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July 22, 2026 Pace Migration Australian Work Visas
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On 1 July 2026, the Department of Home Affairs updated its visa pricing table, and many major Australian visa application charges increased by about 25 per cent. The change followed an earlier increase in March, when the Temporary Graduate visa base charge doubled in a single step. Together, the two changes make 2026 an unusually expensive year for students, graduates, families and skilled applicants. They also make timing more important: the charge that applies is generally the charge in force when a valid application is received. Here is what the visas that matter most now cost, and the rules that decide what you actually pay.
All figures below are the base application charge for the primary applicant, in Australian dollars, for applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026. They are drawn from the Department of Home Affairs current visa pricing table, and you should confirm your exact charge there before lodging, as fees can vary by stream, passport and applicant circumstances.
| Visa | Before 1 July 2026 | From 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Student (subclass 500) | $2,000 | $2,500 |
| Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) | $4,600 | $5,750 |
| Partner (subclasses 820/801 and 309/100) | $9,365 | $11,710 |
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482) | $3,210 | $4,015 |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) | $4,910 | $6,140 |
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189) | $4,910 | $6,135 |
| Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) | $4,910 | $6,140 |
| Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) | $4,910 | $6,140 |
The Student visa (subclass 500) rose 25 per cent to $2,500, placing Australia among the more expensive major study destinations for visa charges. The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is the year’s defining case: $2,300 in February, doubled to $4,600 in March, and lifted again to $5,750 in July, a rise of roughly 150 per cent inside five months. For graduates, the education-to-employment pathway now carries a four-figure toll at every gate.
The partner visa charge climbed to $11,710, the heaviest single application fee many families will pay, though it covers both the temporary and permanent stages in one lodgement. On the employer side, the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) moved to $4,015 and the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) to $6,140, on top of nomination fees and training levies that businesses already carry. The points-tested visas rose slightly differently: the subclass 189 now costs $6,135, while the subclass 190 and subclass 491 each cost $6,140 for the primary applicant, before partner and child charges are added.
The July changes were made through regulations that increased charges across many visa classes and introduced reduced charges in specified cases for Pacific-regional applicants. Whatever the broader policy rationale, the practical effect is now very clear: visa costs now demand earlier budgeting and more careful sequencing. The March 485 increase and July adjustments also show why applicants should not rely on an old fee when timing lodgement. Government charges can change at the start of a program year or through separate measures, so confirm the amount immediately before applying rather than assuming today’s schedule will remain unchanged.
Three rules matter more than the headline figures. First, the applicable fee is generally determined when Home Affairs receives a valid application, not when you began preparing it or handed documents to an agent. Second, visa application charges are refunded only in limited circumstances; refusal does not ordinarily produce a refund, so a failed application at 2026 prices can cost thousands. Third, the listed charge is rarely the final bill: paying by card or PayPal attracts a surcharge, additional family members carry their own charges, and some visas require a second instalment later. Reduced charges apply in specified cases to passport holders from Pacific-regional and ASEAN countries, depending on the visa, so check whether one applies to you.
When lodging costs this much, precision becomes the cheapest thing you can buy. As an illustration, an international student progressing from study to graduate work and then to skilled residency now faces around $14,000 in primary-applicant government charges alone, before English tests, skills assessments and health checks. At those stakes, the wrong stream, a premature lodgement or a refusal is no longer a paperwork setback. It is a five-figure detour. Families feel the arithmetic hardest: a skilled visa application covering a partner and a child now runs beyond $10,000 in government charges before supporting documents are paid for. Budgeting for the full pathway, and lodging only when the case is genuinely ready, has become a core discipline of Australian migration.
Fees will keep moving, and the applicants who fare best are the ones who plan for the whole journey rather than the next form. Our MARA-registered migration agents in Sydney can cost your full pathway under the current schedule, confirm the exact charges for your circumstances, and make sure your application is decision-ready the first time. Book a consultation with a registered migration agent in Sydney before you lodge.
Syed Rahman
Mr. Rahman is a knowledgeable professional with expertise in academia, corporate management, and migration law. He holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law from ANU, an MBA in International Business from UTS, and a BBA from Baruch College. With 5 years of corporate management experience, 4 years of teaching experience in Australia, and over 15 years as a registered Migration Agent, Mr. Rahman has a strong background in helping international students and skilled migrants with Australian migration law.
Tags: migration agents in Sydney, registered migration agent in Sydney, Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), Student visa (subclass 500)
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