Increases in prices for various visas and citizenship

Following 1 July 2024, the Australian Government has made several changes to the costs associated with seeking a visa. Primarily, these costs were associated with the ‘visa application charge’ that occurs when a visa is lodged with the Department of Home Affairs. Additionally, new citizenship application fees were introduced on 1 July 2024.

This blog post will provide an overview of the changes to the visa application charges and citizenship fees, detailing how the changes in costs are calculated and summarise the Australian Government’s reasoning for the changes where applicable.

For potential or current applicants who need assistance understanding how these changes may affect them, contact an Australian Migration Lawyer who can consider your circumstances and provide tailored information regarding the costs associated with any application.

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Đặt lịch tư vấn

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How do application charges and fees work?

There are several things that applicants should consider before paying any relevant application charges or fees.

Visa application charges and citizenship application fees are the amount of money that must be paid to the Department of Home Affairs in order to validly lodge an application. This amount is listed in Australian Dollars ($AUD). The way these charges are calculated and applied depend on the particular visa subclass or citizenship type being applied for, sometimes there may not be an application charge and sometimes there may be multiple payments required.

Applicants should be aware that when paying these charges and fees, if PayPal or a credit card is used, a surcharge may apply. The current surcharge rates range between 1.01% and 1.99%. Applicants should also be aware that a surcharge will also apply to debit Visa or Mastercard cards.

Where applicants lodge their application via post, courier, fax, email or in person, a non-internet application charge may also apply.

Where an application includes multiple people beyond the primary applicant, the Department may charge an additional applicant or subsequent temporary application charge. These charges are in addition to the charges that the primary applicant is required to pay upon lodgement.

If the correct amount is not paid to the Department, the visa application will not be regarded as valid until the Department receives the correct amount. Failure to pay the correct charge or fee may affect the Department’s ability to process the application and fees may change during this period. In some circumstances, the Department may contact applicants or return the application where the incorrect amount has been provided.

Applicants should be aware that the visa application charge or citizenship fee is not refundable, even if the application is refused or withdrawn.

For more specific information or to understand how these fees and charges apply to your circumstances, contact Australian Migration Lawyers.

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Why do application fees increase?

Within the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), the Australian Government is empowered to change the fees and charges associated with migration processes. These increases are generally calculated in accordance with the consumer price index. The consumer price index is a number that describes the variation in prices for various goods and services in Australian households. Where the consumer price index number is greater than previous the consumer price index number, the charges and fees for migration applications increase. These increases take place on 1 July of each year.

At the time of writing, the Australian Government specifically articulated reasons for the increases to student visa charges and citizenship fees. In relation to international student visas, these increases were to reflect ‘the increasing value of education in Australia’ and the ‘Government’s commitment to restoring integrity in the international education sector’. The increases to the fees were also stated as funding a number of initiatives including measures recommended by the Universities Accord, financial support for apprentices and their employers and ongoing implementation of the Government’s migration strategy. In relation to increases in citizenship application fees, the fees ‘are changing to reflect the cost of processing applications’. 

To find out information about the costs associated with making a visa application with Australian Migration Lawyers, contact us.

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Charge and Fee Increases

While further information can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website, the following is a summary of the changes in costs associated with visa and citizenship applications.

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[Thead]

[tr]

[th] Loại thị thực[/th]

[th]Previous Fee[/th]

[th]Current Fee[/th]

[th]Difference[/th]

‍

[/tr]

[/thead]

[Thân Thể]

[tr]

[td] Partner visas (subclass 820/801, 309/100, 300)[/td]

[td]$8850[/td]

[td]$9095[/td]

[td]$245[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Adoption visa (subclass 102)[/td]

[td]$3055[/td]

[td]$3140[/td]

[td]$85[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Adoption visa (subclass 102)[/td]

[td]$3055[/td]

[td]$3140[/td]

[td]$85[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Aged Dependent Relative visa (subclass 114/838)[/td]

[td]$4990[/td]

[td]$5125[/td]

[td]$135[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Carer visa (subclass 116/836)[/td]

[td]$2055[/td]

[td]$2115[/td]

[td]$60[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Child visa (subclass 101, 802)[/td]

[td]$3055[/td]

[td]$3140[/td]

[td]$85[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461)[/td]

[td]$420[/td]

[td]$430[/td]

[td]$10[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Remaining Relative visa (subclass 115)[/td]

[td]$4490[/td]

[td]$5125[/td]

[td]$635[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Aged Parent visa (subclass 804)[/td]

[td]$4490[/td]

[td]$5125[/td]

[td]$635[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 884/864)[/td]

[td]$4765[/td]

[td]$4895[/td]

[td]$130[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Contributory Parent visa (subclass 173/143)[/td]

[td]$3210[/td]

[td]$3300[/td]

[td]$90[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Parent visa (subclass 103)[/td]

[td]$4490[/td]

[td]$5125[/td]

[td]$635[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Sponsored Parent visa (subclass 870)[/td]

[td]$1145[/td]

[td]$1180[/td]

[td]$35[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)[/td]

[td]$4640[/td]

[td]$4770[/td]

[td]$130[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187)[/td]

[td]$4640[/td]

[td]$4770[/td]

[td]$130[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)[/td]

[td]$4640[/td]

[td]$4770[/td]

[td]$130[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482)[/td]

[td]$1455 (short term stream)

$3035 (medium term/labour agreement stream)[/td]

[td]$1495 (short term stream)

$3115 (medium term/labour agreement stream)[/td]

[td]$40 (short term stream)

$80 (medium term/labour agreement stream)[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) (points tested stream)[/td]

[td]$4640[/td]

[td]$4765[/td]

[td]$125[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Skilled Nomination visa (subclass 190)[/td]

[td]$4640[/td]

[td]$4770[/td]

[td]$130[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)[/td]

[td]$4640[/td]

[td]$4770[/td]

[td]$130[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)[/td]

[td]$1975[/td]

[td]$2025[/td]

[td]$50[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Temporary Work Short Stay visa (subclass 400)[/td]

[td]$405[/td]

[td]$415[/td]

[td]$10[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Protection visa (subclass 866)[/td]

[td]$45[/td]

[td]$45[/td]

[td]$0[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Resolution of Status visa (subclass 851)[/td]

[td]$0[/td]

[td]$0[/td]

[td]$0[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Citizenship by conferral[/td]

[td]$540[/td]

[td]$560[/td]

[td]$20[/td]

‍

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Resident Return visa (subclass 155/157)[/td]

[td]$545[/td]

[td]$555[/td]

[td]$20[/td]

‍

[/tbody]

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