Tag Archives: visa fees

Australia visa application charges are rising by roughly 25% for the 2026-27 period. One of the steepest single-year increases in recent memory. The Australian government adjusts fees across most visitor, work and student visa categories.

Immigration lawyers tracking the change describe it as a significant jump rather than the routine annual adjustment applicants have become used to. The upfront cost of entering Australia is now meaningfully higher than it was just a year earlier.

How large the Australia visa application charges increase actually is

The roughly 25% rise applies broadly across Australia’s visa system. Affecting tourists, skilled workers, students and other applicants. Immigration law firms tracking the change note that this follows a pattern of near-annual fee increases in Australia. The scale this time is notably larger than recent years’ adjustments.

The timing coincides with other changes to Australia’s skilled migration settings this year. Including an updated salary threshold for employer-sponsored skilled visas. The government is recalibrating multiple parts of its immigration system at once rather than adjusting fees in isolation.

Who pays more and by how much

Because the increase applies across most visa categories. The practical effect varies depending on which visa an applicant needs. Visitor visa applicants, international students and employer-sponsored skilled workers all face higher upfront costs. The exact dollar increase depending on the specific visa subclass.

For families or employers sponsoring multiple applicants. Such as a company bringing in several skilled workers at once. The cumulative cost increase can be substantial even though each individual fee increase is proportionally the same.

Australia is not acting alone

The increase places Australia alongside New Zealand. Is also raising visa fees and its tourism levy in 2026. Japan, which raised certain visa fees fivefold earlier in the year. Immigration advisories suggest several Asia-Pacific governments are simultaneously revisiting how much of their visa processing costs should be recovered directly from applicants rather than general taxpayers.

What applicants should budget for now

Anyone planning to apply for an Australian visa in the 2026-27 period should check the current fee for their specific visa subclass directly through the Department of Home Affairs before applying. The increase is not identical across every category.

Employers sponsoring skilled workers should also factor the higher charges into recruitment budgets. Particularly alongside this year’s updated salary threshold requirements. Both changes raise the overall cost of bringing skilled staff into Australia.

Read more on Australia’s visa changes

This fee increase follows closely on our coverage ofAustralia’s updated skilled visa salary threshold and our earlier report on Australia’s student visa reform.

How this affects long-term planning

Prospective students and skilled workers weighing Australia against other destinations should treat the higher charges as part of a broader cost comparison. Alongside tuition, sponsorship obligations and the updated salary thresholds now in effect for employer-sponsored visas.

How Australia’s fee strategy compares with past years

Australia has raised visa fees most years for roughly a decade. Typically in smaller increments tied loosely to inflation. A roughly 25% jump in a single cycle breaks from that pattern. The government is using fee revenue more deliberately as a policy lever rather than simply keeping pace with rising administrative costs.

Education agents and migration lawyers have flagged the change as one more factor international students and skilled workers will weigh when comparing Australia against competing destinations such as Canada and the United Kingdom. Both of which have also adjusted their own immigration settings this year.

What this means for Australia’s international education sector

Universities and education agents that recruit international students have flagged the fee increase as one more cost students must weigh alongside tuition and living expenses. At a time when Australia is already competing harder for the same pool of applicants against Canada. The UK and other English-speaking study destinations.

Industry groups representing universities and migration agents have asked the government for clearer multi-year notice on future fee changes. Arguing that sudden, large increases make it harder for applicants and institutions to plan budgets more than a year in advance.

For now, the Department of Home Affairs has given no indication that the new charges will be phased in gradually. The full increase applies from the start of the 2026-27 period rather than ramping up over time.

Whether that approach changes once the full financial-year data comes in remains an open question worth watching for anyone with a stake in Australia’s migration and education sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are Australia’s visa application charges rising?

Visa application charges are increasing by roughly 25% for the 2026-27 period. Affecting most visitor, work and student visa categories.

Which Australian visas are affected by the fee increase?

The increase applies broadly, including visitor visas, student visas and employer-sponsored skilled worker visas. The exact dollar amount varies by subclass.

Is this connected to Australia’s new skilled visa salary threshold?

They are separate changes announced around the same time. Both raising the overall cost and requirements for skilled migration to Australia in 2026-27.

Are other countries raising visa fees too?

Yes. New Zealand is raising visa fees and its tourism levy in 2026. Japan raised certain visa fees fivefold earlier in the year.

Where can I check the exact new fee for my visa?

Australia’s Department of Home Affairs publishes current visa application charges by subclass. Applicants should check there directly before applying.

