Starting July 1st, 2025, the Australian Government has increased visa application charges across several major visa categories. This announcement from the Department of Home Affairs will affect students, skilled professionals, business applicants, visitors, and permanent residents. The revised fees aim to better support administrative costs and align with Australia’s current immigration demands.
Why the Fee Hike?
According to the government, this revision helps streamline processing and meet operational costs as demand for various visa categories continues to grow. However, the rise in costs especially for employer-sponsored and business visas—has raised concerns among applicants and migration consultants.
Updated Visa Fees from July 1st, 2025
Below is the comparison of the old visa fees and the revised fees effective from July 1st, 2025:
| Visa Type | Pre-July Fee | From 1 July 2025 |
| Student and Guardian (Subclass 500 & 590) | $1,600 | $2,000 |
| General Skilled Migration (Subclass 189, 190, 491, 494) | $4,765 | $4,910 |
| Graduate Temporary (Subclass 485) | $1,920 | $2,300 |
| Partner (Subclass 300, 820/801, 309/100) | $9,095 | $9,365 |
| Parent (Contributory) First Instalment | $430 to $4,895 | $445 to $5,040 |
| TSS – STSOL (Subclass 482) (now known as SID) | $1,495 | $3,210 |
| TSS – MLTSSL (Subclass 482) (now known as SID) | $3,115 | $3,210 |
| ENS/RSMS (Subclass 186, 187) | $4,770 | $4,910 |
| Business Migration (Subclass 188A, 188B) | $9,710 | $10,000 |
| Significant Investor Visa (SIV) (Subclass 188C) | $14,240 | $14,670 |
| Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) – Onshore Application | $490 | $500 |
| Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) – Offshore Application | $195 | $200 |
| Citizenship Application (By Conferral) | $560 | $575 |
What Stays the Same?
The Second Visa Application Charge (SVAC) for the Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143) remains unchanged. Only the first instalment has seen a slight increase in fee.
Visas Most Affected by the Hike
1. The TSS (Subclass 482) visa, now renamed SID (Subclass 482), has undergone the biggest price jump.
- STSOL stream has doubled from $1,495 to $3,210.
- MLTSSL stream now also costs $3,210 uniformly.
2. The Graduate Temporary Visa (Subclass 485) has increased from $1,920 to $2,300.
3. Business and Investor visas also see notable hikes:
- Subclass 188A/B now costs $10,000.
- Subclass 188C (Significant Investor Visa) rises to $14,670.
Impact on Migrants and Applicants
These new fees could influence decision-making for many applicants, especially international students, skilled workers, and families planning reunification. For individuals applying before July 1st, 2025, the old fee structure will still apply. Migration experts recommend reviewing your visa strategy and submitting applications early to avoid higher costs.
If you’re planning to apply for an Australian visa, be sure to check the updated fee schedule and prepare accordingly. This change marks a significant shift in Australia’s immigration system cost structure, especially for skilled, partner, and employer-sponsored visas.
