Australian Visa Applicants
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, 9th 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 1st, 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 1st 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 1st July, 2017. Take a look:

Table A – Visa Subclasses Indexed

Group

Subclass

Subclass Name

Current VAC Price

New VAC Price

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

N/A

N/A

$1,150

$1,150

$290

TBC

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

N/A

N/A

N/A

$2,400

$2,400

$600

202

Community Support Programme – Commence 1 July 2017

$2,680

Nil

Nil

$2,680

Nil

Nil

TBC

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

N/A

N/A

N/A

$5,000

N/A

N/A

TBC

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

N/A

N/A

N/A

$10,000

N/A

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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