Australia Immigration Fees Surge from July 1, 2026: Visa Application Charges, Income Thresholds & Tribunal Fees All Increase – Full Breakdown for Applicants & Employers

Australia immigration fees surge from July 1, 2026

Canberra, 1 July 2026 — Significant cost increases for Australian visas and related immigration services have come into effect today, with the Department of Home Affairs implementing its annual indexation of fees and financial thresholds.

The changes, driven largely by Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustments, will raise the overall cost of visa applications, employer-sponsored nominations, and review processes, affecting thousands of migrants and sponsoring businesses across the country.

Major Visa Application Charge (VAC) Increases from July 1, 2026

Visa Application Charges have seen substantial rises across multiple popular visa subclasses:

Visa Subclass	Previous Fee (Primary)	New Fee from July 1, 2026	Increase
Skills in Demand (subclass 482) – Primary	$3,210	$4,015	+$805
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) – Primary	$4,910	$6,140	+$1,230
Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) – Primary	$4,600	$5,750	+$1,150
Partner (Temporary) (subclass 820)	$9,365	$11,710	+$2,345
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) – Primary	$4,910	$6,140	+$1,230

Secondary applicants (over 18) and children (under 18) have also seen proportional increases.

The Fair Work High Income Threshold has increased from $183,100 to $190,100 per annum.

This threshold is critical for certain Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa applicants seeking age exemptions.

Minimum Income Thresholds Updated

• Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) / Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT): Now $79,423 (up from $76,515).

• Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT): Now $146,576 (up from $141,210).

Employers sponsoring overseas workers must ensure offered salaries meet these new thresholds.

Other Key Fee Increases

• Administrative Review Tribunal (ART):

  • Migration review applications: $3,727 (up from $3,580).

  • Protection visa reviews: $2,293 (up from $2,203).

• Federal Circuit Court Migration Applications:

  • Full fee: $4,180 (up from $4,015).

  • Reduced fee: $2,090 (up from $2,005).

Industry Reaction and Concerns

Jamie Lingham, CEO of Absolute Immigration Group, criticised the increases:

“Yet again we see migrants used as a cash-cow for the government… These significant fee-hikes are deliberately targeted at non-voting individuals for the purpose of revenue raising.”

Many migration agents warn that the higher costs could deter genuine applicants and add financial pressure during an already challenging economic period.

What Applicants and Employers Should Do Now

• Lodging Soon: Submit applications before further indexation if possible.

• Budget Carefully: Factor in the new fees when planning visa strategies.

• Seek Professional Advice: Complex rules make self-lodgement riskier — minor errors can lead to refusals or delays.

• Review Sponsorship Offers: Employers must align salary packages with the updated income thresholds.

For the latest Australia visa fee increases 2026, subclass 482 186 485 fee changes, income threshold updates, and skilled migration cost guides, visit: visasupdate.com/blog/categories/australia