Friday, 17 Jul 2026
In 2026, there were two large increases in the application fees for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) in Australia. There was an increase in the fee not once, but twice, increasing from AUD 2,300 to AUD 4,600 on 1 March 2026 and from AUD 4,600 to AUD 5,750. The increase in the fee has made this visa even more expensive for foreign students willing to live and work in Australia after completing their education, making it even more costly to study in the country. In addition to the application fee hike, there may be costs involved in health check-ups, police clearance, biometrics, and dependent visa.
In this blog, we will discuss details related to the 485 Graduate Visa, highlight the latest rise in visa fee and state who are likely to be affected by the rise, and provide some tips on how to manage the situation.
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) is an immigration visa which enables qualified international students to stay in Australia temporarily after completion of their education in Australia. With a 485 visa, recent graduates can get work experience, build up their professional expertise, and, depending upon their situation, increase their chances of applying for skilled migration or permanent residency options.
Eligibility criteria include:
The current 485 subclass visa streams which you can apply to include:
This stream is for international students who have completed an eligible higher education qualification, such as a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree, from an Australian education provider. It gives graduates a chance to live, work, and learn in Australia temporarily after the completion of their course.
This stream is created for graduates who have successfully completed eligible vocational education and training courses that are closely related to the specified occupations as per migration laws during the time of application.
Eligible graduates who have lived, worked, and studied in designated regional areas of Australia while holding a Subclass 485 visa may qualify for a Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream visa. This stream provides an additional period of post-study work rights, encouraging skilled graduates to remain in regional Australia. Eligibility relies on the ability to meet the requirements of the region of residency and visa requirements.
The 485 Graduate Visa fee witnessed two increases in 2026. There have been two fee increases for visa applications in 2026. One increase took place on 1 March 2026 and the other increase on 1 July 2026.
|
Fee Change |
Amount |
|
Previous application fee (before 1 March 2026) |
AUD 2,300 |
|
Fee from 1 March 2026 |
AUD 4,600 |
|
Current application fee (from 1 July 2026) |
AUD 5,750 |
|
Total increase since early 2026 |
150% |
Apart from the visa application cost, additional costs include the following:
For those applicants who are applying with their families, such additional costs will significantly affect the total cost incurred in obtaining a visa.
Although the cost hike does negatively impact the students, there are some valid reasons behind the decision. It should also be noted that the cost hike is just one among many measures taken by the Australian government. Some of the key reasons behind these new implementations include:
This fee increase is also part of the Australian government's strategy in controlling the number of immigrants. This is in relation to balancing out the demand for temporary visas while at the same time targeting migration towards addressing skills shortage issues.
Higher visa application fees ensure that the expenses incurred in the administration of the immigration system of Australia are recovered. This includes the expense of visa applications, health and character assessment, border security, and advanced technology that improves the visa application process.
An increase in the fee for the 485 visa 2026 2026 is part of a range of changes to Australia's visas in 2026, with numerous visa classes being subject to higher visa application fees in 2026. This approach of linking visa pricing to immigration service costs supports wider migration reform objectives.
Although the 485 visa application fee increase will affect all eligible individuals, there will be some groups of international students who are likely to feel it much more than others. For example, the increased fees may bring some extra financial pressure on international students, especially those who are dealing with tuition, accommodation, and other migration fees.
Students who are about to graduate in 2026 will be the ones who will be affected by the higher visa application fees. Moreover, for students who wish to remain in Australia after their studies, an increase in the visa application fee is another thing to budget for.
Graduates who postpone lodging their 485 visa application may face higher overall expenses, especially if further changes to visa charges are introduced. A delayed application could lead to failure to meet relevant deadlines or paying for updated application supporting documentation.
Applicants who are couples or have family members, such as a spouse, partner, or children, will incur much higher costs. Apart from the initial cost, there are additional application fees payable by each family member eligible for the application.
Students who may be funding their study abroad through loans or part-time work could find the increased visa fee to be financially difficult. It is increasingly becoming essential to save for the visa application in time, especially for those intending to stay back in Australia after studies.
Increased fees for the Subclass 485 visa 2026 affect not only the cost of the application but also influence other factors related to international students. This includes effects such as a higher financial burden, increased cost of studying in Australia, increased burden in financial planning, and more. The following is a brief description of how fee increases impact international students.
The additional fee makes for one more huge expense at a time when graduates are going from being students to working professionals. Together with all other expenses, including those for medical exams, police checks, biometrics, and others, this can make for a lot of money spent on the application.
The hike in the 485 visa fee 2026 cost contributes to the growing list of increased costs that international students have been facing, which include tuition fees, living expenses, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and the increased costs in visa applications for students. This means that the cost of studying and staying in Australia has gone up considerably.
Students are advised to start planning financially before they finish their education. It is important to save up money for visa costs and any other costs involved, to ensure that the necessary documents are available, and to know what costs are involved with a visa application.
Some graduates may be affected by the increase in the cost of the visa and consider whether they want to stay in Australia and look for jobs or do further studies there or find work somewhere else.
The monetary aspect of the problem becomes even more pronounced when the application includes family members. The additional cost of having one's partner and children checked, apart from the overall paperwork required, could amount to an additional expense on top of the cost of the entire application process.
In most cases, there is no way around paying the additional fee when applying for the Subclass 485 visa. Nevertheless, knowing how the visa fees are calculated could assist you in saving money and time.
Only applications validly lodged before the commencement date of the fee increase were eligible for the previous, lower application fee. Once the new charges took effect, all applications lodged on or after that date became subject to the updated visa fee, making the timing of your application an important consideration.
Submitting a complete and valid application is essential. It entails ensuring that all the required information is provided, the right amount of money paid for the application fee, and the visa lodgement requirements met. An incomplete application will lead to delays and more demands for the required information. In certain situations, an incomplete application could be considered an invalid one since it lacks validity criteria.
Submitting an incomplete application can lead to unnecessary delays or, in some cases, result in the application being deemed invalid if it does not meet the Department of Home Affairs' validity requirements. To avoid complications, ensure that all required documents, information, and the correct application fee are provided before lodging your application.
Since there has been an increase in the cost of visas, it becomes necessary that one should be a little more careful and plan well in advance so as to prevent oneself from going through unnecessary stress.
Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) continues to be one of the key visa categories for foreign students to acquire practical work experience in Australia. However, the fee increments introduced in 2026 have made the process of applying less affordable, making early preparation and careful financial planning highly essential. If you, as a student, are planning to stay in the land down under - Australia, after graduation, then students are advised to not wait till the last minute. You should review your eligibility, estimate the total application costs, prepare supporting documents and stay informed about the latest immigration policy updates,
In this blog, we provided you with insights on various aspects regarding the 485 visa fee 2026 increase alongside some additional information. We hope you found this helpful. If you seek further insights into the various aspects of visa and migration in Australia, do check out some of our other blogs. And if you want the best visa services, look no further than Classic Migration - best migration consultant and visa services provider and MARA registered agency.
Yes. Other than the Subclass 485 visa application fee, you might incur costs for the health examination, police clearance, biometrics where necessary, document translation/certification and application charge for any eligible family members you wish to apply with.
Yes. Your spouse or de facto and all eligible dependents who belong to your family group can be included in your visa application for a subclass 485 visa. There will be an additional fee payable for each eligible family member, and he or she should comply with health and character requirements.
No. It will not affect your visa application approval process, as the fee has nothing to do with visa application approval. Everything will depend on whether you comply with all requirements for the visa application, including the Australian study requirement and English language requirement.