Australian visa fees are only part of what a move actually costs. The application charge is the number you see on the visa page, but by the time you add health examinations, police checks, a skills assessment and an English test, the real figure can be thousands of dollars higher. This guide sets out the verified 2026 application charges for the most common visas, explains the rule that decides which fee you pay, and lists the costs that are not the visa fee. Verified 14 October 2026.
Key facts at a glance
| Who pays what | The charge depends on your subclass, stream, and where you apply from |
|---|---|
| Which date decides the fee | The date the Department receives your application, not the date you lodge |
| When fees change | Indexed on 1 July each year |
| Subsequent Temporary Application Charge | AUD700, for certain temporary visas applied for in Australia |
| Card / PayPal surcharges | Ceased from 1 October 2026 |
| Last verified | 14 October 2026 |
Visa application charges (as at 14 October 2026)
These are the “from” charges shown on each visa’s official listing page. “From” matters: it is the starting point, and streams, applicant age and location can change the total. Figures are in Australian dollars.
| Visa | Subclass | Application charge |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor — Tourist stream (outside Australia) | 600 | From AUD250.00 |
| Visitor — Tourist stream (in Australia) | 600 | From AUD630.00 |
| Visitor — Business visitor stream | 600 | AUD250.00 |
| Visitor — Frequent traveller stream | 600 | AUD1,845.00 |
| Student visa | 500 | From AUD2,500.00 |
| Temporary Graduate — Post-Vocational Education Work | 485 | From AUD5,750.00 |
| Temporary Graduate — Post-Higher Education Work | 485 | From AUD5,750.00 |
| Temporary Graduate — Second Post-Higher Education Work | 485 | From AUD2,265.00 |
| Skills in Demand (all streams) | 482 | From AUD4,015.00 |
| Skilled Independent — Points-tested stream | 189 | From AUD6,135.00 |
| Skilled Nominated | 190 | From AUD6,140.00 |
| Partner (apply in Australia) — 820 and 801 | 820/801 | From AUD11,710.00 |
| Partner (apply overseas) — 309 and 100 | 309/100 | From AUD11,710.00 |
| Bridging visa B | 020 | AUD575.00 |
Two of these are worth explaining. The Student visa (subclass 500) sits at From AUD2,500.00 — well above the old figures you will still find quoted on some sites. And the Partner visa is charged as a single application covering both the temporary and the permanent stage: you pay From AUD11,710.00 once, and the permanent subclass 801 (or 100) visa costs nothing further when it is decided. If you hold a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300), the Partner visa charge is From AUD1,955.00 instead.
If your route is employer-sponsored or points-tested, our dedicated guides cover the eligibility side: Skills in Demand (subclass 482), Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) and Skilled Independent (subclass 189).
Bringing family? Additional applicant charges apply
The “From AUD…” figure is for the main applicant. If family members are included in the same application, they usually attract an additional applicant charge, and the amount differs depending on whether each person is 18 or over or under 18 at the time you lodge. The Department treats the additional applicant charge as one of the components of the first instalment, alongside the base application charge.
This matters most for partner and student applications, where family members are commonly included. It is also why the Visa Pricing Estimator asks how many people are applying with you — the base figure on the visa page will not reflect a family. If you are applying alone, the base charge is your starting point; if you are not, budget for each additional person before you lodge, because the correct charge must be paid for the application to be valid.
The rule that decides which fee you pay
One sentence on the Department’s fees page governs the whole thing: the cost of your visa depends on the date the Department receives your application. Not the date you started, not the date you pressed submit — the date it lands with the Department. If a price increase happens between lodging and receipt, you pay the new charge.
Fees are also indexed on 1 July each year, which means the amounts above will not stay put. If you are planning a move months out, budget with headroom and re-check the current figure before you lodge.
Visa fees are indexed on 1 July each year. The figures here were verified on 14 October 2026 — always confirm the current amount with the Visa Pricing Estimator before you lodge.
The Subsequent Temporary Application Charge (AUD700)
If you are already in Australia and you apply for certain temporary visas, an extra charge can be added to the first instalment. It is called the Subsequent Temporary Application Charge, and it is AUD700. It is not a separate fee you pay later — it forms part of the amount payable when you make the application.
It is most common when people extend or renew a temporary visa from inside Australia. The Department’s own worked example on its “Calculating the visa application charge” page shows the charge being applied per applicant, and shows that it does not apply where the person’s previous application was made while they were outside Australia. Because the exact scope depends on your visa history, the safe method is to run your circumstances through the Visa Pricing Estimator, which includes this charge, or check the Subsequent temporary application charge page directly.
Surcharges: what changed on 1 October 2026
For years, paying by credit card or PayPal attracted a surcharge on top of the visa charge. That has changed. From 1 October 2026, following the government’s response to the Reserve Bank’s review of merchant card payment costs, the Department has ceased applying surcharges on all card, PayPal and UnionPay payments. So as at the date of this guide, you should not be charged extra for paying by card — but keep enough available balance to cover the full amount in one transaction, because an underpayment makes the application invalid.
