The Visa application fees for Australia will go up in September

The application fees for a number of visas in Australia are set to increase by the beginning of next month. This has been confirmed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. The fee has increased due to the result of the release in the recent Economic Statement for the current financial year.

The Australian government has decided to increase the fees on all the visa applications. There will be an exception on the Student and Electronic Travel Authority Tourist visa applications. The fees will be   applicable from 1^st September 2013. The base visa application charge for a subclass 457 visa from 1^st September 2013 has increased to $1,035 from $900. The increased application charge per dependant aged 18 years and above will increase from $900 to $1,035. The dependents who are under the age of 18 the application charges will increase from $225 to $260.

The fee charges for the nomination application remains unchanged at $330. The Standard Business Sponsorship application fees remain unchanged at $420. The base visa application charge for both subclass 186 and subclass 187 visas from 1^st September 2013 will be increased to $3,520 from $3,060. The charges for additional dependant for this visa class for those aged over 18 have increased from $1,530 to $1,760, and for those dependents who are under 18 it has increased to $880 from $765.

All the visa application charges have to be listed in Australian dollars. Those who are paying for a visa application charge outside Australia need to make it in Australian currency and with the payment method which is accepted by the Australian Missions where the visa application is being registered.

The exchange rate which is used, to calculate the visa application charge payable in a foreign country is updated periodically. The Australian dollar value of a visa application charge will not change at this time. The amount which the applicant, has to pay in a foreign currency will increase or decrease the cost of the visa depending upon the exchange rate. A spokesperson for the DIAC stated that the foreign currency rates are fixed for 6 months. These rates will be applicable on all the visa applications which are accepted by the department on and after the day the exchange rate is changed.

If the applicant uses a credit card to pay the visa application fees outside Australia, the amount payable will be according to the foreign currency equivalent of the Australian dollar value of the visa application fees advertised by the department. The amount of the foreign currency will then be converted to Australian dollars by the cardholder’s bank. The amount which is paid for the visa application, will be depending on the exchange rate which is used by the cardholder’s bank on the date of the transaction, and any fees charged by their bank. The amount paid by the applicant will not be similar to the amount advertised by the department.

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