From 1 July 2026, the Australian Government has rolled out a wide-reaching set of changes affecting visa applicants, sponsoring employers and citizenship applicants. These include higher visa application charges, increased salary thresholds for employer-sponsored visas, updated Working Holiday Visa rules, and higher review and court fees.
Here’s a summary of what’s changed and what it means for you.
1. Visa Application Charges Have Increased
Most Australian visa application fees have gone up from 1 July 2026, though the size of the increase depends on the visa subclass.
Most visa fees increased by 25%. The biggest change is a 25% rise in the first instalment of the visa application charge across many subclasses.
Some visas increased only by CPI (around 2.6%), in line with inflation. This smaller increase applies to:
- Humanitarian and Protection visas
- Pacific engagement and regional mobility visas
- Eligible student visa applicants
- Eligible citizens of Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste applying under relevant Australian programs
A number of subclasses — including Working Holiday, Work and Holiday, Bridging B, and certain New Zealand family visas — have their own specific fee changes.
Before lodging any application, check the current fee for your specific visa subclass, as these vary considerably.
2. Australian Citizenship Application Fees Increased
Citizenship application fees have also risen from 1 July 2026, generally in line with CPI.
3. Salary Threshold Increased for Employer-Sponsored Visas
The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) has increased to $79,423 per year, applying to applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026.
This affects:
- Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482)
- Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (Subclass 494)
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187) nominations, where applicable
Employers should confirm that nominated positions meet the updated salary requirements before lodging new applications, as this affects visa eligibility.
4. Higher High-Income Threshold for Some Subclass 186 Applicants
The Fair Work High Income Threshold has increased from $183,100 to $190,100 per year.
This matters most for applicants relying on the high-income age exemption for the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa, who will now need to demonstrate earnings above the new threshold.
5. Working Holiday Visa: Age Requirement Timing Has Changed
For both the Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462), applicants must now meet the age requirement at the time of lodgement, rather than at a later assessment point as was previously the case.
Applicants approaching the maximum age limit should lodge their application as early as possible to avoid becoming ineligible.
6. Age Limit Raised for Some Working Holiday Applicants
The maximum age for Subclass 417 Working Holiday applicants has increased from 30 to 35 years for passport holders from:
- Cyprus
- Finland
- Germany
- Republic of Korea (South Korea)
This follows updated reciprocal arrangements between Australia and these countries. Applicants from other eligible countries remain subject to existing age limits unless separate bilateral arrangements apply.
7. Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) Fees Increased
Fees for lodging a review with the Administrative Review Tribunal have increased for payments made on or after 1 July 2026:
- Migration review applications: $3,727
- Protection visa review applications: $2,293
8. Federal Court Filing Fees Increased
Applicants seeking judicial review in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia will also face higher costs. The standard filing fee has increased to $4,180, with reduced fees available for eligible applicants.
9. New Limits on ImmiAccount Application Imports
The Department of Home Affairs has introduced a cap on importing visa applications into ImmiAccount:
- A visa application can now only be imported up to three times.
- Further import attempts will be blocked unless the Department manually resets the limit.
Organisations managing applications across multiple users are encouraged to use the Assign or Share functions instead of repeated imports. This change is intended to improve privacy and reduce fraudulent activity.
What This Means for You
If you’re planning to apply for an Australian visa after 1 July 2026, it’s worth taking a few steps to avoid unnecessary delays or costs:
- Check the current application charge for your specific visa subclass before lodging.
- If you’re an employer sponsoring a visa, confirm the nominated position meets the updated salary thresholds.
- If applying for a Working Holiday visa, make sure you meet the age requirement at the time of lodgement.
- Factor in the higher review and court fees if you’re considering a review or appeal.
- If your application is managed by multiple people or agents, plan around the new ImmiAccount import limits.
Because many of these changes apply specifically to applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026, timing can affect both your eligibility and the fees you’ll pay. If you’re unsure how these updates apply to your situation, seeking professional migration advice before you lodge can help you avoid costly mistakes.
Australian Visa Changes from 1 July 2026: Higher Fees, New Income Thresholds and Working Holiday Updates
Federal Budget 2026–27: Key Migration and Visa Changes for Australia
Skilled Partner Points and Changes in Marital Status for Subclass 190 Visa Applicants
Partner Visa Processing Update (April 2026): What Applicants Must Know
Iranian visa holders temporarily barred from travelling to Australia from 26 March