Happy New Financial Year 2026!
As usual, Immigration has made a number of changes that came into effect overnight. Let’s take a look.
Increased Application Fees
An unwelcome change has been a significant increase in visa lodgement fees across the board. Partner visa applications remain the highest of all, while skilled visa applicants with family members now face substantial lodgement costs. Some of the more common applications include:
| Visa Type | Old Fee*
(to 30 June 2026) |
New Fee*
(from 1 July 2026) |
Difference |
| 482 Skills in Demand Visa | $3,210 | $4,015 | $805 |
| 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa | $4,910 | $6,140 | $1,230 |
| 500 Student Visa | $2,000 | $2,500 | $500 |
| 485 Graduate Visa (note increased on 1 March 2026 to $4,600) | $2,300 | $5,750 | $3,450 ($1,150 since March) |
| 189 Skilled Independent Visa | $4,910 | $6,135 | $1,225 |
| 190 State Nominated Visa | $4,910 | $6,135 | $1,225 |
| 309 and 820 Partner Visa | $9,365 | $11,710 | $2,345 |
| 143 and 864 Contributory Parent Visa | $5,040 | $6,300 | $1,260 |
| 417 and 462 Working Holiday Visa (First) | $670 | $840 | $170 |
| 417 and 462 Working Holiday Visa (Second or Third) | $670 | $1,000 | $330 |
| Citizenship by Conferral | $575 | $595 | $20 |
| Bridging Visa B | $190 | $575 | $385 |
*Shown are Main applicant fees only
A family of four (two adults, two children) applying for a 482 visa are now looking at just under $10,200 in total visa application fees, while an applicant and partner would cost over $8,100.
For a permanent visa (employer sponsored or skilled), this skyrockets up to just under $12,500 for the family, or over $9,300 for two.
With thousands of dollars in fees on the line, it is important that migrants obtain the best advice before lodging an application with Immigration.
Pacific Region
A new set of fees have been introduced for a select Pacific Regional cohort, which are lower than the standard costs. Pacific Regional passport holders are deemed to be those from:
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Nauru
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Republic of the Marshall Islands
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
Applicants can confirm which fees apply by using Immigration’s Visa Pricing Estimator.
Working Holiday Makers
Passport holders from the following countries can now apply for a Subclass 417 visa up to and including 35 years of age:
- Canada
- Republic of Cyprus
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Republic of Ireland
- Italy
- Republic of Korea
- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (including British National Overseas passport holders)
All other passports remain at 30 years of age. Applicants must meet the age requirements to lodge a valid application.
Note there is now a higher application fee for second and third WHM applications.
Minimum Salary
The minimum salary for employer-sponsored visas has increased and applies to all new Nomination applications lodged from 1 July.
- Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) for 482 and 186 visas – $79,423 per annum
- Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) for 482 visas – $146,576 per annum
- Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) for 494 visas – $79,423 per annum
Employers are reminded of the sponsorship obligation to ensure 482 and 494 workers are paid a Market Rate over the lifetime of the visa.
Contact AVIE
AVIE has moved! We are now located at 123 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, 3182.
If you have queries about the changes or how you may be affected, contact AVIE or book a consultation now!
