New visa and citizenship charges from 1 July 2026, with savings for Pacific passport holders

Official release date: 30 June 2026 · Fees and charges

New visa application charges and citizenship fees apply to applications made on or after 1 July 2026, with lower charges for holders of passports from 13 Pacific-regional countries.

Picture this: you have been saving for a partner visa or a skilled visa application, and you want to know exactly what the government charge will be. From 1 July 2026, a new schedule of visa application charges and citizenship fees applies, so it is worth checking the numbers before you lodge.

What has changed

New regulations were registered on 30 June 2026 and commenced on 1 July 2026. The new amounts apply to applications made on or after that date. Some of the base charges for non-concessional applicants are:

• Visitor (subclass 600): $250 offshore and $630 onshore
• Skills in Demand (subclass 482): $4,015
• Skilled Independent (subclass 189): $6,135
• Subclasses 190, 491 and 494: $6,140
• Partner (onshore and offshore): $11,710
• Parent (Migrant): $6,600
• Bridging B: $575
• Training (subclass 407): $535
• Working Holiday (subclasses 417 and 462): $1,000
• Student (subclass 500): $2,500 for most applicants, with a lower $2,050 for specified groups

Citizenship application fees also rose by roughly $10 to $20 per item. For example, some fees moved from $370 to $380 and from $575 to $595.

Who is affected

Here's the thing: there is good news for people from the Pacific. Holders of passports from 13 Pacific-regional countries (Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) pay lower charges. For example, a subclass 482 application is $3,290, a subclass 189 is $5,030, a Partner visa is $9,600 and an offshore Visitor visa is $205.

The Department has also indicated that lower charges may apply to some citizens of ASEAN member countries, so it is worth checking whether that applies to you.

How it compares

These figures are the base charges only. Additional charges can apply for family members included in an application, and other costs such as health checks, police certificates and skills assessments are separate.

What you should do

Check the current charge before you lodge, using the Department's official pricing information, and make sure you pay the correct amount for every applicant. An application lodged without the correct charge may not be valid, which can cost you valuable time and, if you are onshore, could affect your bridging visa and lawful status. Budget early, keep receipts, and allow a little extra for associated costs.

If you would like to talk through how this applies to you, our registered migration agents and lawyers at Auzworld Lawyers & Immigration are here to help.

Official source: Federal Register of Legislation – Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026