How to Get a Refund of a Visa Application Charge, Nomination or Sponsorship Fee

Visa, nomination and sponsorship fees in Australia can run into thousands of dollars, so it is a fair question to ask whether you can get money back when things change. The short answer is that refunds are limited. The Department of Home Affairs can only refund a fee where the law or its policy allows it. This guide explains the common situations where a refund may be available, how to ask for one, and what to expect.

The general rule: fees are not refunded

The Department of Home Affairs does not usually refund the visa application charge (VAC), nomination fees, sponsorship fees or citizenship application fees if:

• the application, nomination or sponsorship is refused or unsuccessful
• you withdraw the application because you no longer want the visa
• your circumstances change, such as a relationship ending or a job offer falling through, unless a specific refund rule applies

Do not try to get your money back by reversing or cancelling a card payment. The Department warns this may make your application invalid and may create a debt to the Commonwealth, which can affect future visa applications.

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When the visa application charge can be refunded

The Migration Regulations set out situations where the first instalment of the VAC must or may be refunded, generally after a written request from the person who paid it. The Department can also refund without a request where it considers that reasonable. Common situations include:

Situation	Refund type
The application was not needed when it was lodged (for example, you did not need that visa)	Must be refunded on request
The application was lodged because of a mistake by the Department	Must be refunded on request
The applicant died before a decision was made	Must be refunded on request
A Skills in Demand (subclass 482) or Training (subclass 407) application is withdrawn because there is no approved nomination identifying the applicant, or because no nomination was needed but there was no approved work sponsor	Must be refunded on request
You lodged by mistake, withdrew in writing, and then asked for a refund in writing	May be refunded (discretionary)
A Subclass 186, 187 or 494 application is withdrawn for a listed reason, such as the nomination naming the wrong occupation or stream, the sponsor being sanctioned, or the business ceasing to operate lawfully. The lists for the 186 and 187 and for the 494 differ slightly	May be refunded (discretionary)
You paid too much, paid twice, or paid when no fee was due	Usually handled as an overpayment: ask the Department

The second instalment of the VAC (charged for some visas, for example where an applicant does not meet the English requirement) works differently. If your application is refused or withdrawn before you pay it, you do not have to pay it. If you have already paid it, it can generally be refunded on written request if you withdraw before a decision, the visa is refused, the visa is cancelled or ceases before you first enter Australia, or the applicant dies before first entering Australia.

Separately, you may be eligible for a fee waiver in some programs. See our guide to Australia visa waivers and refunds.

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Nomination and sponsorship fees

Employer nomination fees (for example, for a Subclass 482, 186, 187 or 494 nomination) are generally not refunded when a nomination is refused. For 482 and 494 nominations, the regulations allow the nomination fee (and the SAF levy) to be refunded in a short list of cases, such as a nomination lodged because of a Departmental mistake, a nomination withdrawn before a decision because the employer’s sponsorship application was refused or withdrawn, a nomination withdrawn because the information used to work out the levy was wrong, or certain labour agreement situations. Standard business sponsorship fees are also rarely refunded. For current fee amounts, see our Skills in Demand visa fees page.

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Skilling Australians Fund levy refunds

Employers pay the SAF levy when they lodge a nomination. A refund may be considered in limited situations, generally including where:

• the nomination is withdrawn before a decision because the employer’s standard business sponsorship application was refused or withdrawn
• the worker’s visa is refused on character grounds or certain public interest grounds, such as the health requirement
• the visa is granted but the worker never starts work with the sponsor (the Department may consider cancelling the visa before it looks at the refund)
• the worker stops working for the sponsor within the first 12 months. For a 482 nomination with a proposed stay of more than one year, the refund is the levy paid less the amount that would have been payable for a one year nomination. For a 494 nomination, it is the levy paid less $600 (turnover under $10 million) or $1,000 (otherwise)

There is no SAF levy refund if the nomination is refused on its merits, if it is withdrawn because the employer changed their mind, or if the visa is refused for reasons other than health or character. Refunds are considered case by case and are not guaranteed. Our SAF levy guide and our guide to getting the SAF levy back have more detail.

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Citizenship application fee refunds

Citizenship fees are also only refunded in limited cases. For citizenship by conferral, descent and resumption applications, the Australian Citizenship Regulation allows the Minister to refund all or part of a fee where:

• you lodged a second application under the same provision while the first one was still undecided
• you applied because of incorrect advice from the Department
• you were already an Australian citizen
• you paid the wrong fee

There is also a partial refund where a conferral applicant paid a fee that included the citizenship test but did not sit the test. For current fees, see our citizenship application fees page.

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What about card surcharges?

From 1 October 2026, the Department no longer charges a surcharge on card, PayPal or UnionPay payments. For older payments, ask in your request whether the surcharge can also be refunded.

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How to request a refund

1. Check you fit a refund category. Match your situation to a specific refund ground before you apply. Withdrawing alone does not create a right to a refund.
2. Withdraw first if required. Some refund grounds only apply once the application has been withdrawn in writing.
3. For ImmiAccount payments: log in, go to My Payments, select Manage Payments, check the payment shows as Paid or Credit, then choose Request Refund from the actions menu and complete the screen.
4. For payments not made in ImmiAccount: complete and sign form 1424 (Refund request) and send it to the Department as instructed on that form.
5. Attach evidence. Include your receipt or tax invoice, a bank statement showing the payment, and documents that support your refund reason.
6. Make sure the right person applies. The request generally needs to come from the person who paid. If someone else will receive the refund, both people usually need to sign.
7. Keep records and follow up. Save a copy of everything you send and note the date.

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How long does a refund take?

There is no standard processing time. Each request is assessed individually, and requests with clear evidence and matching payer details tend to move more smoothly. If the Department needs more information, it will contact you. Plan for the possibility that it may take some time, and see our processing times page for wider context.

Fees also change regularly, often from 1 July each year. Read about recent visa application fee increases before you lodge, so you pay the right amount the first time.