201% hike: Australia’s visa fee increases are a cost of living killer
Key takeaways
- Fees for Australian visas have increased this month, with the price of a resident return visa jumping 201%.
- Fees for student and permanent resident partner visas have increased by 25%.
- What's next: There's very little visa holders or prospective visa holders can do, as these prices are fixed.
The Australian government has increased the price of many visas, with at least one visa fee increasing by 200% from the start of this month.
Resident return visas (which allow permanent resident visa holders to leave the country and come back) jumped from $490 to $1,475. That's a 201% increase.
And that's after paying thousands of dollars for the original permanent residency visa.
Anyone applying for a new permanent resident partner visa has seen prices increase from $9,635 to $11,710, an increase of 25%.
Student visas that previously cost $2,000 now cost $2,500. That's a 25% increase.
A working holiday visa previously cost $670 in the first year and another $670 if you extended for a second year.
Now the first year is $840 and the second year is $1,000. Across two years that's a 37% increase.
Visa fee increases
| Visa class | Fee (as of 1 July 2026) | Percentage increase |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Return visa (subclass 155/157) | $1,475 | 201% |
| Partner visa (subclass 820/801) | $11,710 | 25% |
| Work and holiday visa (subclass 417) - First | $840 | 25% |
| Work and holiday visa (subclass 417) - Second | $1,000 | 49% |
| Student visa (subclass 500) | $2,500 | 25% |
A hidden cost of living killer
Runaway inflation has made life much more expensive for Australians in the last few years, affecting everything from rent and power bills to house prices, fuel and groceries.
And the price of entry to Australia is no exception. If an Australian citizen is in a relationship with someone from another country and wants to live with them in Australia, a permanent residency partner visa costs $11,710.
In five years, they'd have to pay a further $1,475 for the right to leave Australia and return (even for a holiday). That's a total cost of $13,185.
These visa fee increases are another heavy cost of living burden, but one that only one segment of the population has to pay.
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