AUD $4,015. That is the new base charge for a subclass 482 work visa after Australia reset its price list. From 1 July 2026, the Australia visa fee increase hit nearly every route at once: students, skilled workers, partners and employer-sponsored applicants all pay more. The jumps are not small. They landed the same week salary thresholds climbed. If you budgeted off last year’s numbers, your figure is already stale.
By the Travel Explore editorial desk. Last updated 8 July 2026.
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The new price of each Australian visa
The headline numbers are blunt. The Student visa (subclass 500) base charge rose to $2,500, up from $2,000. The subclass 482 Skills in Demand base charge moved to $4,015 across all three streams, up from $3,210. Skilled Independent and Nominated applicants (189 and 190) now sit near $6,135 for the main applicant. Partner visas reached $11,710. Take Linh, a Vietnamese student weighing a Melbourne master’s. Her application alone costs $500 more than a classmate who lodged in June. Home Affairs frames the change as “annual indexation,” but the student rise outpaced inflation. Bring a spouse or child and each add-on climbs too. These are government charges only. Health cover, biometrics and agent fees still sit on top.
Confused about which Australian visa you even qualify for? Map your route first at linktr.ee/travelexpore.
Why Canberra keeps raising the bill
Two forces are at work. One is revenue. Visa charges are a reliable stream, and indexing them yearly locks in growth without a fresh vote. The other is signalling. Australia widened some doors while making them pricier to walk through. Skilled Independent (189) places rose from 16,900 to 21,090. Employer-sponsored 494 allocations jumped from 44,000 to 58,040. More seats, higher entry cost. The message to applicants is that Australia still wants skilled migration, just from people who can absorb the upfront hit. Salary floors moved in the same cycle. The Core Skills Income Threshold climbed to $79,499 and the Specialist threshold to $146,717.
How to plan around the Australia visa fee increase
Start with a real budget, not a guess. Add roughly 10% on top of the sticker fee for surprises. If your route is stable and your documents are ready, lodging sooner locks in today’s charge before the next indexation. Check the salary threshold for your occupation before you count on sponsorship, because a job offer below the floor fails regardless of the fee you paid. Families should price every dependent separately. And confirm your visa is even the right one before paying anything. You can sanity-check your eligibility and pathway with our free visa eligibility checker so the money goes toward an application that can actually succeed.
The short version
- Student visa (500) now $2,500; subclass 482 base $4,015.
- Skilled 189/190 near $6,135; partner visas $11,710.
- Salary thresholds rose the same cycle: Core Skills $79,499.
- More visa places, but a higher upfront cost to claim them.
Quick answers
When did the Australia visa fee increase take effect?
The new charges apply to applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026.
How much is the student visa now?
The subclass 500 base charge is $2,500 for most applicants, up from $2,000.
Did skilled visa fees change too?
Yes. Subclass 482 rose to $4,015 and skilled independent routes sit near $6,135.
Are these fees per person?
Largely yes. Each dependent carries an additional charge, so families should budget per applicant.
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Budget before you book flights
Australia still wants skilled migrants, students and families. It just wants them to pay more at the door. Price your route honestly, lodge while your documents are fresh, and never pay a fee for a visa you may not qualify for. Start mapping your pathway today at https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.
Sources
- Australian Department of Home Affairs, visa pricing and fee schedule (T0 official)
- Home Affairs, annual indexation of skilled visa income thresholds (T0 official)