One fortnight until Australian visa application fees increase

Every year the Australian Government assesses the Australian visa application fees for the Budget release, which they say covers the costs associated with the Australian migration program and temporary entrant program.

This year, a 20 per cent increase on some Australian visa application fees has been announced, which has been estimated to pull in an extra $402.3 million over the next four years. 

While it has not been confirmed which Australian visa application fees will be affected, it has been recommended that all those lodging an Australian visa application to do so before the 1 July 2009 to avoid a possible fee hike.

In real terms, if the Australian skilled visa application fee were to be affected by the changes, potential migrants could be paying over $400 more for their Australian visa application, which is a substantial increase on the overall costs for emigrating to Australia.

The Government has, however, promised that the Australian tourist visas and those Australian visas that were affected by a fee increase last year will not be affected by the 20 per cent increase.  The second instalment on the contributory parent visa and the humanitarian protection visa will also be unaffected by the 20 per cent hike.

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The Australian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with their Australian visa application.