The Department of Home Affairs has increased a number of Visa Application Charges from 1 July 2026, including for key employer-sponsored and training visa subclasses.

These changes are relevant for employers and visa applicants who are preparing new applications, particularly where family members will be included in the visa application.

These increases are significant and go well beyond the type of routine annual indexation that employers and visa applicants may have expected. While Visa Application Charges are commonly adjusted at the start of a new financial year, the scale of the increases is substantial, with the key employer-sponsored visa subclasses outlined below increasing by approximately 25% and some other visa categories across the broader program increasing by even higher percentages.

The updated charges were also confirmed very close to their 1 July commencement date, leaving limited time for employers, applicants and advisers to factor the new costs into budgeting and lodgement planning.

The following changes apply to some of the main visa subclasses commonly used by Australian employers:

What does this mean in practice?

The increases are significant, particularly for Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa applications and Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa applications.

For example:

• A single Subclass 482 primary applicant will now pay a Visa Application Charge of $4,015, up from $3,210.
• A Subclass 482 application including a spouse will now attract Visa Application Charges of $8,030, before professional fees and any other costs.
• A single Subclass 186 primary applicant will now pay a Visa Application Charge of $6,140, up from $4,910.
• A Subclass 186 application including a spouse and one child will now attract Visa Application Charges of $10,745.

Employers and applicants should factor these increased government charges into budgeting for new visa applications and permanent residence planning.

These increases relate to Visa Application Charges payable to the Department of Home Affairs. They are separate from other costs that may apply, including nomination application charges, the Skilling Australians Fund levy, health examinations, police clearances, English testing, skills assessments and professional fees.

For employer-sponsored visa matters, employers should also ensure they understand which costs must be paid by the employer and which costs may be paid by the visa applicant.