May 12, 2017

Australian Visa Applicants! It’s Time to Re-evaluate Your Expenses!

While the recent abolition of 457 visa along with the major changes to citizenship requirements seem to be the last straw for visa applicants or overseas workers in Australia, the updates in the visa application charges also joined the bandwagon.

The Visa Application Charges (VAC), as you may know, is the amount of money in Australian dollars (AUD) that is prerequisite to pay for a visa application (if there are no exemptions applied).

The charges are generally payable in two instalments wherein the first instalment is required to be paid when the visa application is made while the second instalment is paid before the grant of the visa.

On Tuesday, 9^th May 2017, the treasurer of Australia, Scott Morrison announced the proposed changes made to the visa application charges as a part of 2017-18 budget.

From July 1^st, 2017, the current visa application charges will rise in coherence with the forecast Consumer Price Index (CPI) and become more expensive.

The increase in the fees is rounded to the nearest $5 and will be indexed annually. It will affect all the visa application lodged on or after 1^st July 2017.

Please note

The indexation will only be applied to the first instalment of the visa application fees and not the second instalment.
The indexation of 1st instalment applies to both primary and secondary applicants.

Given below is the list of fee changes in the Australian visas that will be effective from 1^st July, 2017. Take a look:

Table A – Visa Subclasses Indexed

Group	Subclass	Subclass Name	Current VAC Price			New VAC Price
Group	Subclass	Subclass Name	Primary Applicant	Adult Dependent	Child Dependent	Primary Applicant	Adult Dependent	Child Dependent
Visit	405	Investor Retirement	$325	$165	$80	$330	$170	$80
	600	Visitor – ADS, Business, Sponsored	$135	N/A	N/A	$140	N/A	N/A
	600	Visitor – Frequent Traveller	$1,000	N/A	N/A	$1,020	N/A	N/A
	600	Visitor – Tourist Inside Australia	$340	N/A	N/A	$345	N/A	N/A
	600	Visitor – Tourist Fast Track Fee	$1,000	N/A	N/A	$1,020	N/A	N/A
	600	Visitor – business Visitor Fast Track Fee	$1,000	N/A	N/A	$1,020	N/A	N/A
	602	Medical Treatment	$280	$140	$70	$285	$145	$70
Study	407	Training Visa	$275	$275	$70	$280	$280	$70
	485	Temporary Graduate-Graduate Work	$1,470	$735	$370	$1,500	$750	$375
	485	Temporary Graduate-Post-Study Work	$1,470	$735	$370	$1,500	$750	$375
	500	Student Visa	$550	$410	$135	$560	$420	$140
	500	Student Visa – Postgraduate Research Sector	$550	N/A	N/A	$560	N/A	N/A
	590	Student Guardian Visa	$550	N/A	N/A	$560	N/A	N/A
Work	124	Distinguished Talent	$3,655	$1,830	$915	$3,730	$1,865	$935
	132	Business Talent	$6,990	$3,495	$1,745	$7,130	$3,565	$1,780
	186	Employer Nomination Scheme	$3,600	$1,800	$900	$3,670	$1,835	$920
	187	Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme	$3,600	$1,800	$900	$3,670	$1,835	$920
	188	Business Innovation	$4,780	$2,390	$1,195	$4,875	$2,440	$1,220
	188	Business Innovation – Business Innovation Ex	$575	$290	$145	$585	$295	$150
	188	Business Innovation – Entrepreneur	$3,600	$1,800	$900	$3,670	$1,835	$920
	188	Business Innovation – Investor	$4,780	$2,390	$1,195	$4,875	$2,440	$1,220
	188	Business Innovation – Premium Investor	$8,410	$4,205	$2,105	$8,580	$4,290	$2,145
	188	Business Innovation – Significant Invest Ex	$575	$290	$145	$585	$295	$150
	188	Business Innovation – Significant Investor	$7,010	$3,505	$1,755	$7,150	$3,575	$1,790
	188	Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)	$4,780	$2,390	$1,195	$4,875	$2,440	$1,220
	189	Skilled- Independent	$3,600	$1,800	$900	$3,670	$1,835	$920
	190	Skilled- Nominated	$3,600	$1,800	$900	$3,670	$1,835	$920
	400	Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist)	$275	$275	$70	$280	$280	$70
	403	Temporary Work – Domestic Worker	$275	N/A	N/A	$280	N/A	N/A
	403	Temporary Work – Foreign Government	$275	$275	$70	$280	$280	$70
	403	Temporary Work – Government Agreement	$275	$275	$70	$280	$280	$70
	403	Temporary Work – Seasonal Worker	$275	N/A	N/A	$280	N/A	N/A
	408	Temporary Activity Visa – All Streams	$275	$275	$70	$280	$280	$70
	408	Temporary Activity Visa – Partial A ll Streams	$70	$70	$20	$70	$70	$20
	457	Temporary Work (Skilled) – Closes March 2018	$1,060	$1,060	$265	$1,080	$1,080	$270
	476	Skilled- Graduate	$360	$180	$90	$365	$185	$90
	489	Skilled- Regional (Provisional)	$3,600	$1,800	$900	$3,670	$1,835	$920
	489	Skilled- Regional (Provisional) holds	$320	$160	$80	$325	$165	$80
	858	Distinguished Talent	$3,655	$1,830	$915	$3,730	$1,865	$935
	887	Skilled- Regional Qual	$370	$185	$95	$375	$190	$95
	887	Skilled- Regional Other	$3,520	$1,760	$880	$3,590	$1,795	$900
	888	Business Innovation – All Streams	$2,305	$1,155	$575	$2,350	$1,180	$585
	890	Business Owner	$2,180	$1,090	$545	$2,225	$1,110	$555
	890	Business Owner holds Class UX	$325	$165	$80	$330	$170	$80
	891	Investor	$2,180	$1,090	$545	$2,225	$1,110	$555
	891	Investor Class UX	$325	$165	$80	$330	$170	$80
	892	State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner	$2,180	$1,090	$545	$2,225	$1,110	$555
	892	State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner UX	$325	$165	$80	$330	$170	$80
	893	State/Territory Sponsored Business Investor	$2,180	$1,090	$545	$2,225	$1,110	$555
	893	State/Territory Sponsored Business Investor UX	$325	$165	$80	$330	$170	$80
Live	100	Partner	$6,865	$3,435	$1,720	$7,000	$3,505	$1,755
	101	Child	$2,370	$1,185	$595	$2,415	$1,210	$605
	102	Adoption	$2,370	$1,185	$595	$2,415	$1,210	$605
	103	Parent	$3,870	$1,935	$970	$3,945	$1,975	$990
	114	Aged Dependent Relative	$3,870	$1,935	$970	$3,945	$1,975	$990
	115	Remaining Relative	$3,870	$1,935	$970	$3,945	$1,975	$990
	116	Carer	$1,595	$800	$400	$1,625	$815	$410
	117	Orphan Relative	$1,450	$725	$365	$1,480	$740	$370
	143	Contributory Parent (Migrant)	$3,695	$1,245	$625	$3,770	$1,270	$640
	143	Contributory Parent (Migrant) – Subs 600, holds 173, held 173 28d	$325	$165	$80	$330	$170	$80
	143	Contributory Parent (Migrant) – held 173 comp	$2,370	$1,185	$595	$2,415	$1,210	$605
	151	Former Resident	$3,520	$1,760	$880	$3,590	$1,795	$900
	155	Five Year Resident Return	$360	N/A	N/A	$365	N/A	N/A
	157	Three Month Resident Return	$360	N/A	N/A	$365	N/A	N/A
	173	Contributory Patent (Temporary)	$2,490	$1,245	$625	$2,540	$1,270	$640
	300	Prospective Marriage	$6,865	$3,435	$1,720	$7,000	$3,505	$1,755
	445	Dependent Child	$2,370	$1,185	$595	$2,415	$1,210	$605
	461	New Zealand Citizen Fanny Relationship (Temporary)	$325	$165	$80	$330	$170	$80
	801	Partner	$6,865	$3,435	$1,720	$7,000	$3,505	$1,755
	801	Partner – Transitional Visa Holder	$410	$205	$105	$420	$210	$105
	801	Partner	$1,450	$725	$365	$1,480	$740	$370
	801	Partner – Prospective Marriage	$1,145	$575	$285	$1,170	$585	$290
	802	Child	$2,370	$1,185	$595	$2,415	$1,210	$605
	804	Aged Partner	$3,870	$1,935	$970	$3,945	$1,975	$990
	835	Remaining Relative	$3,870	$1,935	$970	$3,945	$1,975	$990
	836	Carer	$1,595	$800	$400	$1,625	$815	$410
	837	Orphan Relative	$1,450	$725	$365	$1,480	$740	$370
	838	Aged Dependent Relative	$3,870	$1,935	$970	$3,945	$1,975	$990
	864	Contributory Aged-Parent (Residence)	$3,695	$1,845	$925	$3,770	$1,880	$945
	864	Contributory Aged-Parent (Residence) – holds884, subs600, 28d 884	$325	$165	$80	$330	$170	$80
Other	20	Bridging B	$140	N/A	N/A	$145	N/A	N/A
	159	Provisions Resident Return	$185	$95	$45	$190	$95	$45
	785	Temporary Protection	$35	N/A	N/A	$35	N/A	N/A
	790	Safe Haven Enterprise Visa	$35	N/A	N/A	$35	N/A	N/A
	808	Confirmatory (Residence)	$275	$140	$70	$280	$145	$70
	866	Protection	$35	N/A	N/A	$35	N/A	N/A

