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:
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.