Visa and Tribunal Fees Have Increased: What Has Changed from 1 July 2025

From 1 July 2025, several government fees and income thresholds for Australian visas and reviews have increased. These include visa application charges (VAC), ART and Federal Circuit Court review fees, citizenship application fees, and new skilled visa nomination thresholds.

Visa Application Charges (VAC)

Visa application charges have increased as of 1 July 2025, following the updated Schedule 1 of the Migration Regulations.

• New VAC rates apply to any visa lodged on or after 1 July 2025

• Changes affect primary applicants and, where relevant, subsequent instalments

  
  

Refer to Fees and charges for visas for the full fee list.

Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) Fee Increases

Fee changes occur annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Updated amounts have been published in the Government Notices Gazette.

Migration Decisions

• Standard application fee: $3,580

• Reduced fee (50%): $1,790

  
  

Protection Visa Decisions

• Fee if payable: $2,203

  
  

Fees apply based on the date payment is made, not the lodgement date.

Refer to ART Fees.

Federal Circuit Court

Effective from 1 July 2025, the following fees now apply:

• Full filing fee: $4,015

• Reduced fee (if approved): $2,005

  
  

Refer to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for details on fee eligibility.

Citizenship Application Fees

The Australian Citizenship Amendment (Indexation of Fees) Regulations 2025 increased application fees from 1 July 2025.

• CPI applied to most categories

• Nil fee provisions remain unchanged

• Some smaller fees are unchanged due to rounding

  
  

The Explanatory Statement includes a full comparison of 2024 and 2025 fees.

Skilled Visa Income Threshold Increases

From 1 July 2025, skilled visa income thresholds increased by 4.6% based on AWOTE. These apply to new nominations only.

Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT)

·         Now $76,515 (up from $73,150)

·         Applies to subclass 482 (Core Skills stream) and subclass 186

Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT)

·         Now $141,210 (up from $135,000)

·         Applies to subclass 482 (Specialist Skills stream)

Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT)

·         Now $76,515 (up from $73,150)

·         Applies to subclass 494 and subclass 187

The relevant threshold or market salary rate must be met, whichever is higher. Changes do not apply to existing visa holders or nominations lodged before 1 July 2025.

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