Australian Immigration Daily News

Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) Visa - Increase to Visa Application Charges from 1 March 2026

The Migration Amendment (Temporary Graduate Visa Application Charge) Regulations 2026 introduce increases to the first instalment of the Visa Application Charge (VAC) for Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa applications lodged on or after 1 March 2026.

The amendments implement a revised four-tier VAC structure and align with broader fiscal measures announced in the 2025–26 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO).

Revised Visa Application Charges (effective 1 March 2026)

For most applicants (non-Pacific / non-Timor-Leste passport holders):

• Primary applicant: AUD 4,600

• Additional applicant (18 years and over): AUD 2,300

• Additional applicant (under 18): AUD 1,160

For subsequent Subclass 485 applicants (Post-Higher Education Work stream):

• Primary applicant: AUD 1,810

• Additional applicant (18 years and over): AUD 910

• Additional applicant (under 18): AUD 460

The second instalment of the VAC remains nil.

Pacific and Timor-Leste Passport Holders

Applicants who hold passports from specified Pacific countries and Timor-Leste will continue to pay the lower VAC amounts. This reflects the Government’s regional engagement objectives and maintains consistency with existing visa charge settings in other programs.

Practical Implications

The amended charges apply to applications lodged on or after 1 March 2026. Accordingly, prospective applicants should carefully consider the timing of lodgement, as applications submitted prior to that date will be assessed under the current (lower) VAC framework.

Registered migration agents and legal practitioners should ensure clients are informed of the increased financial commitment associated with Subclass 485 applications from March 2026 onward.

Source: Migration-Amendment-Temp-Graduate-VAC-Regs-2026.pdf  and

Migration-Amendment-Temp-Graduate-VAC-Regs-2026-Explanatory-Statement.pdf