-sponsored visas also increased from 1 July 2026.

The salary threshold increases are indexed to Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) and apply to Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand), Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme), and Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) nominations lodged from 1 July 2026.

For employers, this means any new nomination must meet the higher salary requirement. Combined with the introduction of payday super from 1 July 2026, where employers must now pay superannuation at the same time as wages rather than quarterly, the total cost of sponsoring a worker has increased.

The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) fees also increased. A review of a migration decision now costs $3,727, up from the previous amount.

Why These Increases Are Larger Than Usual

In a typical year, visa fees go up by 2 to 5 percent in line with CPI. This year, most student and visitor categories increased by 25 percent.

The pattern over the past two years is clear. The student visa went from $710 to $1,600 in July 2024, then to $2,000 in July 2025, and now to $2,500. The 485 went from $1,730 to $2,300 in July 2025, then doubled to $4,600 in March 2026, and has now jumped to $5,750.

The government has framed these increases as reflecting the cost of administering the migration system and the value of the rights conferred by these visas. The May 2026 federal budget estimated the earlier 485 fee doubling would generate $1.2 billion over five years.

Regardless of the reasoning, the practical effect is that Australia now has some of the most expensive visa fees in the world. The student visa at $2,500 is roughly three times what the United Kingdom charges and nearly nine times the United States fee. The 485 at $5,750 is the most expensive post-study work visa globally.

What This Means If You Are Planning to Apply

If you are preparing a visa application right now, the new fees apply to any application the Department receives from 1 July 2026 onwards.

There are a few things you should do.

First, confirm the exact fee for your visa subclass on the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before you lodge. The fees listed in this article are for primary applicants only. Secondary applicants, including partners and children, attract additional charges.

Second, if you are on a graduate visa and considering your next step, review your options now. The cost of applying for a further visa has increased across the board, so understanding which pathway gives you the best outcome is more important than ever.

Third, if you are an employer considering sponsoring a worker, check that the salary you are offering meets the new TSMIT of $79,499. Any nomination lodged from 1 July 2026 must meet this threshold.

Fourth, do not rush an application just to avoid a fee increase that has already taken effect. A refused application means you lose the entire fee with no refund. Getting the application right is always more important than getting it in quickly.

If you are unsure about your situation, speak to a registered migration agent who can assess your specific circumstances and advise on the best pathway forward.