The costs that are NOT the visa fee
This is the part most guides leave out. None of the following is paid to the Department as a visa charge, and none of it appears in the “From AUD…” figure. All of it is paid to third parties.
| Cost | What to expect | Who you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Health examinations | About AUD350 in Australia; varies by country overseas | Panel physician / clinic |
| English language test | About AUD150–AUD400, varies by country and test | Test centre |
| Police checks | Set by the issuing authority; see the AFP for Australian checks | AFP / overseas authority |
| Skills assessment | Varies by assessing authority and occupation | Assessing authority |
| Biometrics | Where required; not a fixed Department fee | Visa application centre |
| Migration agent fees | Set by the agent; check they are MARA-registered | Your agent |
The Department states plainly that health examination costs are paid by the applicant directly to the doctors or clinics, that costs outside Australia “can vary from country to country,” and that it does not regulate those charges. English test costs are likewise paid directly to the test centre. For a skills assessment, the fee is set by the relevant assessing authority for your occupation, so there is no single national figure — check the authority’s own page. For police checks, the Australian Federal Police publishes the current National Police Check fee.
Add all of this up and it is easy to double the headline visa fee. When you budget, treat the application charge as the floor, not the total.
Step-by-step: work out what you will actually pay
- Identify your exact subclass and stream. The same subclass can carry different charges for different streams and for onshore versus offshore applications.
- Confirm the current application charge on the visa’s listing page, then double-check it in the Visa Pricing Estimator, which also accounts for additional applicants.
- Check whether the Subsequent Temporary Application Charge applies. If you are applying in Australia for a temporary visa and have done so before, assume it may add AUD700 per liable applicant.
- Add your third-party costs: health examinations, police checks, any skills assessment, and your English test.
- Note the date rule. The fee that counts is the one in force when the Department receives your application, so lodge well before any 1 July indexation if you are close to the line.
- Keep your daily card limit high enough. Even without a surcharge, the payment must clear in full for the application to be valid.
Common mistakes
- Budgeting only the visa fee. Health, police, skills and English costs sit outside it and can be substantial.
- Relying on an old number. Fees are indexed on 1 July; anything older than the current financial year is a guess.
- Forgetting the Subsequent Temporary Application Charge. An extra AUD700 per liable applicant is easy to miss when you are renewing from inside Australia.
- Assuming a surcharge still applies. Surcharges ceased on 1 October 2026 — but the payment itself still has to clear.
- Using the lodge date instead of the received date. The Department charges on the date it receives the application.
- Paying an unregistered “agent.” Check that anyone advising you is MARA-registered before you pay them.
FAQ
How much is an Australian visa in 2026?
It depends entirely on the visa. As at 14 October 2026, a visitor visa starts from AUD250.00, a student visa from AUD2,500.00, a Temporary Graduate visa from AUD5,750.00, Skills in Demand (482) from AUD4,015.00, Skilled Independent (189) from AUD6,135.00, and a Partner visa from AUD11,710.00. Confirm the current figure in the Visa Pricing Estimator before you lodge.
Are visa fees going up?
They are indexed on 1 July each year, so yes — expect them to rise over time. The amount that applies to you is the one in force on the date the Department receives your application.
What is the Subsequent Temporary Application Charge?
It is an additional AUD700 that can apply when you are in Australia and apply for certain temporary visas, most often when renewing. It forms part of the first instalment and can apply per applicant.
Do I still pay a surcharge for paying by card?
No. From 1 October 2026 the Department ceased applying surcharges on card, PayPal and UnionPay payments. Make sure your balance still covers the full charge, because an underpayment makes the application invalid.
What costs are not included in the visa fee?
Health examinations (about AUD350 in Australia), English language tests (about AUD150–AUD400), police checks, any skills assessment, biometrics where required, and any migration agent fees. These are paid to third parties, not to the Department.
Is the Partner visa fee paid twice — once for 820 and again for 801?
No. You pay the Partner visa charge once, when you apply for the temporary and permanent stages together. The permanent subclass 801 (or 100) visa costs nothing further when it is decided.
Official sources
- Current visa pricing — Department of Home Affairs
- Visa Pricing Estimator — Department of Home Affairs
- Calculating the visa application charge (including the Subsequent Temporary Application Charge) — Department of Home Affairs
- Surcharges for payments — Department of Home Affairs
- Related costs (health, language, police checks) — Department of Home Affairs
- Partner visas (apply in Australia) — subclasses 820 and 801 — Department of Home Affairs
- Student visa (subclass 500) — Department of Home Affairs
AU0061 publishes general information, not personal migration advice. Visa rules and fees change, and eligibility depends on your individual circumstances. Always confirm the current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs or a MARA-registered migration agent before you act on anything in this guide.