Australian Immigration Daily News

The "Migration (PayPal Surcharge) Instrument (LIN 24/025) 2024" provides regulatory updates regarding the application of PayPal surcharges to certain types of payments related to immigration processes in Australia. Issued by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, this legislative instrument specifies that a PayPal surcharge will be applicable to various immigration-related fees when payments are made using PayPal.

Key Aspects of the Instrument:

1. Purpose: The instrument aims to implement PayPal surcharges for payments related to nomination applications, sponsorship applications, visa evidence, visa applications, and visa pre-application process fees, ensuring that these fees include an additional surcharge when paid via PayPal.

2. Repeal of Previous Regulations: It repeals the previous regulation, IMMI 16/083, which did not include visa pre-application process fees as a payment type liable for PayPal surcharges. This update allows these fees to also incur a PayPal surcharge.

3. Background: The update follows the Migration Amendment (Australia’s Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures) Act 2023 and the Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Act 2023, which together introduced a new visa pre-application process involving a random selection ballot system.

4. Consultation: Consultations were held with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other relevant authorities to ensure the changes align with current policies and do not substantially alter existing arrangements.

5. Operational Details: The specific types of fees that will now incur a PayPal surcharge are outlined, ensuring transparency in the application of these charges.

6. Parliamentary Scrutiny: The instrument is exempt from disallowance under the Legislation Act due to its classification as a minor or machinery change, not requiring further parliamentary scrutiny or a Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights.

This explanatory statement serves to inform relevant stakeholders about the inclusion of PayPal as a specified payment method subject to surcharges, aligning with the government's ongoing updates to immigration fee structures.

Source: LIN24025.pdf and LIN24025-Explanatory-Statement.pdf