Note: N/A – Refers to both Nil and Not applicable items.

Table B – New Products

Subclass

Subclass Name

Current VAC Price

New VAC Price

Primary Applicant

Adult Dependent

Child Dependent

Primary Applicant

Adult Dependent

Child Dependent

TBC

Better targeting skilled visas (Short-Term – Up to 2 yrs) – Commence March 2018

N/A

$1,150

$290

TBC

Better targeting skilled visas (Medium-Term- Up to 4 yrs) – Commence March 2018

N/A

$2,400

$600

202

Community Support Programme – Commence 1 July 2017

$2,680

Nil

$2,680

Nil

TBC

Temporary Sponsored Parent visa – Commence November 2017 ( 3 yr validity)

N/A

$5,000

N/A

TBC

Temporary Sponsored Parent visa – November 2017 ( 5 yr validity)

N/A

$10,000

N/A

Skilling Australians Fund Levy- Commence March 2018

– Small Business (turnover of less than $10m – Temporary Visa (Short or Medium Term) – Permanent Visa			$1,200 per year (or part thereof )* $3,000 flat rate
– Medium/Large Business (turnover of $10m or more) – Temporary Visa (Short or Medium Term) – Permanent Visa			$1,800 per year (or part thereof)* $5,000 flat rate

The SkiIIing Australians Fund Levy will be introduced in March 2018 to coincide with the commencement of the Temporary Skill Shortage visa.

* Price per year (being a 12 month period). Periods of less than 12 months will attract the full levy. For example, a small business nominating a person for an 18 month Short Term visa will pay a $2,400 levy.

For more information on visa application charges, feel free to get in touch with us Today!

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