Australia Raised Its Visa Charges: The Exact Figures to Know Before You Pay a Kobo
News · 2026-08-06 · 3 min read
Straight to the point: if an Australian visa is part of your plan, the government charges went up, and you should know the official figures before you spend any money. Knowing the real numbers also makes it harder for anyone to confuse you with made-up costs.
The Australian Government lifted application charges across nearly all visa categories with effect from 1 July 2026. Every application lodged on or after that date pays the new rate.
Lodged before the deadline? You are protected
Does this affect visas already lodged? No. Applications lodged before 1 July 2026 stay on the old fee, even while they are still being processed. Only applications lodged from 1 July 2026 onward attract the higher charges. That is good news for anyone who submitted early.
The new charges, visa by visa
Work visas backed by an employer
- $4,015 for the Skills in Demand visa, Subclass 482 (it was $3,210)
- $6,140 for the Employer Nomination Scheme, Subclass 186
- $6,140 for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa, Subclass 494
Note: each extra family member you include, such as a spouse or child, comes with a separate government charge on top of these amounts.
Skilled migration visas
- $6,135 for Skilled Independent, Subclass 189
- $6,140 for Skilled Nominated, Subclass 190
- $6,140 for Skilled Work Regional, Subclass 491
Study and post-study visas (this is what student and graduate visas now cost)
- $2,500 for the Student Visa, Subclass 500
- $2,500 for Student Guardian, Subclass 590
- $5,750 for Temporary Graduate, Subclass 485
Partner Visa
- $11,710, the highest single government charge anywhere in the system
Run the numbers on a real family
Take a quick example: a household of three made up of a main applicant, a spouse and one child, applying for a Skilled Independent (189) visa. The government charges alone total $10,745.
Do not stop your budget there. You still need money for:
- Police clearance certificates
- Medical exams
- Skills assessments
- English language tests
Is it still worth it? Look at the shortages
Higher charges have not wiped out the need. Australia still isn't filling enough skilled positions, and the demand is not going anywhere in these areas: Carpentry, Electrical, Mechanics, Welding, Chef roles, Butchery, HVAC, Nursing, Engineering and Heavy Vehicle Mechanics.
Thousands of employer-sponsored vacancies remain available to qualified candidates from overseas.
How to move forward safely
Ready to explore visa sponsorship? Look for accredited Australian employers that offer genuine sponsorship to skilled workers. Browse the employer sponsored jobs on this site, register your profile, and take your next step toward working in Australia.
Bottom line: know the official charges, budget for every family member and every extra cost, and deal only with genuine employers. A genuine employer will never ask you to pay for a job offer.
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