Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has increased visa application fees by approximately 25% across most categories, effective July 1, 2026. This marks a significant departure from the modest CPI-linked adjustments seen in previous years. Employers sponsoring foreign talent and individuals with pending Australian plans should prepare for substantially higher costs for any applications submitted from that date onward.
- Updated Visa Application Fee from July 1, 2026
Impact on Employer-Sponsored Work Visas
The most used sponsored categories are all affected:
| Visa category | Fee until Jun 30, 2026 (AUD) | Fee from July 1, 2026 (AUD) |
| Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) | 3,210 | 4,015 |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) | 4,910 | 6,140 |
| Temporary Work – Short Stay Specialist (Subclass 400) | 430 | 535 |
| Training (Subclass 407) | 430 | 535 |
| Temporary Activities (Subclass 408) | 430 | 535 |
Impact on Personal and Family Visa Categories
Several personal categories saw increases well above the 25% average rate, most notably the Graduate Work visa, which has more than doubled, and Bridging Visa B, which has roughly tripled:
| Visa category | Fee until Jun 30, 2026 (AUD) | Fee from July 1, 2026 (AUD) |
| Bridging Visa B | 190 | 575 |
| Visitor – offshore (Subclass 600) | 200 | 250 |
| Graduate Work (Subclass 485) | 2,300 | 5,750 |
| Partner visa | 9,365 | 11,710 |
| Working Holiday | 670 | 840 (rising to 1,000 for second and third WHV applications) |
Citizenship Applications
By contrast, the fee for Australian citizenship by conferral rose only in line with CPI and now stands at AUD 595.
- Updated Skilled Visa Salary Thresholds for 2026–27
Alongside the fee changes, the Government has published the indexed income thresholds applying to skilled visa nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027:
- Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT): AUD 79,423 — applies to the Subclass 482 Core Skills stream and Subclass 186
- Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT): AUD 146,576 — applies to the Subclass 482 Specialist Skills stream
- Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT): AUD 79,423 — applies to Subclass 494 and Subclass 187
For any nomination lodged on or after 1 July 2026, the sponsored salary must meet whichever is higher: the applicable income threshold or the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the role.
Who Is Not Affected:
The new fees and thresholds apply prospectively only. Current visa holders and applications lodged before July 1, 2026, are not impacted.
What Employers and Applicants Should Do:
- Review mobility budgets for Australia-bound assignments, as sponsorship costs for 482 and 186 cases have risen significantly.
- Audit salary levels for roles expected to be nominated in the 2026–27 program year to confirm they meet the new CSIT/SSIT/TSMIT figures or the AMSR, whichever is higher.
- Flag the Subclass 485 increase to any recent graduates in your population, as the near-150% jump may affect retention and onboarding cost planning.
Please reach out to our team if you would like to discuss how these changes affect your workforce or your immigration plans.