Sources

• AHC Lawyers — New Australian visa application charges for 2026-27 increased by about 25%https://www.ahclawyers.com/news-articles/26/07/01/new-australian-visa-application-charges-for-2026-27

New Zealand visa fees 2026 are rising across most visitor and work categories this year. Alongside an increase to the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. Immigration New Zealand adjusts its service charges for the first time in several years.

The increases apply to visa application charges rather than the visa rules themselves. Eligibility requirements are largely unchanged. The upfront cost of visiting, working or studying in New Zealand is climbing for most applicants.

What is actually changing with New Zealand visa fees 2026

Immigration New Zealand has raised visa application service fees across visitor, work and other categories. Part of a broader government push to have visa processing better cover its own administrative costs rather than relying on general taxpayer funding. The exact increase varies by visa type. Advisories tracking the change describe it as a meaningful jump rather than a token adjustment.

Separately, the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. A charge most visa-exempt and visa-required visitors pay on top of their visa fee, is also increasing. The levy funds conservation and tourism infrastructure and is a cost nearly every international visitor to New Zealand now factors into their trip budget.

Who is affected and when

The changes apply broadly across New Zealand’s visitor and work visa categories. Tourists, visiting workers and other temporary entrants will generally pay more than they would have a year earlier. Immigration advisories recommend checking the exact fee for a specific visa category directly with Immigration New Zealand before applying. Increases are not uniform across every visa type.

New Zealand’s move follows a broader regional pattern this year. Australia raised its own visa application charges by roughly 25% for 2026-27. Japan increased certain visa fees fivefold earlier in 2026. Pacific-region governments are simultaneously revisiting visa pricing.

The bigger picture for travellers to the region

Taken together with fee increases elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region this year. The cost of visiting or working across several popular destinations has risen noticeably in 2026. Travellers planning multi-country trips through the region should budget for higher visa and entry costs than in previous years. Rather than assuming prices have stayed flat.

What applicants should check before booking

Anyone applying for a New Zealand visa should confirm the current fee and levy amount for their specific category directly through Immigration New Zealand’s official channels before submitting payment. The increases vary by visa type and may be adjusted further.

Travel agents and tour operators serving New Zealand-bound clients should also update cost estimates to reflect the new fee structure. Particularly for group bookings where small per-person increases add up quickly.

More on visa fee changes this year

See our coverage of Australia’s updated skilled visa salary thresholds and our report on Japan’s fivefold visa fee increasefor more on how fees are shifting across the region this year.

How this affects trip planning

Travellers building a multi-destination Pacific itinerary should treat visa and levy costs as a line item that has shifted meaningfully this year. Rather than assuming last year’s budget still applies. For families or groups, the levy increase in particular can add up quickly once multiplied across several travellers.

Why New Zealand is recovering more of its own costs

Immigration New Zealand’s fee increases reflect a wider government push to have visa and border services pay for themselves rather than drawing on general tax revenue. A principle several other popular destinations have cited when raising their own fees this year.

Critics of this approach argue it risks pricing out budget-conscious travellers from lower-income countries. Supporters say it ensures the cost of processing and verifying applications is borne by those actually using the system. Rather than subsidised broadly by taxpayers who may never visit.

What this looks like for a typical visitor

A solo traveller on a short visit will feel the increase mainly through a higher upfront payment before departure. A family of four or a tour group will see the levy increase multiply across every member. Making it one of the more noticeable line items in a New Zealand trip budget this year compared with previous seasons.

Those planning ahead should also watch for any further adjustments. Officials have not ruled out additional revisions once the current round of changes has been in effect for a full tourism season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are New Zealand visa fees increasing in 2026?

Yes. Immigration New Zealand has raised application service fees across most visitor and work visa categories. Alongside an increase to the tourism levy.

What is the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy?

It’s a charge most international visitors to New Zealand pay on top of their visa fee. Funding conservation and tourism infrastructure. It is also rising in 2026.

Do the fee increases change who is eligible for a visa?

No. The changes affect the cost of applying, not the underlying eligibility rules for each visa category.

Is New Zealand the only country raising visa fees this year?

No. Australia raised its visa application charges by about 25% for 2026-27 and Japan increased some visa fees fivefold earlier in 2026.

Where can I check the exact fee for my visa type?

Immigration New Zealand’s official website lists current fees by visa category. Advisories recommend checking there directly since increases are not uniform.

Sources

• EIG Law — New Zealand visa service fees to rise in 2026https://eiglaw.com/new-zealand-visa-service-fees-to-rise-in-2026
• Wego — Applying for a New Zealand visa in 2026? VAC fees, tourist levy and trip cost explainedhttps://blog.wego.com/new-zealand-visa-fees-tourist-levy-2026/